Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
Open Access

Abstract

The wadi system is an integral part of the hydrological and environmental setting in the Arab Region. Most of the Arab countries are facing aridity problems and water scarcity. The projected impacts of climate change (CC) will exacerbate this problem. There are severe environmental, economic, political and security implications of climate change impact on water resources and hydrology of wadi systems. According to recent modeling studies, the Arab region will face an increase of 2 to 5.5°C in the surface temperature by the end of the 21st century. This temperature increase will be coupled with a projected decrease in precipitation of between 0 and 20%. The results for the region include shorter winters, dryer and hotter summers, a higher rate of heat waves, increased weather variability, and a more frequent occurrence of extreme weather events. Clearly, adaptation and mitigation strategies need to be researched, discussed, and implemented. There is an obvious need for deep understanding of the climate change risks taking place in wadi systems located in arid and semi-arid regions. The situation in the Arab Region is even more critical and requires extreme attention from all levels of society. Recent research indicated that CC will also the effect of drought intensity and frequency in wadi systems as drought frequency and has already increased in many watersheds in the Arab countries. This paper investigates the risk management on wadi systems in Arab Region from the impacts of climate change. For this purpose, the trends, risks and vulnerability of water resources to climate change in wadi systems in Arab countries were reviewed and presented.

Biography

Dr. Al-Weshah is an associate professor of water resources engineering and hydrology at the University of Jordan. He got his PhD from University of Illinois in Urbana in 1993. He developed a key leading international professional and academic reputation in the area of water resources and environment in the past three decades. He led and managed multi-million dollars of international, regional and national projects in water resources in the Middle East and North Africa. His areas of expertise cover engineering analysis and design of major water and hydrology infrastructures projects, integrated water resources management in arid regions, climate change risk and adaptation management in water resources, water policy and reform, and wadi hydrology