Groundwater and climate change: Impacts and adaptation in southern Ontario

摘要

Groundwater is an important component of the hydrologic cycle and is certain to respond to climate change. The potential impacts of climate change on groundwater conditions are varied and translation of these impacts into ecological and societal concerns is both complex and uncertain. At the very least, changed precipitation will affect the volume of water available for groundwater recharge, flow, and discharge. Similarly, changed temperature will affect snow accumulation and melting, the timing of groundwater recharge, and the recycling of precipitation to the atmosphere. Environment Canada's recent report Threats to Water Availability in Canada (Environment Canada, 2004) summarizes the implications of climate variability and change for groundwater resources across Canada.