engleski

Climate change impact on water resourses in the Gorski kotar karst region, Croatia

Fragile Dinaric karst environment in Croatia is a source of main internal renewable water resources (IRWR) of Croatia. Recent studies have shown that there are changes in discharge regimes of rivers in the Gorski Kotar mountain area, one of the main, so called water towers of Croatia. It is situated in the northern part of Dinaric chain in Croatia with low population density and more than 2000 mm of annual precipitation. Human influence in the area is not so pronounced in the past 30 years, especially in the upper, source zone of the Kupa River so the focus of our study is on influence of climate change on water resources in that area. We analysed precipitation regime on representative meteorological stations (Parg and Lokve Brana) with special emphasis on changes of snow appearance, duration and share in total precipitation. In addition, data from some remote rain gauges in higher mountains and changes in discharge (river flow) regime of rivers in the upper part of Kupa River catchment where analysed. The results in general show a descending trend of precipitation. Analyse of seasonal and monthly changes in precipitation along with analyse of appearance, length of snow cover and share in total precipitation depict changes of discharge regimes of rivers in the upper part of Kupa River. These changes of discharge regime can have serious consequences on water management, especially on flood hazard in the Kupa River catchment.

geography, hydrology, water resources, climate change, Croatia

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