SLF study shows: Water temperatures in European mountain rivers have been rising for decades. This is endangering water quality, fish, industry and the electricity production - and if the trend continues, ecological tipping points could be reached. Current forecasting models have so far ignored important causes of the rise in temperature and should be improved.
The water in mountain rivers and streams is getting warmer, with negative consequences for drinking water, industry, trout and many more. SLF hydrologist Amber van Hamel has ibeen looking into why temperatures are getting warmer and how this is affecting almost 180 rivers in various mountain regions in Europe. She has been tracking both, the long-term average trend and individual extreme situations.