Future changes in Mekong River hydrology: impact of climate change and reservoir operation on discharge

A study assessing the likely impact of economic development and climate change on the hydrology of the Mekong. The results indicate that within the coming 20–30 year period, the operation of planned hydropower reservoirs is likely to have a larger impact on the Mekong hydrograph than the impacts of climate change. However, climate change will increase the uncertainty of the estimated reservoir operation impacts: the results indicate that even the direction of the flow-related changes induced by climate change is partly unclear. Consequently, both dam planners and dam operators should pay closer attention to the cumulative impacts of climate change and reservoir operation on aquatic ecosystems.