ID | 295 |
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Citation | Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment. 2011. Selected tools to evaluate water monitoring networks for climate change adaptation. CCME PN 1464. |
Organization | CCME |
URL | http://www.ccme.ca/files/Resources/water/pn_1464_wmcc_tools_en.pdf |
Abstract/Description or Keywords | The impacts of a changing climate are evident in every region of Canada. Planned adaptation to climate change (the result of deliberate policy decisions based on an awareness of changing conditions) requires decision-makers to understand the degree to which a system is susceptible to and able to cope with adverse effects of climate change. Governments and water managers can use existing water monitoring networks to gather information needed to plan for and assess possible adaptations to a changing climate. However, because of resource constraints, it is usually not possible for jurisdictions to enhance all monitoring networks in all watersheds to provide information for assessing and adapting to climate change impacts. Selected Tools to Evaluate Water Monitoring Networks for Climate Change Adaptation is a reference document for non-specialist water managers and climate change adaptation planners. The document was developed to help Canadian federal, provincial and territorial governments determine the suitability of their water monitoring networks to provide the data needed to plan for and to adapt to a changing climate. It describes proven and practical ways for jurisdictions to set priorities for water monitoring networks for climate change adaptation, and then evaluate the ability of these networks to provide the data needed to support climate change adaptation needs. However as the impacts of climate change vary by location, the priorities and evaluations will, by necessity, be jurisdiction- and region-specific. Prioritisation and evaluation will help jurisdictions decide whether (and how) to add or reduce stations, add hydrologic parameters, or change the frequency and timing of sampling and ultimately better support climate change adaptation planning. Establishing Priorities: Setting priorities for water monitoring networks for climate change adaption can be done in a number of ways, ranging from qualitative approaches, such as workshops, to rigorous quantitative analyses or modelling. In a review of possible methods for setting priorities for water monitoring networks to support climate change adaptation, three methods were identified as requiring only a limited amount of data that are readily available, have the greatest flexibility in terms of scale of applicability and do not require a high level of expertise: 1) Basic Valuation Methods for Ecosystem Services 2) Ombrothermic Analysis 3) Water Resources Vulnerability Indicators Analysis Appendix A of the document describes these three methods for setting priorities for water monitoring networks for climate change adaptation. Evaluating Existing Monitoring Networks: Evaluating water monitoring networks for climate change adaptation considers the capacity and suitability of existing monitoring networks to provide the data required for a jurisdiction's climate change adaptation management objectives. A review identified three evaluation methods based on the following attributes: applicability at different scales; relatively moderate expertise and data requirements; and ability to produce results that are commensurate with the monitoring objectives in terms of scope and level of detail. The three methods are: 1) Audit Approach 2) Monte Carlo Network Degradation Approach 3) Multivariate Methods Appendix B of the document describes these three methods for evaluating existing water monitoring networks for climate change adaptation information needs. Appendices A and B provide a detailed description of each of the six methods, background information on the concepts and terms used in the method, and notes on the resources required and on the method's applicability and limitations. Illustrated examples from studies that have used the method are included as well as references to additional information. Appendix C of the document contains a glossary, information sources and a subject index. The information sources are presented as an annotated list which is organised thematically. |
Information Type | report |
Regional Watershed | All |
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Project status | complete |
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