50 research outputs found
Uncertainty contributions to low-flow projections in Austria
The main objective of the paper is to understand the
contributions to the uncertainty in low-flow projections resulting from
hydrological model uncertainty and climate projection uncertainty. Model
uncertainty is quantified by different parameterisations of a conceptual
semi-distributed hydrologic model (TUWmodel) using 11 objective functions in
three different decades (1976–1986, 1987–1997, 1998–2008), which allows for disentangling the effect of the objective function-related uncertainty and temporal stability of model parameters. Climate projection uncertainty is
quantified by four future climate scenarios (ECHAM5-A1B, A2, B1 and
HADCM3-A1B) using a delta change approach. The approach is tested for 262
basins in Austria.
The results indicate that the seasonality of the low-flow regime is an
important factor affecting the performance of model calibration in the
reference period and the uncertainty of Q95 low-flow projections in the
future period. In Austria, the range of simulated Q95 in the reference
period is larger in basins with a summer low-flow regime than in basins with
a winter low-flow regime. The accuracy of simulated Q95 may result in a
range of up to 60 % depending on the decade used for calibration.
The low-flow projections of Q95 show an increase of low flows in the
Alps, typically in the range of 10â30âŻ% and a decrease in the
south-eastern part of Austria mostly in the range −5 to −20âŻ% for the
climate change projected for the future period 2021–2050, relative the reference
period 1978–2007. The change in seasonality varies between scenarios, but
there is a tendency for earlier low flows in the northern Alps and later low
flows in eastern Austria. The total uncertainty of Q95 projections is
the largest in basins with a winter low-flow regime and, in some basins the
range of Q95 projections exceeds 60 %. In basins with summer low flows, the total uncertainty is mostly less than 20 %. The ANOVA
assessment of the relative contribution of the three main variance components
(i.e. climate scenario, decade used for model calibration and calibration
variant representing different objective function) to the low-flow projection
uncertainty shows that in basins with summer low flows climate scenarios
contribute more than 75 % to the total projection uncertainty. In basins
with a winter low-flow regime, the median contribution of climate scenario,
decade and objective function is 29, 13 and 13 %,
respectively. The implications of the uncertainties identified in this paper
for water resource management are discussed
Integrated impact modelling of climate change and adaptation policies on land use and water resources in Austria"
Climate change is a major driver of land use and ecosystems. Changes in climatic conditions will affect the quality and quantity of water resources. Autonomous adaptation by farmers can influence the compliance with the good ecological and chemical status according to the EU Water Framework Directive. We present results from an integrated impact modelling framework (IIMF) to analyze policy options for planned adaptation in agricultural land use and sustainable management of land and water resources until 2040. The IIMF consists of the bio-physical process model EPIC, the regional land use optimization model PASMA[grid], the quantitative precipitation/runoff TUW model, and the surface water emission model MONERIS. Stakeholder driven scenarios facilitate multi-actor knowledge transfer. Climate change scenarios are combined with socio-economic and policy pathways. The latter include water protection measures on fertilization management, soil and crop rotation management. The results show that the selected climate change and policy scenarios impact average agricultural gross margins by ±2%. However, regional impacts are more severe particularly under assumptions of decreasing precipitation patterns. The water protection policies can alleviate pressures compared to the business as usual scenario but do not lead to sufficient conditions in all watersheds. To conclude, the IIMF is able to capture the interfaces between water quality and land use and to cover multiple policy and climate scenarios. However, despite efforts to increase the robustness of data and model interfaces, uncertainties need to be tackled in subsequent studies
Kapitel 8. Landnutzung und Klimawandel im Kontext der Nachhaltigen Entwicklungsziele
Dieses Kapitel prĂ€sentiert und bewertet den aktuellen Stand des Wissens zum Konnex Landnutzung und Klimawandel in Ăsterreich aus dem systemischen Blickwinkel der UN Agenda 2030 fĂŒr eine Nachhaltige Entwicklung. Dabei wird dem Thema entsprechend auf die Verflechtungen zwischen den lokalen, nationalen und internationalen Ebenen eingegangen. Die Menschheit befindet sich in kritischen, vielfĂ€ltigen und vernetzten Krisen. Integrative und globale LösungsansĂ€tze, wie sie in der Agenda 2030 festgeschrieben sind, haben fĂŒr diese multiplen Krisen ein hohes Lösungspotenzial
Global Distribution of Human-Associated Fecal Genetic Markers in Reference Samples from Six Continents
Numerous bacterial genetic markers are available for the molecular detection of human sources of fecal pollution in environmental waters. However, widespread application is hindered by a lack of knowledge regarding geographical stability, limiting implementation to a small number of well-characterized regions. This study investigates the geographic distribution of five human-associated genetic markers (HF183/BFDrev, HF183/BacR287, BacHum-UCD, BacH, and Lachno2) in municipal wastewaters (raw and treated) from 29 urban and rural wastewater treatment plants (750-4»400»000 population equivalents) from 13 countries spanning six continents. In addition, genetic markers were tested against 280 human and nonhuman fecal samples from domesticated, agricultural and wild animal sources. Findings revealed that all genetic markers are present in consistently high concentrations in raw (median log10 7.2-8.0 marker equivalents (ME) 100 mL-1) and biologically treated wastewater samples (median log10 4.6-6.0 ME 100 mL-1) regardless of location and population. The false positive rates of the various markers in nonhuman fecal samples ranged from 5% to 47%. Results suggest that several genetic markers have considerable potential for measuring human-associated contamination in polluted environmental waters. This will be helpful in water quality monitoring, pollution modeling and health risk assessment (as demonstrated by QMRAcatch) to guide target-oriented water safety management across the globe.Fil: Mayer, RenĂ© E.. Vienna University of Technology; Austria. Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health; AustriaFil: Reischer, Georg. Vienna University of Technology; AustriaFil: Ixenmaier, Simone K.. Vienna University of Technology; Austria. Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health; AustriaFil: Derx, Julia. Vienna University of Technology; AustriaFil: Blaschke, Alfred Paul. Vienna University of Technology; AustriaFil: Ebdon, James E.. University of Brighton; Reino UnidoFil: Linke, Rita. Vienna University of Technology; Austria. Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water And Health; AustriaFil: Egle, Lukas. Vienna University of Technology; AustriaFil: Ahmed, Warish. Csiro Land And Water; AustraliaFil: Blanch, Anicet R.. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Byamukama, Denis. Makerere University; UgandaFil: Savill, Marion. Affordable Water Limited;Fil: Mushi, Douglas. Sokoine University Of Agriculture; TanzaniaFil: Cristobal, Hector Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria QuĂmica. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de IngenierĂa. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria QuĂmica; ArgentinaFil: Edge, Thomas A.. Canada Centre for Inland Waters. Environment and Climate Change Canada; CanadĂĄFil: Schade, Margit A.. Bavarian Environment Agency; AlemaniaFil: Aslan, Asli. Georgia Southern University; Estados UnidosFil: Brooks, Yolanda M.. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Sommer, Regina. Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water And Health; Austria. Medizinische Universitat Wien; AustriaFil: Masago, Yoshifumi. Tohoku University; JapĂłnFil: Sato, Maria I.. Cia. Ambiental do Estado de Sao Paulo. Departamento de AnĂĄlises Ambientais; BrasilFil: Taylor, Huw D.. University of Brighton; Reino UnidoFil: Rose, Joan B.. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Wuertz, Stefan. Nanyang Technological University. Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering; SingapurFil: Shanks, Orin. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Estados UnidosFil: Piringer, Harald. Vrvis Research Center; AustriaFil: Mach, Robert L.. Vienna University of Technology; AustriaFil: Savio, Domenico. Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences; AustriaFil: Zessner, Matthias. Vienna University of Technology; AustriaFil: Farnleitner, Andreas. Vienna University of Technology; Austria. Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water And Health; Austria. Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences; Austri
Technische Zusammenfassung
Die Technische Zusammenfassung des APCC-Sonderberichts âłLandnutzung und Klimawandel in Ăsterreichâł umfasst die Kernbotschaften der Kapitel 1â9. In ihr sind die Hauptaussagen zu den sozioökonomischen und klimatischen Treibern der LandnutzungsĂ€nderungen, zu den Auswirkungen von Landnutzung und -bewirtschaftung auf den Klimawandel, zu Minderungs- und Anpassungsoptionen im Kontext nachhaltiger Entwicklungsziele sowie zu Synergien, Zielkonflikten und Umsetzungsbarrieren von KlimamaĂnahmen enthalten
An evaluation of analytical stream to groundwater exchange models: a comparison of gross exchanges based on different spatial flow distribution assumptions
In this paper, a new method for estimating gross gains and losses
between streams and groundwater is developed and evaluated against
two existing approaches. These three stream to groundwater exchange (SGE)
estimation methods are distinct in their assumptions on the spatial
distribution of the inflowing and outflowing fluxes along the
stream. The two existing methods assume that the fluxes are
independent and in a specific sequence, while the third and newly
derived method assumes that both fluxes occur simultaneously and
uniformly throughout the stream. The analytic expressions in
connection to the underlying assumptions are investigated through numerical stream simulations to evaluate
the individual and mutual dynamics of the SGE
estimation methods and to understand the causes for the differences in
performance. The results show that the three methods produce
significantly different results and that the mean absolute
normalized error can have up to an order of magnitude difference
between the methods. These differences between the SGE
methods are entirely due to the assumptions of the SGE
spatial dynamics of the methods, and the performance for
a particular approach strongly decreases if its assumptions are not
fulfilled. The assessment of the three methods through numerical
simulations, representing a variety of SGE dynamics,
shows that the method introduced, considering simultaneous stream
gains and losses, presents overall the highest performance according to the
simulations. As the existing methods provide the minimum and maximum realistic
values of SGE within a stream reach, all three methods could
be used in conjunction for a full range of estimates. These
SGE methods can also be used in conjunction with other
end-member mixing models to acquire even more hydrologic information
as both require the same type of input data
Mass Balance of Selected Pharmaceuticals in an Austrian River Catchment Area: Estimation of the Different Source Contributions
The study refers to the assessment of the annual mass loadings of two pharmaceuticals (PhCs), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and carbamazepine (CBZ), released in the river of an Austrian catchment area by wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, combined sewage overflows (CSOs), surface runoff, tile drainage and deep water (referring to the sludge- or manure-amended soil).
WWTP effluent and excess sludge loadings, based on PhC national human consumption, literature excretion rates, were modeled by Activity SimpleTreat. CSO loading was modelled by MoRE. PhC load in manure was estimated on the basis of the animal annual production and literature data of concentration. Surface runoff, tile drainage and deep water loadings were modelled integrating a literature âleachateâ approach with the expected PhC phenomena of accumulation, degradation and erosion occurring in the soil.
The study develops a mass balance of the different pharmaceutical loading contributions to the receiving water body by means of STAN model and highlights the uncertainties associated to the selected values in the estimation. It emerges that manure amount applied on the soil is fundamental in defining the priority contributions among the different sources (WWTP effluent, CSOs, surface runoff, tile drainage and deep water)