This module begins by outlining how anthropogenic warming impacts hydrological systems introducing concepts such as non-stationarity and the Clausius-Clapeyron relation, and then relates these basic principles to empirical studies summarised in Chapter 3 (Freshwater Resources) of the IPCC's 5th Assessment Report (AR5), citing UCL-led research under the NERC-funded QUEST-GSI project. The course then extends this conceptual and empirically driven knowledge base of climate change impacts on terrestrial hydrology to a range of aquatic ecosystems including wetlands, rivers, forests as well as groundwater and alpine glacial environments around the world. Case studies demonstrate the complexity of interactions that involve changes in freshwater withdrawals and land-use,  and  include non-linear and non-intuitive responses to climate variability and change. These case studies further demonstrate the use of specific analytical techniques for establishing linkages and evaluating trends, and highlight key challenges to current understanding of climate change impacts that include: (1) limited monitoring networks and observational datasets, and (2) uncertainty in hydrological projections of rainfall, evapotranspiration, river discharge, soil moisture and groundwater recharge. The course concludes with a review of the challenging task of communicating uncertain and complex impacts of climate change on water resources and hydro-ecological systems to water managers, policy makers and the general public.

The module aims are as follows:

to introduce students to the complex linkages between climate and hydrology and their associated risks to hydro- ecological systems,
	to introduce both statistical and numerical modelling approaches to assess the climate change impact and the estimation of ecological water demand in hydro-ecological systems, and
	to discuss the critical need for monitoring water storage and identify sustainable ways to manage water resources to ensure good public health and food security.
	Practical focused on the estimation of ecological water demand (environmental flow requirements) from projections of river discharge under climate change.
	Moodle resources (hosting reading lists, lecture/seminar handouts, datasets, guides and practical support materials).
The module will be delivered through lectures and seminars (2 hour sessions providing concepts, contexts and case studies) run by experts with UCL Geography: Richard Taylor, Julian Thompson & Simon Lewis.