Eutrophication will increase during the 21st century as a result of precipitation changes

Eutrophication, or excessive nutrient enrichment, threatens water resources across the globe. We show that climate change-induced precipitation changes alone will substantially increase (19 ± 14%) riverine total nitrogen loading within the continental United States by the end of the century for the "business-as-usual" scenario. The impacts, driven by projected increases in both total and extreme precipitation, will be especially strong for the Northeast and the corn belt of the United States. Offsetting this increase would require a 33 ± 24% reduction in nitrogen inputs, representing a massive management challenge. Globally, changes in precipitation are especially likely to also exacerbate eutrophication in…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 1313897, award306747
• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Award: NE/L013371/1
• NO
  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  Awards: award306748, NA08OAR4320752
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Award: NE/L013371/1