Climate variability effects on eutrophication of groundwater, lakes, rivers, and coastal waters in the Netherlands

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 771; p. 145366
• Main Authors: Rozemeijer, Joachim, Noordhuis, Ruurd, Ouwerkerk, Kevin, Dionisio Pires, Miguel, Blauw, Anouk, Hooijboer, Arno, van Oldenborgh, Geert Jan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.06.2021
• Subjects: Atlantic Ocean; climate; Climate change; Climate variability; coasts; environment; Eutrophication; groundwater; Netherlands; Nutrients; pollution; population growth; river flow; sea level; temperature; Water quality; watersheds; Netherlands; Atlantic Ocean; Climate change; Nutrients; Climate variability; Water quality; Eutrophication
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145366

Many aquatic ecosystems in densely populated delta areas worldwide are under stress from overexploitation and pollution. Global population growth will lead to further increasing pressures in the coming decades, while climate change may amplify the consequences for chemical and ecological water quality. In this study, we explored the effects of climatic variability on eutrophication of groundwater, streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and marine waters in the Netherlands. We exploited the relatively dense monitoring information from the Dutch part of the Rhine-Meuse delta to evaluate the water quality response on climatic variability, in combination with anthropogenic pressures. Our results show that water quality of all water systems in the Netherlands is affected by climate variability in several ways: 1) through the process of global climate change (mainly temperature and sea level rise), 2) through changes Atlantic ocean circulation patterns (more southwestern winds), 3) through changes in continental precipitation and river discharge fluctuations, and 4) through local climatic fluctuations. The impact of climate variability propagates through the hydrological system ‘from catchment to coast’. The fluctuations in water quality induced by climatic variability shown in this study give a preview for the potential effects of climate change. [Display omitted] •Climate change may amplify eutrophication effects on water resources.•We studied the water quality response on climatic variability in The Netherlands.•The complexity of climate-nutrients relations increases from catchment to coast.•The effects of extreme climate conditions propagate from catchment to coast.•Our results give a preview for the potential effects of future climate change.