A study on water resources facilities management strategy based on climate change risk assessment

Abstract

Due to climate change, extreme weather events have been rampant and serious. Worldwide water-related disasters such as droughts and floods have be encontinuously occurring. The purpose of this study is to assess the risk of climate change on water related facilities by looking into three selected multipurpose dam –Hoengseong Dam, Miryang Dam and Buan Dam. These dams are used for various purposes like flood control, water supply and power generation. In order to provide a basis for creating a climate change adaptation plan, a climate change risk assessment was conducted for each dam. Climate Change Risk was assessed by estimating the likelihood of climate impact factors (heavy rain, drought, great heat, freezing, strong wind, and heavy snow) by multiplying the climate index values to the magnitude of the expected impact. The assessment results were analyzed using the climate change risk matrix. According to the position on the matrix, the response level is divided into the categories: acceptable, focus on prevention, focus on response, focus on prevention and response. Results of the risk assessment show that the risk of drought poses the highest likelihood and regarded as very dangerous in all three dams. Due to this, prevention and response focused adaptation measures are necessary. Heavy rain is less likely to occur but the magnitude of the impact is large so the adaptation measure should be focused on response. In terms of great heat, the measure focused on response is applicable. The rest of the factors –freezing, strong wind, and heavy snow–were evaluated as relatively safe and having acceptable levels of risk.