Name
Assessing climate change impacts on freshwater provisioning services across Canadian watersheds
Date & Time
Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Description
In Canada, freshwater ecosystems are among the most rapidly changing and vulnerable waterbodies on Earth in the face of climate change (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2024). Canadians rely on freshwater for their daily needs, and a changing climate might interfere with the quantity and quality of water available. However, there are a limited number of studies that have addressed climate change impacts on Canadian freshwater systems in the context of alterations of ecosystem services flow and the capacity to meet human needs. This research specifically focuses on the effects of climate change on the ecosystem service of freshwater provisioning and its delivery through Canadian watersheds. It aims to assess how precipitation pattern changes, increased evapotranspiration, and rising temperatures will impact the vulnerability of water supply for municipal consumption in downstream communities in the face of climate change, using a geospatial risk accumulation model. Using a suite of climate scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5), the study relies on readily-available and hydrological condition data from HydroSHEDS combined with municipal water consumption data to create a suite of indices to better understand potential imbalances between capacity and downstream demands, as well as mapping vulnerable watersheds. We hope to combine these indices with current protected areas in Canada to better understand the current protection afforded to these watersheds. Ultimately, the results of this study will help policymakers prioritize vulnerable watersheds of Canada in their water management practices and better inform ecosystem conservation planning under the changing climate.
Location Name
DSU 303
Full Address
Dalhousie University
Halifax NS
Canada
Session Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract ID
240
Speaker Organization
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Session Name
H7 (4 of 4)
Presenting Author
Zahra Ghorbankhani, researcher; Dr. Camille Ouellet-Dallaire, supervisor