Some of the most serious consequences of anthropogenic climate change are
believed to be those related to changes in hydrological systems. Societies, individuals,
groups, and governments are likely to adapt to future changes in climatic conditions
in the same way that they have adjusted their behavior to the impacts of climate
variability and extremes in the past (Adger et al. 2005; Agrawal and Perrin 2008).1
The impacts of future climate change could be significantly reduced if people could
cope better with present climate risks (Thomalla et al. 2006). Analyses of past
impacts and responses to climate shocks and stressors are necessary to assess the
feasibility of future responses to changing climate conditions, even if future climatic
shocks and stressors are historically unprecedented (Agrawal and Perrin2008). Building the adaptive capacity of individuals, groups, or organizations to
adapt to changes and transforming this capacity into action are two dimensions of
adaptation to a changing climate (Adger et al. 2005)