Download Framework for assessment of climate impacts on New Zealand's Hydrological Systems

The objective of this research was to develop a ceonceptual framework for the assessment of the effects of climate chagne on hudrological systems in New Zealand. This research commenced with a literature review emphasizing the types of impacts that have been detected previously and methods for detecting and modelling impacts. The conceptual framework was developed and then applied to the Waimea Pains as a test catchment to assess the effect of climate change. Existing climage and hydrological data were analysed to assess possible climate effects. Hydrological and socioeconomic models were developed and implemented to relate possible climate change to derived changes in water availability and economic productivity within the test catchment