The Impact of Climate Change on the Ecosystem Services of Rivers

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.0472311107

• Palavras-chave: -

• Keywords: Anthropocene; biosphere; ecology; hydrology; nature

• Abstract: In 2013, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) outlined climate change as the modification of the climate resulting from human activities that affect the composition of the global atmosphere. This phenomenon is separate from the natural climate variations observed over similar periods. The objective of this paper was to discuss the impact of climate change on river ecosystem services. Scientific research from the last ten years was reviewed. The 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report was used as the basis for the study. It is concluded that the ecosystem services of provisioning, regulation, support, and cultural services have been impacted by climate change, which anthropogenic factors have accelerated. Pollution in rivers has diminished the provisioning services for humans and the aquatic ecosystem. On the other hand, the ecosystem services of river regulation and support have been destabilized by the increase in natural phenomena such as hurricanes and more frequent flooding. Finally, the impact of climate change on rivers, such as reducing their flows, has resulted in the decrease of spaces for recreation and cultural development in society.