Abstract
Using a coupled ocean-atmosphere-land model, this study explores the changes of the water availability (i.e., river discharge and soil moisture), which could occur by the middle of the 21st century due to the gradual increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In addition, it presents the simulated change in water availability due to the quadrupling of CO 2 concentration, which may occur in a few centuries.
Our results suggest that water is going to be more plentiful in those regions of the world that are already “water-rich”. However, water stresses will increase significantly in regions and seasons that are already relatively dry. This could pose a very challenging problem for water resource management around the world.
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