Suchergebnisse

The central theme of this book is focused on the analyses and the results which emerged from the international research project BRAHMATWINN sponsored by European Commission (EC) and conducted during 2006 - 2009. The book highlights the achievements of BRAHMATWINN to carry out a harmonised integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach as addressed by the European Water Initiative (EWI) in headwater river systems of alpine mountain massifs. The latter are already impacted from climate change, and the BRAHMATWINN project established transfer of professional IWRM expertise, approaches and tools based on case studies carried out in twinning European and Asian river basins. The project addresses all important IWRM issues in a balanced way, including conflict resolution in the trans- boundary Danube and Brahmaputra River Basins in Europe and South Asia respectively. This book will be useful to researchers, professionals, managers and decision makers associated with study and application of sustainable integrated land and water resources management (ILWRM) in the backdrop of climate change.

Numerical analysis of water movement in agricultural fields with heterogeneous unsaturated soils -- Three-dimensional numerical simulation of pressure flow scour -- A plot scale numerical investigation of stream tube approximation to model flow in heterogeneous unsaturated soils -- Contamination of arsenic in groundwater ofBara district, Nepal -- Water quality and Designated Best Use (DBU) determination of Bhim Taal Lake of Panchkula, Haryana.

Brazil possesses the largest freshwater resources worldwide. However, it is already facing severe water problems due to an adverse distribution of water availability and demand, which becomes especially apparent in the densely populated Southeast. This area is home to 75 % of Brazil's population and the location of two of the world's largest megacities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Their regional water demands serve various purposes, including drinking water, agricultural and industrial water, and hydropower supply for the metropole regions. At the same time, the region belongs to the Atlantic rainforest, the Mata Atlântica. The remaining patches of the pristine Mata Atlântica biome host worldwide outstanding biodiversity, which depends on the unique hydro-climatic conditions of the region. Nevertheless, little is known about the ecohydrological processes and dynamics in the region and their alteration under climate change. This, however, is an essential requirement for making informed decisions in river basin management that aims at safeguarding water-related ecosystem functions and services to simulate processes at different spatial and temporal scales. This dissertation contributes to the understanding of ecohydrological process dynamics in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. It creates a crucial prerequisite for science-based environmental planning and knowledge-based river basin management. The results indicate major challenges for water-resources management in the Southeastern Mata Atlântica for the upcoming decades. The methods and tools developed and used in this work can be easily applied and transferred to sub-tropical and tropical regions worldwide. They allow planning and mitigation for future climate, land-use, and management changes to sustain water-related ecosystem functions and services and preserve the beauty of unique biomes, such as the Mata Atlântica.

Brazil possesses the largest freshwater resources worldwide. However, it is already facing severe water problems due to an adverse distribution of water availability and demand, which becomes especially apparent in the densely populated Southeast. This area is home to 75 % of Brazil's population and the location of two of the world's largest megacities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Their regional water demands serve various purposes, including drinking water, agricultural and industrial water, and hydropower supply for the metropole regions. At the same time, the region belongs to the Atlantic rainforest, the Mata Atlântica. The remaining patches of the pristine Mata Atlântica biome host worldwide outstanding biodiversity, which depends on the unique hydro-climatic conditions of the region. Nevertheless, little is known about the ecohydrological processes and dynamics in the region and their alteration under climate change. This, however, is an essential requirement for making informed decisions in river basin management that aims at safeguarding water-related ecosystem functions and services to simulate processes at different spatial and temporal scales. This dissertation contributes to the understanding of ecohydrological process dynamics in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. It creates a crucial prerequisite for science-based environmental planning and knowledge-based river basin management. The results indicate major challenges for water-resources management in the Southeastern Mata Atlântica for the upcoming decades. The methods and tools developed and used in this work can be easily applied and transferred to sub-tropical and tropical regions worldwide. They allow planning and mitigation for future climate, land-use, and management changes to sustain water-related ecosystem functions and services and preserve the beauty of unique biomes, such as the Mata Atlântica.