JRC research in the field of water resources and ecosystems · 29.11.2012 · Preserving ecosystems 9Ecosystems are providing services which are often taken for granted: water purification,

29 November 2012, Portugal, JRC Info day

JRC research in the field of water resources and

ecosystemsSandra Poikane

Institute for Environment and SustainabilityWater Resources Unit

Outline :JRC research related to water resources and ecosystems

• 6 key areas of research

• Policy context + JRC support

• Online databases, models2

6 key areas of JRC research related to water resources and ecosystems

1. Water: balancing supply and demand

2. Water quality

3. Preserving ecosystems

4. Water related hazards and climate change

5. Water governance – working together

6. Water innovation

3


• The global demand is on the increase

• Water scarcity and draughts 20% of the EU territory

• Not only geography and climate conditions but also

consumption patterns:24% of abstracted water for irrigation

FR, IT, PT, ES – 75% of the total irrigated land in EU

4


Hydrological modelling to assess current / future availability

and demand from different economic sectors

•To map available water resources / compare to the

demands

•Address floods, droughts, water scarcity

512 December 2012


6

Water availability: Average available net runoff (1990-2010)

Water stress regions: river-basin supply not sufficient to meet the demands (1990-2010)

1. Water: balancing supply and demandLISFLOOD model

7

• a GIS-based hydrological

rainfall-runoff-routing

model that is capable of

simulating the hydrological

processes

• http://floods.jrc.ec.europa.

eu/lisflood-model.html


Addressing water efficiency:

•A model simulate effects of policy options on water quality and

quantity + associated costs and benefits

•Deliver the best options for allocating available water to all

users while ensuring economic and environmental sustainability

8

1. Water: balancing supply and demand:LUMP - Land Use Modelling Platform

9

http://moland.jrc.ec.europa.eu/lump/lump.htm


Water for agriculture

•Impact of agriculture on the

quantity/quality of water

resources

•Efficiency of EU regulations

in controlling the emissions

10

Monitoring agricultural resources http://www.marsop.info

River basin network on WFD and agriculture

http://prb-water-agri.jrc.ec.europa.eu

2. Water quality

WFD and MSFD: achieve “good status” for all surface

watersdevelopment and harmonization of indicators for ecological status

Monitoring of “priority” substances : To identify new substances that can be included, new methods

Pollution: assessment and mappingAssessing the chemical load of rivers and seas

Building maps to identify pollution hotspots

1112 December 2012

What is the objective of the European Water Framework Directive?

Achieving “good status”for surface and ground waters before 2015

HIGHHIGH

GOODGOOD

MODERATEMODERATE

POORPOOR

BADBAD

ECOLOGICALECOLOGICALSTATUSSTATUS

No orminimal {

Slight {Moderate {

Major {Severe { R

esto

re

Ecological classification system

Reference conditions

Deviation from reference conditions


WFD assessment based on biological WFD assessment based on biological indicatorsindicators

PHYTOPLANKTON

BENTHIC FAUNA

FISH

MACROPHYTES

Overview biological assessment methodsOverview biological assessment methods

Coverage:

29 European countries

294 methods117 Coastal and transitional177 Rivers and lakes

Sebastian Birk

http://www.wiser.eu/results/methods-db/

1612 December 2012

• Consistent with WFD definitions

• Comparable between all 25 Member States

high

good

moderate

poor

bad

1

0

OK

Restorationneeded

Intercalibration: Setting of good status class boundaries

EQR

First results: COM Decision 2008

1812 December 2012

Second results: COM Decision 2012

Supporting the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Assessing impacts on the European seas and coastsMonitoring of long-term changes in biological and physical

properties of European seas and coasts by combining satellite time-series data and modelling to derive proxy indicators

Multiannual simulations (1960-2010)

Chlorophyll-a concentration


Ecosystems are providing services which are often taken

for granted: water purification, flood prevention,

their effectiveness is directly linked to the health of

ecosystems

Threats to ecosystem: worldwide increase in invasive

aliens species

2112 December 2012


Mapping and valuing ecosystem services in order to be

able to preserve them

Attributing economic value - realistic assessments of the

value to better protect

Developing European indicators that quantify the provision

of ecosystem services

2212 December 2012

3. Preserving ecosystems: Mapping and valuation of ecosystem services

Nitrogen retention

Europe’s rivers and

lakes remove high

quantities of excess

nitrogen and contribute

to better water quality

in downstream reaches.

2312 December 2012

3. Preserving ecosystems: Mapping and valuation of ecosystem services

Coastal habitats can help protect populations from adverse weather consequences, eg flooding

Provision of coastal protection: red coastline demand is expected to be higher than the natural provision of this servic

2412 December 2012

3. Preserving ecosystems:Alien species significant threat to biodiversity

Review the pressures facilitation alien species invasions

Restoration measures to avoid alien species

EASIN: European Alien Species Information Network: to

improve access to information on alien species in Europe

Early warnings and prevent further invasions

http://easin.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

2512 December 2012

2. Preserving ecosystems:Alien species significant threat to biodiversity

2612 December 2012

Sepioteuthis lessoniana is an Indo-Pacific squid recently introduced in the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal


Fistularia commersonii was nicknamed the 'Lessepsian sprinter' for its rapid spread in the Mediterranean Sea


4. Water –related hazards and climate change

90% of all natural hazards are linked to water

Ca 30 000 people killed in water related disasters in 2010

With global warming, frequency / severity to increase

2912 December 2012

November 2011, Genova, Italy



Knowledge to better understand the mechanisms that

cause flooding, draught, desertification and other events

To help prevent / reduce their impact by giving early /

reliable warnings

Satellite observation and data collection : Accurate and

reliable information on the real situation at all times

3112 December 2012


The European Flood Awareness System (EFAS)

an early flood warning system complimentary to national and

regional systems.

It provides the national institutes and the European Commission

with information on possible river flooding to occur within the

next 3 or more days.

gives a European overview to the European Civil Protection

Mechanism - contributes to improved management

http://www.efas.eu3212 December 2012

http://www.efas.eu/

http://www.efas.eu/


The Global Flood Detection System (GFDS)

It is a real-time satellite-based flood monitoring system.

Using innovative processing of remote sensing

Virtual satellite-based information about all major rivers in

the world, as well as daily updated regional flood maps

www.gdacs.org/flooddetection

3312 December 2012

http://www.gdacs.org/flooddetection


The Global Flood Detection System (GFDS)

It is a real-time satellite-based flood monitoring system.

Using innovative processing of remote sensing

Virtual satellite-based information about all major rivers in

the world, as well as daily updated regional flood maps

3412 December 2012


Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS)

the first system that produces pre-operational real-time flood

forecasts for the entire globe

It couples state-of-the art weather forecasts with a hydrological

model.

The October 2011, monsoon rains and powerful typhoons in

Southeast Asia brought about the worst floods of the past decade

successfully predicted by GloFAS two weeks in advance and

subsequently monitored with the GFDS throughout the event. 3512 December 2012

4. Water –related hazards and climate changeGlobal Flood Awareness System (GloFAS)

3612 December 2012

GFDS near real-time flood map for South East Asia, with quantitative measurements of flooded area for the Chao Phraya (Thailand) and the lower Mekong (Cambodia) on 11 October 2011.

GloFAS 45-day probabilistic discharge forecasts for the Chao Phraya (Thailand) and the lower Mekong (Cambodia) on 22 September 2011. Input rainfall is provided for the first 15 days only.


European Drought Observatory (EDO)

a major tool for the monitoring and forecasting of droughts at a

range of spatial scales across Europe

Similar experiences are being transferred and tested outside

Europe, particularly in Africa and Latin America.

a map server that provides access to a suite of drought indicators,

documentation, search facilities and analysis tools

http://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu

3712 December 2012


European Drought Observatory (EDO)

3812 December 2012

Situation of drought in Europe – Nov 2012



Rivers and seas are common resources

Danube river: 10 countries

Mediterranean Sea: 21 countries

Solving global water challenges can only be achieved in

cooperation

4012 December 2012


The Danube – transboundary challenge

Assessment and monitoring of water pollutants in the Joint

Danube Surveys

developing a harmonised digital climate atlas and database

for the Carpathian region (CARPATCLIM)

satellite time-series data to monitor long-term changes in

the biological and physical properties of the Black Sea

4112 December 2012


Access to water in developing countries

In Africa, for instance, the JRC uses biophysical modelling

and hydrological simulation to provide scientific assessments

of water availability, floods, droughts and water scarcity.

It also assesses the impacts of different management and

climate scenarios and strategies on agricultural production

and the environment

4212 December 2012

6. Water innovation

eco-industry is rapidly growing in Europe

water supply and wastewater treatment represent a third

Innovation – a key component in the sustainable and

efficient use of water

Current filtration systems for drinking water – only limited

success

Desalination plants, solar-powered water purification

4312 December 2012

6. Water innovation

Innovative technologies for treating ground water and

drinking water Nanofiltration membranes to remove hardness, organic matter and

organic chemicals, better performance levels

ObservatoryNano project – to examine the efficiency, potential risks

and regulatory issues associated with the use of these membranes

http://www.observatorynano.eu/

4412 December 2012

6. Water innovation

Standardize geo-referenced data to unblock innovation on

this field by making data interoperableIn the hydrological domain - very heterogeneous data sources

Necessary to build bridges across these formats and interfaces

GEOWOW research project 15 partners, coordinated by JRC

links multiple research communities – info catalogues can now be

connected and compared

4512 December 2012

6. Water innovation www.geowow.eu

4612 December 2012

Thank you for your attention

Documents

JRC research in the field of water resources and ecosystems · 29.11.2012 · Preserving ecosystems 9Ecosystems are providing services which are often taken for granted: water purification,