Indicators for Climate Change Impacts - Rivers in cold ecoregions, Large rivers
Decrease in ice cover duration
| Stressor type | Hydrology / Morphology |
|---|---|
| Responding parameter group | Hydromorphological parameters |
| Responding parameter | Decrease in ice cover duration |
Response description
Higher temperatures will reduce ice cover duration.
Secondary effects
Prolonged macrophyte and algae growth, increased primary production, eutrophication.
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Relevant for all large rivers in cold ecoregions.
Relevant ecoregion(s) according to Illies
Borealic Uplands (20), Tundra (21), Fennoscandian Shield (22), Taiga (23)
Suggested indicator
Ice cover duration
Justification of indicator
Depending on the region ice cover duration is between three and four month. Ice cover is a key factor for the productivity of boreal aquatic ecosystems and easy to monitor.
