Climate change and sediments: direct and indirect consequences and opportunities
Description
The climate is changing. Forecasted changes in water quantity and quality raise concerns regarding human health and safety, but consi- derably less attention has been paid to the impacts on sediments in rivers and inland waterways and along our coasts.
Sediments often present an obstacle for navi- gation. How will changing hydrodynamics affect sediment accumulation and transportation, and sediment-bound pollutants ? Will hydrological extreme events impact freshwater habitats? Will increased water temperature impact sediment-related processes such as nutrient recycling and contaminant transformation? Both negative, positive or a mix of both ?
And how could sediment management contribute to managing the impacts and climate change adaptation ?