Abstract:
This study aims to assess the potential impacts of climate change on hydrometeorological
variables and droughtcharacteristics in the Ethiopian Bilate watershed. Climate projections under two
Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) were obtained from the Coordinated
Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) Africa for the near future (2021–2050) and far future
(2071–2100) periods. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was applied to assess
changes in watershedhydrologywiththeCORDEX-Africadata. TheStandardizedPrecipitationIndex
(SPI), Streamflow Drought Index (SDI), and Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) were calculated to
identify the characteristics of meteorological, hydrological, and agricultural droughts, respectively.
Due to a significant rise in temperature, evapotranspiration will increase by up to 16.8% by the end
of the 21st century. Under the RCP8.5 scenario, the annual average rainfall is estimated to decrease
Citation: Orke, Y.A.; Li, M.-H. Impact
of Climate Change on
Hydrometeorology and Droughts in
the Bilate Watershed, Ethiopia. Water
2022, 14, 729. https://doi.org/
10.3390/w14050729
Academic Editors: Xander Wang and
Lirong Liu
Received: 29 January 2022
Accepted: 21 February 2022
Published: 24 February 2022
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4.0/).
by 38.3% in the far future period, inducing a reduction of streamflow of up to 37.5%. Projections
in reduced diurnal temperature range might benefit crop growth but suggest elevated heat stress.
Probabilities of drought occurrence are expected to be doubled in the far future period, with increased
intensities for all three types of droughts. These projected impacts will exacerbate water scarcity and
threaten food securities in the study area. The study findings provide forward-looking quantitative
information for water management authorities and decision-makers to develop adaptive measures to
cope with the changing climate
