Climate change might lead to water shortage in the Alps

 　　VIENNA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Climate change and rising temperature in the long term can lead to water shortages in the Alps region, international experts warned Thursday at the Water-Scarce Final Conference in the Austrian eastern city Graz.

　　The Alpine¹ region originally is rich in water resources due to a large number of glaciers², spring and abundant rainfall either in summer or winter. But global warming may change this situation which has been shown in the past years that the water reserve has reduced gradually due to climate change, warned the experts.

　　Observation data have shown a significant decrease of 25 percent in groundwater recharge in the past 100 years which has also resulted in the reduction of mountain spring.

　　Director of the Provincial³ Department of Water Resources of Styria Johann Wiedner point out, in 2003, droughts occurred in the eastern part of the Alps, including the state of Styria and water shortages were also found in other regions of the Alps. He said the phenomenon was giving a warning that people "have to do something."

　　To this end, the European Union begun a project called "Alp Water Scarce" three years ago to observe water reserves, air temperature, water temperature and water table in this region and study the relationships among them.

　　Wiedner also admitted that there is no shortage of water at least in the short term and water supply for the local residents is totally insured.

1 alpine   

adj.高山的；n.高山植物

参考例句：

• Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。
• Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。

2 glaciers   

冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Glaciers gouged out valleys from the hills. 冰川把丘陵地带冲出一条条山谷。
• It has ice and snow glaciers, rainforests and beautiful mountains. 既有冰川，又有雨林和秀丽的山峰。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）

3 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。