What question did this study set out to answer?

To estimate the global-scale impacts of droughts, heatwaves, and compound drought-heatwave events on physical, chemical, and biological river water quality constituents across varied climate zones, land-use types, and wastewater treatment levels.

December 6, 2023Journal of HydrologyOpen Access

Impacts of droughts and heatwaves on river water quality worldwide

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Authors

DGDuncan Graham MBMarc F. P. Bierkens MVMichelle T. H. van Vliet

Discussion

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Overview

Global observational analysis reveals widespread water quality deterioration in rivers worldwide during droughts and heatwaves, highlighting mounting risks to freshwater ecosystems.

Key Points

To estimate the global-scale impacts of droughts, heatwaves, and compound drought-heatwave events on physical, chemical, and biological river water quality constituents across varied climate zones, land-use types, and wastewater treatment levels.
Analyzed records from 314,046 water quality monitoring stations globally across the period 1980–2021.
Evaluated 16 constituents categorized into physical (e.g., temperature, salinity), chemical (e.g., nutrients, pharmaceuticals, pesticides), and biological groups (e.g., biochemical oxygen demand, faecal coliform).
Assessed constituent responses across varying climate zones, land-use classifications (irrigated vs. non-irrigated, urban vs. rural), and regional levels of wastewater treatment.
Droughts and heatwaves caused an average 27% increase in river water temperature, a 17% decrease in dissolved oxygen, and a 24% increase in salinity globally.
Compound drought-heatwaves drove higher median river temperature spikes in polar climate zones (+4.5°C) than in tropical zones (+2.1°C), and drought-induced salinity increases were twice as large in irrigated regions compared to non-irrigated regions.
Advanced wastewater treatment enhanced reductions in faecal coliform concentrations, while pharmaceutical responses varied by constituent persistence, including accelerated decay of diclofenac under warmer water temperatures.

Cite This Study

Graham et al. (2023) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1754affc80794a518d7df5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130590

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December 6, 2023Journal of HydrologyOpen Access

Impacts of droughts and heatwaves on river water quality worldwide

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

DGDuncan Graham MBMarc F. P. Bierkens MVMichelle T. H. van Vliet

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Global observational analysis reveals widespread water quality deterioration in rivers worldwide during droughts and heatwaves, highlighting mounting risks to freshwater ecosystems.

Key Points

To estimate the global-scale impacts of droughts, heatwaves, and compound drought-heatwave events on physical, chemical, and biological river water quality constituents across varied climate zones, land-use types, and wastewater treatment levels.
Analyzed records from 314,046 water quality monitoring stations globally across the period 1980–2021.
Evaluated 16 constituents categorized into physical (e.g., temperature, salinity), chemical (e.g., nutrients, pharmaceuticals, pesticides), and biological groups (e.g., biochemical oxygen demand, faecal coliform).
Assessed constituent responses across varying climate zones, land-use classifications (irrigated vs. non-irrigated, urban vs. rural), and regional levels of wastewater treatment.
Droughts and heatwaves caused an average 27% increase in river water temperature, a 17% decrease in dissolved oxygen, and a 24% increase in salinity globally.
Compound drought-heatwaves drove higher median river temperature spikes in polar climate zones (+4.5°C) than in tropical zones (+2.1°C), and drought-induced salinity increases were twice as large in irrigated regions compared to non-irrigated regions.
Advanced wastewater treatment enhanced reductions in faecal coliform concentrations, while pharmaceutical responses varied by constituent persistence, including accelerated decay of diclofenac under warmer water temperatures.

Cite This Study

Graham et al. (2023) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1754affc80794a518d7df5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130590

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