Resumen de Analysis of climate change impact on hydrological ecosystem services and water allocation in water scarce mediterranean river basins

Rubab Fatima Bangash

• The Mediterranean region appears to be particularly responsive to global and climate change, causing decrease in annual river flows and making the region most prone to an increase in drought hazard and water stress. This thesis is an approach to quantify and analyse the water quantity, hydrological ecosystem services and water supply in temperate regions under environmental changes. Hydrological flow and hydrological ecosystem services (water provisioning) models are developed for a low flow Mediterranean river (Francolí river) basin using MIKE BASIN and InVEST respectively. Changes in the delivery of regulating (erosion control) services are also assessed in the heavily humanized Llobregat River basin (NE Spain) considering drivers of climate change (temperature and precipitation). Moreover, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is adapted to solve the multi-criteria decision-making problem of alternate water supply for different sectors in Francolí river basin. Climate change have already affected some elements of hydrological ecosystem services and that some are vulnerable in the Mediterranean river basins. Together these effects determine the need of a correct approach for water allocation system and the appropriate alternate water resources at a catchment level due to water scarcity.