Impacts of climate change on nutrient and sediment loads from a subtropical catchment

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Eccles, R
Zhang, H
Hamilton, D
Trancoso, R
Syktus, J
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2023
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

Climate change is predicted to significantly alter hydrological cycles across the world, affecting runoff, streamflow, and pollutant loads from diffuse sources. The objectives of this study were to examine the impacts of climate change on streamflow, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total suspended sediment (TSS) loads in the subtropical Logan-Albert catchment, Queensland, Australia. We calibrated the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) against event monitoring data in the Logan and Albert rivers, respectively. Hydrological and water quality effects of an ensemble of 11 dynamically downscaled high-resolution climate models were assessed with SWAT under high (Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 – RCP8.5) and intermediate (RCP4.5) emission scenarios. Streamflow decreased most in winter and spring and decreased least in summer. This followed the predicted seasonal changes for precipitation, although decreases tended to be amplified due to increasing evaporative loss. TSS, TN, and TP loads showed a similar pattern to streamflow, with the largest decreases predicted for the dry season under RCP8.5 by the 2080s. Annual TSS load decreased by 34.3 and 54.2%, TN load decreased by 29.8 and 30.5%, and TP load by 24.9 and 4.4% for the Logan and Albert sites, respectively. The results of this study indicate that for subtropical river-estuary systems, climate warming may lead to lower streamflow and contaminant loads, reduced flushing, and greater relative importance of point source loads in urbanising catchments.

Journal Title

Journal of Environmental Management

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

345

Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Environmental management

Soil sciences

Hydrology

Geomorphology and earth surface processes

Climate change

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

SWAT

Water quality

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Eccles, R; Zhang, H; Hamilton, D; Trancoso, R; Syktus, J, Impacts of climate change on nutrient and sediment loads from a subtropical catchment, Journal of Environmental Management, 2023, 345, pp. 118738

Collections