Overview 概論
Rivers are critically important ecosystems, providing significant social, economic, and ecological benefits such as regulation of water quantity and quality; habitat for water birds, fish, amphibians and invertebrates; resources to meet human needs; recreation and tourism. However, climate change will degrade these benefits. Climate change may lead to shifts in the geographical distribution of rivers. Climate change will affect rivers through sea-level rising; increased sea temperatures; changes in hydrology; increased temperature of river water bodies; increase temperature in tundras and polar areas. Sea-level rise and increase in storm surges could result in erosion of shores and habitat; increased salinity of estuaries and freshwater aquifers’ altered tidal ranges in rivers and bays; changes in sediment and nutrient transport; increased coastal flooding; increase vulnerability of some populations. Land-use change and water consumption pattern will accentuate climate change impacts on rivers. Although rivers and associated floodplains cover only a small portion of the world’s s land surface, they are significant carbon store globally. Conversion and degradation of rivers and associated floodplains release carbon and methane into the atmosphere in large quantities. Therefore, it is essential to understand the multi-scale relationships between river ecosystems and climate change. Also, there is an urgent need to develop effective management strategies for conserving, maintaining and restoring river to avoid human-induced greenhouse gas emission.

This is an advanced-level course focusing on issues about rivers and climate change, and the course content is extended from the course “BSE 5128 Conservation of River Ecosystems 1: Case Study & Analysis” which emphasizes on the fundamental concepts of river ecology and principles of ecological conservation.