Potential impacts of air temperature rise in the hydric balance of Brazilian Pampa biome

Climate change is the meteorological alterations that occurred in the past by natural causes, which is occurring today and being intensified by the human behavior. Some of the main consequences of these alterations are: increase in the air temperature, changes in the hydrological cycle and occurrence of extreme weather events with greater intensity and frequency. This work was performed in Alto Camaquã in the Pampa Biome, which is considered as a region of stability and of great importance for biodiversity conservation. The main economical and sociocultural activity in the region is livestock run by different families, which is also considered fundamental for the maintenance of this biome. The objective of this work was to infer information on hydric deficit in Alto Camaquã watershed related to the increase in the air temperature and its impacts on family livestock. For this purpose, we estimated the climatic water balance (CWB) derived from pluviometric and meteorological data. We also estimated the maximum capacity of available water for the period between 1990 and 2016 and also for the predictive scenarios when an increase as well as no change in the air temperature occur. It has been observed that there will be hydric deficit during the summer, except for Rainy Year, independent on whether a change in the air temperature occurs or not. The results demonstrated that the effects of climate change are already occurring and that, even if the ongoing climate change stops before the predictions come true, the hydric deficit has already been experienced by the society.