Koldam, I. van (2020) The balance between the green- and blue water footprint of crops in Groningen from 1990-2050. Bachelor thesis.
|
Text
Bachelor thesis complete.pdf Download (879kB) | Preview |
Abstract
The research looks at the balance between the green water footprint and the blue water footprint for the crops winter wheat, sugar beet and potato in the province of Groningen for the period 1990-2050. It also aims to find out which climatic variables contribute most to the respective water footprints. It will do so according to the following research question: “What is the effect of climate change on the balance between the green water footprint and the blue water footprint over the period 1990-2050 for the most predominantly grown crops in the province of Groningen?” A data set of the KNMI is used to analyse past climatic data and the HadGEM2-ES model is used for future climatic data predictions with pathway RCP4.5 of the IPCC. To determine the yearly crop water requirements of all crops the CROPWAT model of the FAO is used. The results show an increase in crop water requirements for all crops. The green water foot print decreases whereas the blue water footprint increases. The balance shifts from a predominantly green water footprint to a more balanced mixture of green water footprint and blue water footprint. The results from the regression analysis show that the variables that contribute most to the green water footprint and the blue water footprint are average temperature and the number of sun hours. The regression coefficient is negative for the green water footprint and positive for the blue water footprint, meaning that an increase in the mentioned variables causes a decrease in the green water footprint and an increase in the blue water footprint. These findings show that the need for irrigation water will rise in the future. This increased need calls for increased water shortage preparedness of the waterboards Noorderzijlvest and Hunze en Aa’s.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Human Geography and Planning |
| Supervisor: | Mallon, G. and Salemink, K. |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Aug 2020 09:11 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Aug 2020 09:11 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3293 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |