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Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

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Surface and Groundwater Flow Response to Climatic Change in the Ifugao Rice Terraces

With climate change occurring globally, water resources re also affected. The Ifugao Rice Terraces, composed of mountains of rice paddies constructed and maintained by traditional farming practices, especially stand vulnerable to these changes. It is the aim of this research to assess the effects of climate change to the surface and groundwater hydrology of a system of rice paddies by modelling the hydrologic response of a selected study site in the Ifugao Rice Terraces. Subsequently, adaptation measures are proposed to address the impacts. A site in Kiangan, Ifugao, Philippines was chosen for the study. The catchment properties were characterized using GIS processing. Historical conditions were modelled using observed temperature and precipitation data from 1981-2005. Bias-corrected climate change projections from the Global Climate Model of Japan’s Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) were used to model the conditions for 2041-2050 and 2091-2100. The Similar Hydrologic Element Response (SHER) model was used in quantifying the hydrologic fluxes. Results show that the wet seasons of 2041-2050 pose high risks of excess runoff, while the dry seasons of 2091-2100 exhibit the highest risk of water deficits. Interventions were suggested to address these trends.