GLOCHAMORE - Global Change in Mountain Regions | Umweltbundesamt

Consistent and comparable regional climate scenarios for mountain regions will be developed, in particular for the MBRs. By "downscaling" several global climate models, highly-detailed spatial and temporal climate change scenarios will be produced, using the various emission scenarios of the IPCC. In addition, consistent and comparable scenarios for land-use changes in the mountain regions will be developed.

extreme events, fog, cloud cover

The consequences of the climate change will affect a variety of characteristic mountain systems: the cryosphere, the ecosystems and the economy.

For the cryosphere, the consequences concern the expansion of the glaciers and have an impact on the population dependent on the glacier water resources. The meltwater periods and the volume of meltwater released by the glaciers are strongly influenced by climate change. Snowpacks are an important ecological and economic factor in the mountain regions. Snowpacks are an important source of freshwater and changes in temporal and spatial expansion affect the livelihood of the dependent population. Permafrost prevents and limits erosion. The climate change alters the extent and properties of the permafrost zones with consequences to the water cycle, the occurrences of natural hazards and the stability of structures built in these zones.

Climate changes also affect the water retention and run-off from the mountains with consequences for irrigation and hydroelectric power. Climate-related changes in the water quality of lakes and streams are significant in relation to human health, the water availability and the status of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Mountain lakes are very sensitive to climate change.

Global change can affect specific ecosystem functions and services. The biotic part of the alpine ecosystems changes the biogeochemical and hydrological processes qualitatively and quantitatively, in particular the nitrogen retention and the nitrogen cycle. This is why changed processes or pollution have significant consequences for the alpine ecosystems services, such as the quality of the drinking water. Mountain forests are important sinks for carbon and important sources for natural resources such as wood and fuel. Grazing pastures (alpine pastures and meadows) are critical for the ecological and economic functions of mountains.

Climate changes and land-use alter the vegetation layer and affect the stability of mountainsides. The soil is a non-renewable resource and climate changes have significant consequences for the biological, chemical and physical cycle of the soil systems.

The occurrences of pests and diseases may be altered by the climate changes.

Changes in species diversity and interaction may also influence the functioning of ecosystems. Among the ecological functions and services that are particularly relevant to mountain regions, are the provision of sufficient water of good quality, the cultivation of culinary and medicinal herbs, fodder, water infiltration and storage, nutrient retention and protection against catastrophic landslides. As a result of climate changes alien, non-indigenous plants can spread out and cause significant changes in the structures and functions of the mountain ecosystems.

Further consequences of the climate change are an increased frequency of extreme events that represent hazards to life and property in the mountain regions (e.g. floods, landslides, rock falls/mudslides, avalanches or fire). The global change can also pose new health threats to humans and their domestic pets and aggravate existing risks (e.g. malaria and other vector-borne diseases, water-borne diseases, food safety).

Various social groups in and around the mountain biosphere reserves (MBRs) are vulnerable to potential future global changes. While poverty generally increases vulnerability, it can also be linked to specific economic activities and other characteristics not connected with poverty. A successful adaptation therefore requires an understanding of the relative vulnerability of different social groups, which also depends on their adaptive capacity.

Apart from the research strategy developed by the project, the development and evaluation of adaptation strategies is also important. In this respect, science can play an important role for society in assisting in the management of the environment, not only to preserve natural resources, but also to contribute to the achievement of the millennium development goals and livelihoods of present and future generations. The understanding of the potential consequences of climate change and the ability of people to respond to these concerns is the prerequisite for any kind of sustainable adaptation management for dealing with the global change. Future sustainable development and forward-looking strategies will depend on the accurate assessment of the ecosystem services.

The objective is the development of a biodiversity management, since human land uses strongly influence the biodiversity, the availability of ecosystem goods and functions, as well as the resilience of ecological systems. Therefore, careful management approaches are needed for grazing, mowing and burning off fields, in order to avoid beginning local processes of species decline begun under changing environmental conditions. Management methods need to be identified that can help avoid the negative effects of global change on biodiversity.

Many serious yet deadlocked conflicts can be observed in mountain regions, such as water and land use conflicts. Conflicts in remote mountain regions could easily become a source of tension for entire nations, as mountains are the water source of every important river.