Abstract
The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning's Victorian Water and Climate Initiative has supported investment into research to better understand the impact of climate change and climate variability on Victoria's water resources. A set of guidelines were developed to assist Victorian water corporations to assess the impact of long-term declines in rainfall from climate change on water supplies (DELWP, 2016). In the flooding context, Australian Rainfall and Runoff recommends a 5% increase in daily rainfall intensity per degree of local warming for rainfall with an annual exceedance probability of 50% to 1% (Bates et al., 2016). However, recent studies (such as Guerreiro et al 2018) indicate that the increase in intensity for frequent sub-daily events is likely to be considerably more than 5%.
Despite the likely future reduction in long term annual rainfall under climate change, the potential increase in extreme rainfall events has often led to the assumption that there will be increases in flooding risk (Wasko and Sharma, 2017). However, this excludes consideration of potential changes to antecedent conditions under climate change as well as catchment specific considerations such as size and soil moisture behaviour (Ivancic and Shaw, 2015). An approach was developed which incorporates these factors and assesses flooding implications of reduced long-term rainfall and increased rainfall extremes.
The outcomes from the Victorian Water and Climate Initiative research, including the learnings from the case studies used in this research, will be used to guide the Victorian water sector.
Despite the likely future reduction in long term annual rainfall under climate change, the potential increase in extreme rainfall events has often led to the assumption that there will be increases in flooding risk (Wasko and Sharma, 2017). However, this excludes consideration of potential changes to antecedent conditions under climate change as well as catchment specific considerations such as size and soil moisture behaviour (Ivancic and Shaw, 2015). An approach was developed which incorporates these factors and assesses flooding implications of reduced long-term rainfall and increased rainfall extremes.
The outcomes from the Victorian Water and Climate Initiative research, including the learnings from the case studies used in this research, will be used to guide the Victorian water sector.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium (HWRS 2018) |
Subtitle of host publication | Water and Communities |
Place of Publication | Melbourne |
Publisher | Engineers Australia |
Pages | 645-648 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 978-1-5108-7758-0 |
ISBN (Print) | 978-1-9256-2718-3 |
Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | 38th Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, HWRS 2018 - Melbourne, Australia Duration: 3 Dec 2018 → 6 Dec 2018 https://www.proceedings.com/content/047/047123webtoc.pdf |
Conference
Conference | 38th Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, HWRS 2018 |
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Abbreviated title | HWRS 2018 |
Country/Territory | Australia |
City | Melbourne |
Period | 3/12/18 → 6/12/18 |
Internet address |