Deltas in Arid Environments

Water

Rachael Hunter¹  John Day²  Reed Goodman³  Zhongyuan Chen⁴  Yanna Wang⁴  Liviu Giosan⁵ 

[1] Comite Resources, P.O. Box 66596, Baton Rouge, LA 70896, USA;Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA;Middle East Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3340 Walnut Street, Fisher-Bennett Hall, Suite 238, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6273, USA;State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China;Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Falmouth, MA 02543, USA;

关键词: salinization;    climate change;    Colorado river;    Tigris-Euphrates river;    Nile river;    Indus river;   

DOI  :  10.3390/w13121677

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Due to increasing water use, diversion and salinization, along with subsidence and sea-level rise, deltas in arid regions are shrinking worldwide. Some of the most ecologically important arid deltas include the Colorado, Indus, Nile, and Tigris-Euphrates. The primary stressors vary globally, but these deltas are threatened by increased salinization, water storage and diversion, eutrophication, and wetland loss. In order to make these deltas sustainable over time, some water flow, including seasonal flooding, needs to be re-established. Positive impacts have been seen in the Colorado River delta after flows to the delta were increased. In addition to increasing freshwater flow, collaboration among stakeholders and active management are necessary. For the Nile River, cooperation among different nations in the Nile drainage basin is important. River flow into the Tigris-Euphrates River delta has been affected by politics and civil strife in the Middle East, but some flow has been re-allocated to the delta. Studies commissioned for the Indus River delta recommended re-establishment of some monthly water flow to maintain the river channel and to fight saltwater intrusion. However, accelerating climate impacts, socio-political conflicts, and growing populations suggest a dire future for arid deltas.

【 授权许可】

Unknown