River runoff changes and recent climatic fluctuations in Bulgaria

Some estimates of global climatic change in the next 100 years suggest a general warming and rainfall decrease on the Balkan Peninsula. Our studies suggest that in Bulgaria climatic changes have already started. Because water resources to a great extent depend upon climate dynamics, this paper develops the linkage of climatic fluctuations and water resources using time-series analysis of climatic parameters and some river runoff characteristics and their correlation. One of the main conclusions, based on the results, is that climatic change manifested in the last 15 years has significantly influenced river runoff. A study of the recent prolonged drought and the influence of changes on water resources and human activity begins with characterizing climate-hydrology linkages. The results of this study point to several problems of regional and local importance.