Effects of Climate Change on Water Resources

By David Lawrence, Shell

David Lawrence recently served Shell Upstream Americas in Houston as executive vice president of exploration and commercial and head of Global Exploration for Royal Dutch Shell. Now, he is the chairman of Lawrence Energy Group, LLC. And Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Yale Climate and Energy Institute. Over the course of his career, David Lawrence has become highly knowledgeable about climate change, energy and energy conservation through experience in research, oil and gas development, wind energy, coal, uranium and LNG.

Introduction

The impact of global climate change can be felt in virtually all aspects of life and business, ranging from agriculture to energy conservation. The availability of drinkable water resources represents one of the more pressing issues the world may be faced with should climate change continue unabated. As temperatures rise, a region’s rate of evaporation increases. As the local atmosphere becomes more absorbent, an area may experience unnatural periods of dryness while nearby areas suffer from excess rainfall.

Water Resources

Changes in the water cycle can affect virtually all areas of life on earth, particularly in regard to specific ecosystems. If the main source of water evaporates in one region, the animals and plants in that area will either perish or be forced to relocate, placing additional strain on other habitats and creating heightened competition for available water. As temperatures continue to rise, humans and animals require more water to stay hydrated and resources will be further depleted. A diminished water resource can even affect the production of raw energy at a power plant.

Conclusion