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Severe Drought in Finland: Modeling Effects on Water Resources and Assessing Climate Change Impacts

Author

Listed:
  • Noora Veijalainen

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Lauri Ahopelto

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
    Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, 02015 Espoo, Finland)

  • Mika Marttunen

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Jaakko Jääskeläinen

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aalto University, 02015 Espoo, Finland)

  • Ritva Britschgi

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Mirjam Orvomaa

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Antti Belinskij

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Marko Keskinen

    (Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, 02015 Espoo, Finland)

Abstract

Severe droughts cause substantial damage to different socio-economic sectors, and even Finland, which has abundant water resources, is not immune to their impacts. To assess the implications of a severe drought in Finland, we carried out a national scale drought impact analysis. Firstly, we simulated water levels and discharges during the severe drought of 1939–1942 (the reference drought) in present-day Finland with a hydrological model. Secondly, we estimated how climate change would alter droughts. Thirdly, we assessed the impact of drought on key water use sectors, with a focus on hydropower and water supply. The results indicate that the long-lasting reference drought caused the discharges to decrease at most by 80% compared to the average annual minimum discharges. The water levels generally fell to the lowest levels in the largest lakes in Central and South-Eastern Finland. Climate change scenarios project on average a small decrease in the lowest water levels during droughts. Severe drought would have a significant impact on water-related sectors, reducing water supply and hydropower production. In this way drought is a risk multiplier for the water–energy–food security nexus. We suggest that the resilience to droughts could be improved with region-specific drought management plans and by including droughts in existing regional preparedness exercises.

Suggested Citation

  • Noora Veijalainen & Lauri Ahopelto & Mika Marttunen & Jaakko Jääskeläinen & Ritva Britschgi & Mirjam Orvomaa & Antti Belinskij & Marko Keskinen, 2019. "Severe Drought in Finland: Modeling Effects on Water Resources and Assessing Climate Change Impacts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-26, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:8:p:2450-:d:225982
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lauri Ahopelto & Noora Veijalainen & Joseph H. A. Guillaume & Marko Keskinen & Mika Marttunen & Olli Varis, 2019. "Can There be Water Scarcity with Abundance of Water? Analyzing Water Stress during a Severe Drought in Finland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Somayeh Rezaei Kalvani & Fulvio Celico, 2023. "The Water–Energy–Food Nexus in European Countries: A Review and Future Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Marko Keskinen & Suvi Sojamo & Olli Varis, 2019. "Enhancing Security, Sustainability and Resilience in Energy, Food and Water," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-8, December.

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