sussex wetland conference: harriett orr
DESCRIPTION
Wetlands and Climate ChangeTRANSCRIPT
Wetlands and Climate Change
Harriet Orr Research Scientist, Climate Change, Evidence Directorate
Mike AcremanWetland Hydrologist, Centre For Ecology and Hydrology
6th January 2012
Adapting Wetlands to Climate Change:a toolkit for wetland managers
Wetlands are likely to be vulnerable
Why a wetland tool?
50 yr Wetland vision for Englandwww.wetlandvision.org.uk
Doesn’t include climate change
Opportunity to build adaptation tool
Choosing sustainable wetland type
Risk-based tool-kit
A tool for wetland managers
assess sensitivity of existing or new wetlands
Identify when to change management
Signpost adaptation options
“My boss wants an estimate by this afternoon of whether our wetlands are at risk from climate change”
“I am about to spend £200,000 on my wetland, I need to be certain that my plans are climate proof”
Assumption
Hydrology is the key characteristic of a wetland that will be impacted
location
interest feature
water mechanism
N England
river-fed
Vegetation
50% 30% 20%
Tier 1 tool
wetland type
Wet grassland
How do we score impact?
Hydrology
Gross water balance
Birds
Flooding in winter and spring
Vegetation
Water table regime
Historical environment
Depth of water table
http://www.ceh.ac.uk/sci_programmes/Water/WetlandsandClimate.html
On-line, free to use now
Dealing with uncertainty
• Climate projections uncertain • UKCP09 10,000 realisations
Feedback
Use the tool
contact us if need more help
Tell us if it helps your decision making
What could be improved?
Can we contact you?
Plant community trajectories
Wetland soil properties
Peat type Sample
depth (m) Specific yield cc/cc
Hydraulic conductivity (m/day)
Sphagnum moss peat
Live, un-decomposed 0-0.1 0.86 Un-decomposed 0.15-0.25 0.6 32.9 Un-decomposed 0.45-0.55 0.48 0.9 Moderately decomposed (woody)
0.35-0.45 0.23 0.12
Woody peat Moderately decomposed 0.35-0.45 0.27 4.3 Moderately well
decomposed 0.6-0.7 0.19 0.48
Herbaceous peat
Slightly decomposed 0.25-0.35 0.57 11.1
Moderately decomposed 0.7-0.8 0.13 0.006 Decomposed peat
Well decomposed 0.5-0.6 0.08 0.004