The Effect of Climate Change on the Water Supply and Hydraulic Conditions in the Upper Pejibaye River Basin, Cartago, Costa Rica

The consequences of climate change have challenged researchers to generate models and projections understand behavior under different scenarios. In Costa Rica, as in other countries, climate-change (CC) are essential make decisions about the management natural resources, mainly water. To change’s impact on hydraulic parameters such velocity, depth, river surface area, we studied Pejibaye basin, located Jiménez Cartago, Rica. This watershed is characterized by having more than 90% its area covered forest. We used precipitation temperature data from meteorological stations (2000 2009) scenarios (2000–2099) predict response basin periods. First, calibrated (NSE = 0.77) validated 0.81) HBV hydrological model using ten years daily 2000 2009. were incorporated into model. allowed us determine CC water regime for periods 2040–2059 (CCS1) 2080–2099 (CCS2). IBER mathematical was changes variables flow. For CCS1, determined a 10.9% decrease mean velocity 0.1-meter while CCS2, effect will be an 11.3% reduction 0.14-meter depth. largest decreases per kilometer occur May (1710 m2) CCS1 April (2250 CCS2.