Project APVT-51-6502

In the project APVT 51-6502 there were investigated consequences of potential climate change on hydrological cycle in Slovakia by way of example of two basins: upper Hron basin and upper Váh basin. Total researchers number was 30 of the five organizations: IH SAS (Institite of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences), DLWRM (Department of Land and Water Resources Management - Slovak University of Technology), SHMI (Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute), DMC (Department of Meteorology and Climatology Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics CU), and ILE SAS (Institute of Landscape Ecology of Slovak Academy of Sciences).

From the project results it follows that water-bearing decrease of selected Slovak basins is more probable than current state preservation or water-bearing increase. Climate change may have substantial impact on intra-annual runoff regime in our country.

The project made a proposal of adaptation precautions orientation for mitigation of unfavourable impacts of climate change on water management. Adaptation precautions can be formulated only in general at present, what is even more valid for specific region or river basin. It is necessary take into consideration political, economical, technological connections together with uncertainties in hydrological processes and climate scenarios. The assessment of mutual links between those interconnected systems and its uncertainty and their potential projection into the future development are even more important in Slovak conditions (economic situation).

We elaborated the method that prefers decisions that reduce potential unfavourable impacts of climate change on water management and at the same time take into consideration preferences of environment formation and protection. The phrase “no regret policy” is used for this type of adaptation. Basic strategic measures for mitigation of potential unfavourable impacts on water management were formulated for these regions in this project.