Climate change and its impact on water sector are the most critical global challenge in current century. It is likely to be more severe in developing countries whose economy is largely dependent on the agriculture and is already under stress due to population increase and associated demands for energy, fresh water and food. Climate change poses uncertainties to the supply and management of water resources.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted an increase of temperature about 2 to 4 C over the next 100 years. As a result, the various components of hydrologic cycle would be affected causing considerable changes in the precipitation characteristics, evapotranspiration, runoff patterns, snow & glacier melts, recharge to the ground water etc. Consequently, these changes can indirectly affect the flux and storage of water in surface and subsurface reservoirs (i.e., lakes, soil moisture, and groundwater). In addition, there may be other associated impacts, such as acceleration of floods & drought, seawater intrusion, water quality & environmental deterioration, potable water shortage, etc.
Invited to the Roorkee Water Conclave are members from international and national universities/institutes, research institutions, government organisations, planners and decision makers, field personnel, consultants, financial institutions, multilateral and bilateral international organisations.