The long-term impacts of glacier retreat on runoff in the Waitaki Catchment, New Zealand
Runoff from the Waitaki catchment is relied upon for hydroelectricity generation and long-term water storage. The Waitaki catchment holds some of the country’s largest glaciers. Ice melt contributes to runoff, along with snow melt and rainfall. Understanding the implications of climate change and gl...
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ftvictoriauwfig:oai:figshare.com:article/19579378 2023-05-15T13:35:14+02:00 The long-term impacts of glacier retreat on runoff in the Waitaki Catchment, New Zealand Borzecki, Joanna 2022-04-12T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.26686/wgtn.19579378 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/The_long-term_impacts_of_glacier_retreat_on_runoff_in_the_Waitaki_Catchment_New_Zealand/19579378 unknown doi:10.26686/wgtn.19579378 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/The_long-term_impacts_of_glacier_retreat_on_runoff_in_the_Waitaki_Catchment_New_Zealand/19579378 Author Retains Copyright Climate Change Processes Geophysics not elsewhere classified Glaciology Surfacewater Hydrology Environmental Science and Management not elsewhere classified Waitaki Glacier runoff climate change School: School of Geography Environment and Earth Sciences Unit: Antarctic Research Centre 050299 Environmental Science and Management not elsewhere classified 040499 Geophysics not elsewhere classified 040608 Surfacewater Hydrology 040104 Climate Change Processes 040602 Glaciology 180301 Assessment and management of freshwater ecosystems 180308 Surface water quantification allocation and impact of depletion 190102 Ecosystem adaptation to climate change 190103 Social impacts of climate change and variability 190505 Effects of climate change on New Zealand (excl. social impacts) 190501 Climate change models Degree Discipline: Geophysics Degree Level: Masters Degree Name: Master of Science Text Thesis 2022 ftvictoriauwfig https://doi.org/10.26686/wgtn.19579378 2022-04-13T23:06:45Z Runoff from the Waitaki catchment is relied upon for hydroelectricity generation and long-term water storage. The Waitaki catchment holds some of the country’s largest glaciers. Ice melt contributes to runoff, along with snow melt and rainfall. Understanding the implications of climate change and glacier retreat on downstream hydrology is important for long-term water resource planning. Using an enhanced temperature index model coupled with an ice flow model, glacier mass balance within the Waitaki was projected through the 21st century for four future climate scenarios based on CMIP5. Glacier volume in the Waitaki catchment is projected to decrease over the 21st century for all future climate scenarios by up to 86%. Average ablation is projected to begin earlier in spring and continue later into autumn by the end of the century. Conversely, average accumulation is projected to start later in autumn and end earlier in spring. These shifts become more pronounced with increasing severity of climate change scenarios. The largest increases in average rainfall and ablation are projected to occur in the winter and spring months when runoff is typically at its lowest, as a result of warmer winter temperatures. Maximum ice melt contributions to runoff, known as peak water, are projected to occur before 2040 in the Waitaki catchment for all future climate scenarios. Before peak water is reached, increases in total ablation may mitigate the frequency and magnitude of low flow events during dry periods, but may also increase flood risks in and around the summer season when rainfall is high. Once peak water passes and ice melt contributions to runoff decrease, extreme low flow events may be more of a concern during dry periods with reduced rainfall. Thesis Antarc* Antarctic Open Access Victoria University of Wellington / Te Herenga Waka Antarctic New Zealand |
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Open Access Victoria University of Wellington / Te Herenga Waka |
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ftvictoriauwfig |
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unknown |
topic |
Climate Change Processes Geophysics not elsewhere classified Glaciology Surfacewater Hydrology Environmental Science and Management not elsewhere classified Waitaki Glacier runoff climate change School: School of Geography Environment and Earth Sciences Unit: Antarctic Research Centre 050299 Environmental Science and Management not elsewhere classified 040499 Geophysics not elsewhere classified 040608 Surfacewater Hydrology 040104 Climate Change Processes 040602 Glaciology 180301 Assessment and management of freshwater ecosystems 180308 Surface water quantification allocation and impact of depletion 190102 Ecosystem adaptation to climate change 190103 Social impacts of climate change and variability 190505 Effects of climate change on New Zealand (excl. social impacts) 190501 Climate change models Degree Discipline: Geophysics Degree Level: Masters Degree Name: Master of Science |
spellingShingle |
Climate Change Processes Geophysics not elsewhere classified Glaciology Surfacewater Hydrology Environmental Science and Management not elsewhere classified Waitaki Glacier runoff climate change School: School of Geography Environment and Earth Sciences Unit: Antarctic Research Centre 050299 Environmental Science and Management not elsewhere classified 040499 Geophysics not elsewhere classified 040608 Surfacewater Hydrology 040104 Climate Change Processes 040602 Glaciology 180301 Assessment and management of freshwater ecosystems 180308 Surface water quantification allocation and impact of depletion 190102 Ecosystem adaptation to climate change 190103 Social impacts of climate change and variability 190505 Effects of climate change on New Zealand (excl. social impacts) 190501 Climate change models Degree Discipline: Geophysics Degree Level: Masters Degree Name: Master of Science Borzecki, Joanna The long-term impacts of glacier retreat on runoff in the Waitaki Catchment, New Zealand |
topic_facet |
Climate Change Processes Geophysics not elsewhere classified Glaciology Surfacewater Hydrology Environmental Science and Management not elsewhere classified Waitaki Glacier runoff climate change School: School of Geography Environment and Earth Sciences Unit: Antarctic Research Centre 050299 Environmental Science and Management not elsewhere classified 040499 Geophysics not elsewhere classified 040608 Surfacewater Hydrology 040104 Climate Change Processes 040602 Glaciology 180301 Assessment and management of freshwater ecosystems 180308 Surface water quantification allocation and impact of depletion 190102 Ecosystem adaptation to climate change 190103 Social impacts of climate change and variability 190505 Effects of climate change on New Zealand (excl. social impacts) 190501 Climate change models Degree Discipline: Geophysics Degree Level: Masters Degree Name: Master of Science |
description |
Runoff from the Waitaki catchment is relied upon for hydroelectricity generation and long-term water storage. The Waitaki catchment holds some of the country’s largest glaciers. Ice melt contributes to runoff, along with snow melt and rainfall. Understanding the implications of climate change and glacier retreat on downstream hydrology is important for long-term water resource planning. Using an enhanced temperature index model coupled with an ice flow model, glacier mass balance within the Waitaki was projected through the 21st century for four future climate scenarios based on CMIP5. Glacier volume in the Waitaki catchment is projected to decrease over the 21st century for all future climate scenarios by up to 86%. Average ablation is projected to begin earlier in spring and continue later into autumn by the end of the century. Conversely, average accumulation is projected to start later in autumn and end earlier in spring. These shifts become more pronounced with increasing severity of climate change scenarios. The largest increases in average rainfall and ablation are projected to occur in the winter and spring months when runoff is typically at its lowest, as a result of warmer winter temperatures. Maximum ice melt contributions to runoff, known as peak water, are projected to occur before 2040 in the Waitaki catchment for all future climate scenarios. Before peak water is reached, increases in total ablation may mitigate the frequency and magnitude of low flow events during dry periods, but may also increase flood risks in and around the summer season when rainfall is high. Once peak water passes and ice melt contributions to runoff decrease, extreme low flow events may be more of a concern during dry periods with reduced rainfall. |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Borzecki, Joanna |
author_facet |
Borzecki, Joanna |
author_sort |
Borzecki, Joanna |
title |
The long-term impacts of glacier retreat on runoff in the Waitaki Catchment, New Zealand |
title_short |
The long-term impacts of glacier retreat on runoff in the Waitaki Catchment, New Zealand |
title_full |
The long-term impacts of glacier retreat on runoff in the Waitaki Catchment, New Zealand |
title_fullStr |
The long-term impacts of glacier retreat on runoff in the Waitaki Catchment, New Zealand |
title_full_unstemmed |
The long-term impacts of glacier retreat on runoff in the Waitaki Catchment, New Zealand |
title_sort |
long-term impacts of glacier retreat on runoff in the waitaki catchment, new zealand |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.26686/wgtn.19579378 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/The_long-term_impacts_of_glacier_retreat_on_runoff_in_the_Waitaki_Catchment_New_Zealand/19579378 |
geographic |
Antarctic New Zealand |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic New Zealand |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic |
op_relation |
doi:10.26686/wgtn.19579378 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/The_long-term_impacts_of_glacier_retreat_on_runoff_in_the_Waitaki_Catchment_New_Zealand/19579378 |
op_rights |
Author Retains Copyright |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.26686/wgtn.19579378 |
_version_ |
1766063372617383936 |