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H2020Individual fellowship2017–2019

HoTRiverS · Heterogeneity of Temperature in Rivers and Streams

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2017-01-02 → 2019-01-01
EU contribution
€195,455
Participants
1
Scheme
MSCA-IF

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Results in brief

Heterogeneity of Temperature in Rivers and Streams

River temperature is of great importance to the survival of a range of iconic fish species (eg. salmon, trout) which are highly intolerant of temperature extremes. However, the growing influence of climate change means that river organisms are increasingly threatened summer temperature extremes. There is widespread concern that high temperature events could drive fish mortality and population decline across Europe. Despite this worrying trend, some rivers contain alternating patterns of cool and warm water (known as river temperature heterogeneity) which may enhance their resilience to climate change. These rivers will be increasingly important in sustaining aquatic biodiversity in the future. However, little is currently known about how river temperature heterogeneity varies through space or time. There is therefore a pressing need for more information with a view to both furthering scientific understanding of rivers and helping to preserve critically-threatened river ecosystems for future generations. The overall objective of the HoTRiverS (Heterogeneity of Temperature in Rivers and Streams) project was to gain a better understanding of the processes driving temperature heterogeneity in UK rivers and to quantify potential variability under future climatic or land-use change. This was achieved through a multi-disciplinary approach combining field data collection, drone-based aerial thermal imaging and computer-based water temperature modelling. We used these data to develop detailed computer models capable of accurately simulating spatial and temporal patterns in water temperature in key UK river locations. These models simulate river temperature through computing the precise transfers of mass (ie. water) and energy (ie. heat) that drive river temperature heterogeneity; as a result, they are able to shed light on the physical processes responsible for temperature heterogeneity in our chosen study locations.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

River temperature is important to many freshwater fish species which are highly intolerant of temperature extremes. The growing influence of climate change on European rivers means that fluvial organisms are increasingly threatened by high temperatures, and temperature-driven declines in fish populations are already being observed across Europe. Despite this, ecosystems in certain rivers are resilient to climate change due to the presence of alternating warm and cool habitats. Rivers with high thermal habitat heterogeneity will therefore be increasingly important in sustaining fluvial biodiversity in areas affected by climate change, and a better insight into the drivers of river temperature heterogeneity is essential. However, little is currently known about the spatio-temporal variability of river temperature heterogeneity, and understanding both the nature of this variability and its fundamental driving processes remains a key problem in the river sciences. In light of this, the aim of HoTRiverS is to quantify the spatial and temporal scales of thermal heterogeneity in UK rivers and to infer the controls and processes driving these space-time patterns. This research theme will be addressed following four key objectives: 1. Quantify variability in temperature heterogeneity across the UK using thermal infrared remote sensing. 2. Attribute observed patterns of heterogeneity to key landscape properties using a spatial statistical network model approach. 3. Understand how these landscape properties drive water temperature heterogeneity through using deterministic water temperature models to analyse the energy transfers associated with different landscape types. 4. Explore the sensitivity of river temperature heterogeneity to change by modelling future climate and land-use change scenarios. Through these objectives, we hope to achieve a better understanding of river temperature heterogeneity with a view to preserving critically threatened freshwater habitats.

Original text from CORDIS.

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Data: CORDIS, © European Union