ABSTRACT
Recent International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) findings indicate that the arid subtropical regions of the world are likely to expand in the context of global warming, and the proportion of the human population facing water supply limitations is expected to increase. The combination of higher temperatures, causing increased aridity, and anticipated changes in atmospheric circulation mean that even if total precipitation increases on average across the globe, drought is likely to become an even greater problem than it is today. The IPCC findings also warn that the intensity of precipitation is likely to increase, so both extremes – floods and droughts – will increasingly challenge water managers.
