What climate change-related risks threaten water resources?

• A. Increased droughts and floods due to altered precipitation and warming.
• B. Decreased droughts with more stable rainfall.
• C. No impact on water resources.
• D. Only affects coastal areas.

Answer: (A)

Climate change reshapes the hydrological cycle, raising the risk of both droughts and floods. Warmer temperatures increase evaporation and change precipitation patterns, so some regions dry out while others experience heavier, more erratic rainfall. That combination threatens water resources by reducing reliable water supplies (lower river flows, stressed reservoirs, and less groundwater recharge) and escalating flood risks, which can overwhelm infrastructure and degrade water quality through erosion, sediment, and nutrient runoff. Coastal areas face added threats like saltwater intrusion, but inland areas are also affected by changing rainfall, drought frequency, and timing of snowmelt. So the scenario of more droughts and floods due to altered precipitation and warming best captures the climate-related risks to water resources.