Search

B Mar Satorras b is Urban Sustainability Researcher at the Institut Metròpoli, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain, and affiliated researcher at the Urban Transformation and Global Change Laboratory (TURBA, IN3, UOC), Barcelona, Spain. We take the nomination of Best Paper and Honourable Mention very seriously, so the selection process is a bit elaborate. Both selections are on important institutional issues that have gained salience in the twenty-first century - how to reoperate reservoirs in a highly stressed basin to meet the challenges of climate change and competing demands, and how to finance the remunicipalization of urban water. [Extracted from the article]

Research on the assessment of water resources in agricultural regions is a prominent area of study. These resources are vital for many arid and agricultural areas, including those in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This paper provides a comprehensive review of research trends, analysing scientific production and published articles on water resources in CIS countries from 2000 to 2023. We collected, reviewed, and analysed 163 publications from the Scopus database meeting our selection criteria. The bibliometric analysis revealed publications in English (149) and Russian (15), annual publication counts, document types, top papers, journals, funding sponsors, subject categories, and affiliations by country and institution. We also examined co-authors and keyword cooccurrence to identify knowledge clusters in the literature. The analysis highlighted the need for international research to enhance scientific exchange on this topic. Long-term, continuous research and sustainable development of water resource concepts are essential for future agricultural, water management integration supplemented with parts of water transport. This study may inspire new trends in agricultural development, focusing on irrigation efficiency, water distribution, and climate change within a sustainable circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of water management is continually changing. Water has been subject to external shocks in the form of climate change and globalization. Water management analysis is subject to disciplinary developments and inter-disciplinary interactions. Are these developments well-documented in the literature? Initial observations in the interdisciplinary literature suggest that results are fragmented, implying that a state-of-the-art review is needed. This paper aims to close such a gap by reviewing recent developments in water economics that address increasing perceptions of water scarcity by looking first at changes in the supply and quality of water and then at the impacts of climate change on water supply extremes. Among responses to such challenges, this paper identifies changes to water use patterns by including and co-managing water from different sources, including surface and groundwater, reclaimed wastewater, and desalinated water. Technological advancements are also among the resources that address water challenges. Water challenges are also reflected in the management of internationally shared water. A recent surge in scientific work identified international treaties as a significant contributor to international water management. This paper reviews recently employed economic approaches, such as experimental economics, game theory, institutional economics, and valuation methods. And, finally, it explores modeling approaches, including hydro-economic and computable general equilibrium models, that are being used to deal with water challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the factors affecting effective dashboards for urban water security monitoring and evaluation. Urban water security is a constantly evolving field influenced by several factors, including changes in climate, ecosystems, socio-economic status, and human beings. Although urban water security has been discussed in some parts of the literature, there has been minimal literature review that focused on the factors of urban water security and the effective dashboards for monitoring and evaluation. Using systematic literature review (SLR) and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA), this paper reviewed 143 articles. The result shows growth in the environmental informatics landscape since the last ten years when the first article on the urban water management dashboard was published. The visual design was the most frequently discussed factor for dashboards, followed by user customization. It also shows that this topic can go deeper to integrate both factors and design an effective environmental dashboard. The discussion identified three potential opportunities for future research in water security and informatics: i) exploring other dimensions of effective dashboards, ii) considering more research on the environmental dashboard, and iii) investigating the real-life application of dashboards in urban water security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores to evaluate how Pakistan's agriculture is affected by climate change and to find techniques to mitigate and adapt to the changes. Pakistan's agriculture industry is drastically affected by climate change. The continuous inclination of temperature, shifting weather patterns, and more frequent climate change events are remarkably reducing crop yields, compromising food security and posing serious threats to rural livelihood. In order to evaluate the effects of climate change on agricultural output, water resources, and controlling pests, this study sought farmers in liable areas, reviewed a variety of literature in detail, and examined climate data. The paper also founds critical declines in crop yields, changes in developing seasons, and expanded irritation and sickness pressure. Farmers were observed using more groundwater, which resulted in a shortage of water and less fertile land. Pakistan needs to prioritize climateresilient agricultural techniques, raise farmer awareness and capacity building, improve water management, and encourage crop variety to ensure agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bai et al. ([3]) in their article «Impact of climate change on water transfer scale of inter-basin water diversion project» present a systematic approach for runoff prediction, impact analysis, and risk assessment under climate change. Elnashar and Elyamany ([8], [9]) in the paper «Managing Risks of Climate Change on Irrigation Water in Arid Regions», propose a systematic approach to identify, analyse, and respond to the risks of climate change on irrigation water in arid regions using a Risk Management process. In the paper «Complex policy mixes are needed to cope with agricultural water demands under climate change» by Martinez-Valderrama et al. ([23]) the authors argue that the forecast of the water gap (difference between agricultural water use and annual supply of water resources) will continue to widen, affecting the water security of a large part of the world's population. Elnashar and Elyamany ([8], [9]) in the paper «Adapting Irrigation Strategies to Mitigate Climate Change Impacts: A Value Engineering Approach» accept the fact that climate change will increase water demand and decrease crop yields. [Extracted from the article]

Awareness of the potential threat posed by drought necessitates the implementation of appropriate procedures to enable effective and systematic actions aimed at mitigating, or at least partially limiting, the impacts of drought events. This paper seeks to analyze the spatial and temporal changes of atmospheric drought in the period 1961–2020 and assesses drought hazards in southwest Bulgaria, which is a region susceptible to periodic water shortages. In this study, the standardized precipitation evaporation index (SPEI), accounting for both precipitation and temperature changes, was used to analyze drought characteristics. The analysis reveals significant temporal changes and spatial differences in drought patterns across southwest Bulgaria. The northeastern part of the region, including the Sofia district, exhibits the lowest risk of drought, while the central part of the region shows a tendency toward moderate and occasional low drought events. Some stations, particularly in the southern part of the region, consistently experienced more severe drought conditions (Blagoevgrad and Sandanski), as indicated by negative SPEI values in different time scales (3, 6, and 12 months). Results indicate an increased frequency of droughts during 1990–2020 compared to 1961–1990, which was driven by climate change and human activities. Across all stations and in both SPEI time scales, the period from the early to mid-1990s was characterized by significant droughts. The study of drought hazards using short-term and long-term SPEI analysis reveals different levels of drought risk and increased hazard from the northern to southern parts of the study area. The share of areas with a high drought hazard exceeds 40% of the territory in the areas with a transitional and continental-Mediterranean climate. Based on the results, the paper highlights the need to integrate drought risk assessments with regional planning to improve agricultural resilience and water resource management in response to anticipated droughts, especially in drought-prone areas such as southwest Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the increasing severity of droughts due to climate change. It emphasises the complexity of defining drought and the diverse perspectives among stakeholders. Lots of stakeholders with unclear responsibilities are involved, which can lead to uncertainty and indecisiveness in addressing the issue. To tackle this, the present paper proposes a methodology to dissect drought systems and reveal the intricate relationships between their components. This approach combines a comprehensive definition of drought with the "Water Resilience Assessment Framework" and an "Actor-Relational Approach", visualised through network analysis. The methodology was applied to a case study situated in the Leie Basin of Flanders, Belgium. By employing this strategy, policymakers and mediators can gain a deeper understanding of drought, identify its root causes, and prioritise necessary changes for more effective drought and water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a collection of research papers that focus on the impact of climate change and human activities on hydrological processes. It highlights the changes in precipitation patterns, glacier retreat, snowmelt regimes, and river flows as evidence of climate change. The document also discusses the influence of human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion on hydrological processes. It emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaborations and advanced technologies in studying these processes. The research papers included in the document cover topics such as climate change in specific regions, water resource management, and human interventions in environmental systems. The findings provide valuable insights for sustainable water management and conservation efforts. [Extracted from the article]

This editorial paper takes the form of a concise report and delves into a critical and intricate issue essential for the sustainability of agriculture. It centers on the intricate relationship between agri-cultural water resource management and agronomical practices, as well as their ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change while ensuring both the quantity and quality of crop yields. Specifically, this paper serves as a synopsis of how the far-reaching consequences of climate change for water resources impact agricultural production. It also highlights primary adaptation strategies for managing agricultural water resources, as drawn from the existing literature. Such strategies are designed to counteract the potentially adverse impacts of climate change on the rural sector. Fur-thermore, this brief report offers a valuable overview of the 17 selected papers featured in this Special Issue (SI) on Water, published by MDPI. These papers serve as exemplars of cutting-edge approaches to adaptability in water resource management and resilient crop production systems, as these fields attempt to thrive in an ever-changing environmental landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus are the most produced fruits worldwide. It is expected that these crops will be severely affected by climate change. However, the literature lacks works that attempt to understand the influence of climate change on citrus. For this reason, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on climate change and citrus to investigate its development and current trends in this research domain. The main trends, keywords, and their relations were identified. The period from 1992 to 2022 was analyzed, resulting in 178 documents in the Scopus database. The most significant publishers' countries were also the largest citrus producers in the world besides being G7 members. Three main research areas were identified: modeling, socio-political issues, and plant physiology. A tendency to change interest from modeling and risk analysis to physiology and stress studies was observed. Additionally, some of the most cited papers observed the positive impacts of climate change on certain citrus crops. Despite the multidisciplinary publications, two main gaps were identified: (i) the lack of investigations with combined stresses (abiotic and biotic) instead of isolated studies, and (ii) the lack of studies of predictive models for citrus production in different conditions and climate change scenarios. Finally, there was a tendency toward studying water use and irrigation alternatives due to water scarcity and management solutions to improve the production system's resilience, considering the potential impacts of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document titled "Resilient and sustainable water management in agriculture" emphasizes the importance of water resources and agricultural systems for sustainable development. It discusses the use of computer-based technologies like remote sensing, GIS, and machine learning in understanding and managing water resources. The document introduces a special issue on water management in agriculture, which includes research papers covering topics such as optimal reservoir operation, crop water demand assessment, groundwater contamination, rainfall data estimation, agricultural drought vulnerability, irrigation water quality, groundwater potential zones, groundwater quality assessment, and the toxic effects of copper oxide nanoparticles on aquatic organisms. These papers offer valuable insights for decision-making and planning in water resource management and sustainable agriculture. The collection of research papers also covers various topics related to environmental science and geospatial analysis, utilizing remote sensing data, GIS technology, and analytical methods to assess aspects like land use, water quality, and morphometric parameters. The findings highlight the effectiveness of these approaches in decision-making for sustainable development and resource management. Additionally, one paper explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on environmental pollution and emphasizes the need for short-term and long-term solutions. Overall, these papers provide valuable insights for researchers and policymakers in the field of environmental science. [Extracted from the article]

This paper examines the effects of climatic factors, specifically temperature and precipitation, on land use and land cover (LULC) on the Kerch Peninsula using structural equation modeling (SEM). The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used as a mediator in the model to accurately assess the impact of climate change on vegetation and subsequent LULC dynamics. The results indicate that temperature exerts a significant negative influence on LULC in the early periods, inducing stress on vegetation and leading to land degradation. However, this influence diminishes over time, possibly due to ecosystem adaptation and the implementation of resilient land management practices. In contrast, the impact of precipitation on LULC, which is initially minimal, increases significantly, highlighting the need for improved water resource management and adaptation measures to mitigate the negative effects of excessive moisture. The NDVI plays a crucial mediating role, reflecting the health and density of vegetation in response to climatic variables. An analysis of lagged effects shows that both precipitation and temperature exert delayed effects on LULC, underscoring the complexity of water dynamics and ecosystem responses to climatic conditions. These results have important practical implications for land resource management and climate adaptation strategies. Understanding the nuanced interactions between climatic factors and LULC can inform the development of resilient agricultural systems, optimized water management practices, and effective land use planning. Future research should focus on refining models to incorporate nonlinear interactions, improving data accuracy, and expanding the geographic scope to generalize findings. This study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and adaptive management to develop sustainable land management practices that can withstand the challenges of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is impacting urban areas, especially through extreme rainfall that stresses conventional water management systems. Rainwater resulting from impervious runoffs, stormwater leads to an increase in the amount of wastewater that requires treatment and an overflow of the combined sewer system. Therefore, untreated wastewater is released into the surroundings or, in some cases, causes damage to urban systems. Nevertheless, many cities in the world are in the process of establishing a sustainable approach to urban water management. Sustainable stormwater management practices are essential for overcoming various environmental challenges and promoting community sustainability and resilience. The purpose of this paper is to communicate Oslo's success in implementing sustainable stormwater management in urban areas. By analyzing successful cases, researchers may be able to record patterns that offer potential answers to the stormwater management challenge. The present case study presents an approach that can enlighten urban planners and policymakers about the potential outcomes of sustainable stormwater management under the conditions presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transboundary waters account for a significant portion of global freshwater resources, yet their management is often challenging. The Nile River basin faces significant challenges owing to the complex history and unique context of the basin. Examining the experience of other transboundary basins can offer insights for the effective management of the Nile waters. This paper aims to extract contextual lessons for the Nile from global transboundary water management practices. To that end, we performed a scoping literature search to identify well-researched transboundary water management practices from across the world, selected key case studies, and analyzed their management practices. We discussed the context of the Nile and organized the unique challenges of the basin in five themes, and we discussed how global experiences could provide valuable insights for the Nile basin within each theme. Trust building, the need for equitable water use frameworks, a strong river basin organization, the nuanced role of external actors, and the impact of broader political context were major themes that emerged from the analysis of the Nile context. Within each theme, we presented experiences from multiple basins to inform transboundary water management in the Nile basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paddy-rice cultivation using the traditional continuous flooding method requires much water, up to 2500 L, to produce 1 kg of rice. Decreasing water availability is being exacerbated by climate dynamics, i.e., droughts and rainfall variability negatively affecting food security in developing regions, particularly Africa. Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) practice is a climate-smart water management strategy that, together with puddling (a critical field preparation process), significantly affects soil hydrological and physicochemical regimes, such as soil water dynamics and oxidation states in paddy fields. However, there are limited reviews on the effects and interaction of the AWD duration on hydrological conditions in the paddy-rice rhizosphere continuum under AWD practice at different rice growth stages. Our review synthesizes key scientific literature to examine water management and hydrological properties of paddy soils under AWD practice with climate change and sheds light on why farmers are skeptical in adopting the practice. To develop this paper, we reviewed scientific information from published journal articles, reliable reports, and our knowledge on paddy-rice cultivation and water management with climate change in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Several studies confirm that AWD practice increases water–rice–crop productivity, yields, and reduces methane emissions. Limitations and challenges of AWD irrigation, including changes in soil structure that influence irrigation water application, variations in hydraulic conductivity caused by the duration and frequency of irrigation cycles, and frequent manual water level (WL) monitoring, are discussed. Opportunities to improve the integration of AWD strategies within government policies, irrigation schemes, and farmer acceptance due to skepticism, limited knowledge, and fear of unreliable water hindering adoption are highlighted. Future research suggestions include the following: (i) long-term measurement of water stress indices using infrared thermometers; (ii) seasonal suitability mapping using NDVI, GIS, and remote sensing; and (iii) application of smart sensors based on the Internet of Things (IoT) to address AWD challenges for precision water management in paddy fields with climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has increasing impacts of hydro-meteorological extremes on water resources. Projections indicate a similar trend and challenge in the effectiveness of conventional engineering solutions in climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies. Nature-based solutions (NbSs) have been promoted as viable approaches and measures that complement engineering solutions. While the effects of NbSs have been increasingly demonstrated, their broader implementation can be favoured by NbSs knowledge integration in higher education curricula. Knowledge on how the research practice is translated into the educational landscape is missing. This paper adopts the concept of knowledge translation and analyses the integration of NbSs in the study programs of higher education institutions in three European countries (Croatia, Czechia, and Slovenia). Specifically, it explores the extent, thematic areas, and curricular settings of NbSs related to water resources management in implemented curricula at public universities. The results show that NbSs are integrated in a limited number of courses within the relevant study programs (in the fields of, e.g., natural sciences, geography, and engineering and technology) and represent rather an extension of compulsory curricula. Bibliometric analysis revealed that most courses involving the NbSs approach still represent a personalized knowledge, i.e., developed by professors during their research activities. The barriers impairing a broader integration of NbSs in the studied programs are then discussed. Our results therefore indicate that NbSs do not represent a mainstream knowledge that would proliferate into higher education curricula through accreditations procedures, but that the knowledge that is mostly integrated through direct incremental implementation of NbSs in the individual compulsory lessons or facultative courses. We assert that without broader and systematic NbSs knowledge translation to study programs, the effectiveness of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies cannot be fully achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been several incidences of flood recently, which are believed to be aggravated by increased climatic variables as a result of perceived changes in climatic conditions (due to climate change) in the Cross River Basin. The basin is the most extensively developed and used river basin in the management of the water resources of the Cross River and Akwa Ibom States in Nigeria. In this paper, 30 years (from 1992 to 2021) of hydro-meteorological data (annual average rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures, hu midity, duration of sunlight (sunshine hours), evaporation, wind speed, soil temperature, cloud cover, solar radiation, and atmospheric pressure) from four stations in the Cross River Basin were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Abuja and subjected to trend detection analysis using the Mann–Kendall test to determine the trend in climatic parameters. The results indicate that there is a significant upward trend in annual rainfall in Ogoja but a downward trend in Calabar. The evaporation trend is significantly downward in Eket, whereas in Calabar, there is an upward trend in solar radiation. Generally, there is a significant rise in annual maximum temperature across the basin. Serial correlation and segmented regression analyses were performed to measure the impact of fluctuations in monthly and long-term Tahiti and Darwin's Sea level pressures on the climatic variables at the Cross River Basin catchment. These analyses were necessary to determine the extent of the influence of the El Nino Southern Oscillation climatic cycle. The analyses show no significant association between the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and rainfall or between the ENSO and runoff in the catchment. This implies that the impact of the ENSO on rainfall and runoff in the Cross River Basin catchment is not considerable. The intercepts derived from the segmented regression in Eket and Ogoja show significant positive trends in both areas for rainfall and runoff. The trends in intercepts suggest that there are external factors influencing rainfall and runoff other than ENSO events, thus strengthening the assertion of climate change. Results from this study will facilitate the understanding of the variability in climatic parameters by stakeholders in the basin, researchers, policymakers, and water resource managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coordinating management of groundwater, surface water, and irrigated crops is fundamental economically for many arid and semi-arid regions. This paper examines conjunctive water management for agriculture using hydro-economic optimization modeling. The analysis is integrated across two timescales: a two-stage stochastic decadal model for managing annual and perennial crops spanning dry and wet years and a far-horizon dynamic program embedding the decadal model into a longer groundwater policy setting. The modeling loosely represents California's San Joaquin Valley and has insights for many irrigated arid and semi-arid regions relying on groundwater with variable annual hydrology. Results show how conjunctive water management can stabilize crop decisions and improve agricultural profitability across different water years by pumping more in dry years and increasing recharging groundwater in wetter years. Using groundwater as a buffer for droughts allows growing more higher-value perennial crops, which maximizes profit even with water-scarce conditions. Nevertheless, ending overdraft in basins with declining groundwater for profit-maximizing farming reduces annual crops to maintain more profitable perennial crops through droughts. Results are affected by economic discount rates and future climates. Operating and opportunity costs from forgone annual crops can reduce aquifer recharge early in regulatory periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resilience under climate change in Azerbaijan is increasingly vital as rising temperatures and erratic precipitation patterns strain water resources. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive strategy that integrates adaptive water management practices and stakeholder collaboration to ensure sustainable water access and mitigate the impacts of climate variability. The aim of this article is to analyze the challenges posed by climate change on water resources in Azerbaijan and propose strategies to enhance water resilience. The paper discusses how effective are existing water conservation policy in Azerbaijan, are and what effective solutions can be proposed to enhance water resilience in the face of scarcity under climate change. The research employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to comprehensively address various dimensions of water scarcity. Quantitative methods, including hydrological modelling and statistical assessments, enable an exploration of the tangible aspects of water availability and distribution, aiding in our understanding of the physical dynamics involved. In terms of ensuring water resilience in Azerbaijan during the analysis of changes in the volume of water taken from natural water sources was observed a decrease in the volume of water taken from surface water sources, an increase in the volume of water taken from groundwater sources. If the amount of extracting from water sources continues at the current rate, it is projected to reach 13.8 km3 in 2030, 14.8 km3 in 2040, and 15.8 km3 in 2050 in Azerbaijan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and human activities exert significant influence on the water–sediment relationship in arid and semi-arid regions. Therefore, comprehending the underlying mechanisms is crucial for the effective management of water and soil resources, as well as integrated watershed management. This research focuses on the Kuye River watershed (KYH_W) in the middle reaches of the Yellow River in China, along with its sub-watersheds Wangdaohengtazi (WDHT_SW) and Xinmiaosi (XM_SW). This paper utilizes the Mann–Kendall non-parametric test and the double cumulative curve method to examine the interannual trends of runoff, sediment transport, precipitation, temperature, and NDVI factors. Furthermore, the method of the slope change ratio of cumulative quantity (SCRCQ) is utilized to quantitatively evaluate the impacts and contribution rates of climate change and human activities on water–sediment changes within each watershed. The results are as follows: (1) From 1969 to 2019, the entire watershed experienced a significant decrease in both runoff and sediment transport, with 1997 marking the year of abrupt change. However, following 2012, the KYH_W and WDHT_SW exhibited a noticeable rebound in runoff. (2) Human activities predominantly contribute to the reduction in water and sediment in the watershed. (3) After the abrupt change, between 1998 and 2011, the contribution rates of climate change and human activities to the annual runoff reduction in the entire KYH_W reached 33% and 64%, respectively. Moreover, these rates for sediment transport reduction reached 26% and 74%, respectively. Subsequently, after 2012, the contribution rates of both factors to the increase in watershed runoff reached 29% and 71%, respectively. Factors other than the NDVI, within human activities, played a dominant role in augmenting the watershed's runoff. (4) Prior to 2011, changes in vegetation cover resulting from the Grain for Green Program, as measured by the NDVI, emerged as the primary factor responsible for reduced runoff in the watershed. Conversely, factors other than the NDVI assumed dominance in reducing sediment transport. The SCRCQ method offers a quantitative approach to assessing water–sediment changes. Based on this method, the study further underscores the substantial impacts of climate change and human activities on variations in runoff and sediment transport within the KYH_W in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. Notably, the water–sediment changes in the KYH_W exhibit distinct stage-wise and spatial discrepancies, which warrant increased attention in future research endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How humans use and manage water resources under climate change conditions threatens water security, which means risking the availability of enough good-quality water for everybody and for nature's flora and fauna. Integrated Water Resources Management is a state-of-the-art water management model. After 20 years in use, the application of this model failed to achieve its primary goal in many countries, i.e., ensuring the good ecological status of rivers, lakes, and aquifers. This paper shows that because the model is more human-centered than nature-oriented or anthropocentric, it generates severe environmental damages called "externalities." From a historical analysis of the human–nature interplay, three main results were obtained: (1) the nature–human interaction is always in a state of contradictory confrontation, being composed of two opposite human behaviors of conflict and cooperation with nature; (2) this contradiction is assumed as a general ontological principle and epistemic hypothesis, called "dialectical"; and (3) historically, in the balance of power between nature and humans, three clusters are identified: (i) naturalistic, (ii) dualistic, and (iii) anthropocentric. A theory of a novel behaviorist conflict resolution model is suggested to dialectically resolve conflicts between stakeholders and natural laws. This model provides a harmonic symbiosis of humans and nature, removes environmental externalities, and can lead to sustainable water security. Three case studies illustrate the merits of the new dialectical model in real applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research paper examines the current water management practices in Ahmedabad, a rapidly urbanizing city in Gujarat, which is facing a severe water crisis due to population growth, rapid urbanization, and changing climate patterns. The study focuses on sustainable practices and citizen participation in water conservation and management. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study includes a literature review, interviews with water management experts, and surveys of citizens' attitudes and behavior towards water conservation and management. The research findings provide insights into the latest water management practices in Ahmedabad, identify opportunities for sustainable water management practices, and examine the level of citizen participation in water conservation and management initiatives. The research paper's significance lies in its potential to contribute to the global discourse on sustainable water management practices and citizen participation in water resource management, informing policy decisions and providing a roadmap for other cities facing similar challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the papers collected in Man's Impact on the Hydrological Cycle in the United Kingdom Hollis gives us a fascinating view of the concerns and approaches of practising hydrologists in the late 1970s. Hollis, a physical geographer from University College London, spent most of his research career considering the way that humans acted to change their surroundings, looking first at the impact of urbanisation on flooding and later at the management of wetlands. The papers in this book cover a wide range of subjects, from the impact of forestry to the effects of house building on channel morphology and function. Many provide valuable reviews and insights into contemporary thinking on the effect of humans on the UK environment, and the modern reader will discover much of value in the ideas and approaches described in this book. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate assessment of water resources at the watershed level is crucial for effective integrated watershed management. While semi-distributed/distributed models require complex structures and large amounts of input data, conceptual models have gained attention as an alternative to watershed modeling. In this paper, the performance of the GR4J conceptual model for runoff simulation in the Gambia watershed at Simenti station is analyzed over the calibration (1981–1990) and validation period (1991–2000 and 2001–2010). The main inputs to conceptual models like GR4J are daily precipitation data and potential evapotranspiration (PET) measured from the same catchment or a nearby location. Calibration of these models is typically performed using the Nash–Sutcliffe daily efficiency with a bias penalty as the objective function. In this case, the GR4J model is calibrated using four optimization parameters. To evaluate the effectiveness of the model's runoff predictions, various statistical measures such as Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, coefficient of determination, bias, and linear correlation coefficient are calculated. The results obtained in the Gambia watershed at Simenti station indicate satisfactory performance of the GR4J model in terms of forecast accuracy and computational efficiency. The Nash–Sutcliffe (Q) values are 0.623 and 0.711 during the calibration period (1981–1990) and the validation period (1991–2000), respectively. The average annual flow observed during the calibration period is 0.385 mm while it increases with a value of 0.603 mm during the validation period. As for the average flow simulated by the model, it is 0.142 mm during the calibration period (i.e., a delay of 0.142 mm compared to the observed flow), 0.626 mm in the validation period (i.e., an excess of 0.023 mm compared to the observed flow). However, this study is significant because it shows significant changes in all metrics in the watershed sample under different scenarios, especially the SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios over the period 2021–2100. These changes suggest a downward trend in flows, which would pose significant challenges for water management. Therefore, it is clear that sustainable water management would require substantial adaptation measures to cope with these changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change (CC) is considered one of the most critical threats to human lives and activities due to dramatic increases in the frequency and severity of droughts and floods under global warming. To alleviate such impacts, many studies on CC adaptation strategies in water management have emerged. This review covers 131 relevant studies published over the past two decades. It aims to robustly synthesize the applied strategies/techniques and identify findings and gaps. In addition, a bibliometric analysis is performed to describe the co-citation network and statistical characteristics of the reviewed papers and identify the related research clusters. A typical procedure for CC adaptation studies is proposed based on previous studies. It is found that systems reoperation was preferred for CC adaptation in water resources management, specifically by updating the reservoir operation curves using optimization algorithms. However, low impact development (LID) measures were favored in storm drainage and flood mitigation systems. As for future relevant research, the main recommendations are integrating environmental, social, and economic aspects in evaluating CC adaptation strategies and incorporating land use and land cover (LULC) and water demand changes in CC adaptation studies. This state-of-the-art review represents essential information for improving CC adaptation strategies in water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region in China is experiencing a serious ecological water scarcity problem in the context of climate warming and drying. There is an urgent need for practical adaptation measures to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change and provide a scientific basis for urban water supply planning, water resource management, and policy formulation. Urban ecological water can maintain the structure and function of urban ecosystems, both as an environmental element and as a resource. Current research lacks quantitative analysis of the impact of regional meteorological factors on ecological water use at the small and medium scales. Based on the meteorological data and statistical data of water resources in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region, this paper analyzed the trend of climate change and established an ecological climatic water model using gray correlation analysis, polynomial simulation, and singular spectrum analysis to predict the ecological water consumption. And, we assessed the climatic sensitivity of ecological water use and estimated the future ecological climatic water use in the BTH region based on four climate scenarios' data. The results showed that the average multi-year temperature was 13.2 °C with a clear upward trend from 1991 to 2020 in the BTH region. The multi-year average precipitation was 517.1 mm, with a clear shift in the period of abundance and desiccation. Ecological climatic water modeling showed that a 1 °C increase in temperature will increase ecological water use by 0.73 × 108 m3~1.09 × 108 m3 in the BTH region; for a 100 mm increase in precipitation, ecological water use will decrease by 0.49 × 108 m3~0.88 × 108 m3; under the four climate scenarios of SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, SSP3–7.0, and SSP5–8.5, the regional ecological climatic water use will be 5.14 × 108 m3, 6.64 × 108 m3, 7.82 × 108 m3, and 9.06 × 108 m3 in 2035, respectively; and in 2050, the ecological climatic water use will be 8.16 × 108 m3, 9.75 × 108 m3, 10.71 × 108 m3, and 12.41 × 108 m3, respectively. The methodology and results of this study will support the quantification of climate change impacts on ecological water use in the BTH region and serve as a theoretical basis for future research on ecological water use adaptation to climate change. This study can provide a basis for the development of the overall planning of urban ecological water supply, and at the same time, it can lay a foundation for the study of measures to adapt to climate change by ecological water use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of the study was the effect of teleconnection patterns on cloudiness in Poland in the period 1990–2020. The analysis was conducted based on daily cloudiness values from 34 measurement stations of Institute of Meteorology and Water Management - National Research Institute and monthly North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Scandinavia (SCAND) indices from the collection of Climate Prediction Center (CPC). The course of cloudiness values in winter in the multiannual period was analyzed together with its averaged spatial distrubution for the entire winter and for particular winter months. Next, the coefficient of correlation of cloudiness with a given teleconnection pattern index was calculated. The analysis also covered cloudiness in the positive and negative teleconnection phases. The results confirm a variable course and increasing trend of winter cloudiness in Poland. The average cloudiness reached 76% in the studied multiannual period. The correlation coefficient for the North Atlantic Oscillation primarily adopted negative values, and positive for the Scandinavian circulation. The strongest correlation between the teleconnection pattern and cloudiness was observed in February for NAO and in December for SCAND. Cloudiness showed no considerable differences between the positive and negative teleconnection phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial introduces the Special Issue titled "Water Resources and Sustainable Development," underscoring the critical need for sustainable management of water resources in light of increasing demand, climate change impacts, and pollution. The issue delves into the intricate relationship between water availability, quality, utilization, and the socioeconomic determinants shaping these aspects, highlighting the necessity for novel, balanced strategies that cater to societal, economic, and environmental requirements. The research within this Special Issue is segmented into four key areas: understanding hydrochemical properties and water quality; evaluating anthropogenic effects on water resources; strategizing water resource management; and applying technological innovations in water resource management. Collectively, these studies broaden our comprehension of water resources and sustainable development, stressing the importance of continuous research in this sphere. As we look ahead, this editorial accentuates the importance of ongoing exploration and innovation in these pivotal areas, focusing on understanding climate change implications, mitigating human-induced impacts, refining water management strategies, and harnessing technological advancements. Its overarching aim is to propel worldwide initiatives towards achieving comprehensive water security and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the global water crisis and the unsustainable management of water resources. It highlights the increasing frequency and duration of extreme hydrometeorological events due to climate change. The lack of long-term political priority given to water management by policymakers is identified as a major problem. The article also emphasizes the importance of sustainable groundwater management and the need for policies to reduce the decline of groundwater levels and contamination. The negative consequences of unregulated groundwater extraction in countries like the United States and India are discussed. The article concludes by mentioning other papers in the journal that cover various water-related topics. [Extracted from the article]

Climate change is the dominant factor affecting the hydrological process, it is of great significance to simulate and predict its influence on water resources management, socio-economic activities, and sustainable development in the future. In this paper, the Xiying River Basin was taken as the study area, China Atmospheric Assimilation Driven Data Set (CMADS) and observation data from the Jiutiaoling station were used to simulate runoff of the SWAT model and calibrate and verify model parameters. On this basis, runoff change of the basin under the future climate scenario of CMIP6 was predicted. Our research shows that: (1) The contribution rates of climate change and human activities to runoff increase of the Xiying River are 89.17% and 10.83%, respectively. Climate change is the most important factor affecting runoff change of the Xiying River. (2) In these three different emission scenarios of SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 in CMIP6 climate model, the average temperature increased by 0.61, 1.09 and 1.74 °C, respectively, in the Xiying River Basin from 2017 to 2050. Average precipitation increased by 14.36, 66.88, and 142.73 mm, respectively, and runoff increased by 15, 24, and 35 million m³, respectively. The effect of climate change on runoff will continue to deepen in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity is exacerbating in many regions across North America because of climate change compounded by population growth, overexploitation of freshwater resources, and lack of proper management. Considering the regional urgency, there is an immense need to find more equitable solutions for water management. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the climatic factors impacting the hydrological regime in North America, including changes in surface runoff, groundwater storage, and the forested watershed, based on current trends and future projection scenarios. Moreover, this paper critically overviews need-based solutions for effective water management at a regional scale. The study shows that many areas of North America are exposed to extreme events such as prolonged droughts, devastating floods, wildfires, and altering precipitation patterns. Consequently, these changes are triggering wide-ranging impacts on water resources, leading to water supply deficiencies and influencing water flows and quality in the Southwestern United States, prairie provinces in Canada, and Mexico. The projection of warming around the region experiences spatial and seasonal variations because of the diversity in climatic conditions. Overall, in North America, winter is expected to warm more than other seasons causing earlier runoff and a decline in snowmelt. Given the physical and economic constraints that limit the development of new utilities, emphasis should be placed on strengthening nature-based solutions such as green infrastructure. Thus, the findings suggest an integrated water resource management approach is required, along with climate-induced innovative technologies, to secure the water resources while preparing for the forecasted challenges of tomorrow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses a participatory approach to assess the level of understanding of the Water-Energy-Climate Change (WECC) nexus in South Africa. The aim is to initiate the development of well-coordinated, systematic, and holistic strategies to promote efficient management of the WECC and its implications in the country. The assessment follows the learnings from the Integrated Water Resource Management framework, which promotes a participatory approach in the administration of water resources. The paper reveals that, despite the reasonable level of understanding of WECC, it is still insufficient to promote an integrated approach mainly in policy development and planning for water and energy resources while averting climate impacts. This is exacerbated by limited coordination and consultation among various stakeholders. However, minimal efforts to promote an integrated approach in the management of the WECC sectors is observed. Despite these developments, the paper proposes that the participatory approach is feasible to promote holistic strategies and collaboration among stakeholders mandated to manage WECC sectors. Until approaches such as this are adopted within the institutional framework, this nexus will continue to impede the country's sustainable development endeavours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agriculture is facing different pressures linked to diffuse pollution from nutrients and chemicals, water abstraction and hydromorphological changes. According to information reported under the Water Framework Directive, around one third of surface water bodies fail to achieve good status because of one or several of these pressures. Using sustainable management practices based on agroecological principles, organic farming, and nature-based solutions, with multiple sustainability benefits, can contribute to reducing the magnitudes of pressures on water, enhancing the long-term resilience of agriculture to climate changes and benefit biodiversity. Investing in treatment plants, pipes, and conveyance schemes, is often the most trusted solution, but conventional engineered methods represent end-of-pipe solutions that do not address pollution at the source. The paper is presenting opportunities for green infrastructure and nature-based solutions application in Romania to aid in addressing some of the situations mentioned above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alpine inland lake dynamics have been good indicators of changes in terrestrial hydrological cycles under global climate change. However, the relationship between alpine inland lake and climatic factors remained largely uncertain. This study examines the spatial-temporal change of the fluctuation of the lake by using dense time series Landsat TM/ETM/OLI images to delineate water boundary information based on the Random Forest algorithm and using ICESat (Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite) dataset to monitor changes in variations of water level. Variations of Qinghai Lake (QHL) were analyzed from 1987 to 2020 and the mechanism of these changes was discussed with meteorological data. The results indicated that the QHL fluctuated strongly showing a pattern of shrinkage–expansion over the last three decades. The lake storage significantly decreased by −2.58 × 108 m3·yr−1 (R2 = 0.86, p < 0.01) from 1989 to 2004 and sharply increased (6.92 × 108 m3·yr−1, R2 = 0.92, p < 0.01) after 2004. The relationship between the lake and climate over the last 30 years implies that the decreasing evaporation and increasing precipitation were the major factors affecting the fluctuation of lake storage. Meanwhile, the temporal heterogeneity of the driving mechanism of climate change led to the phased characteristics of lake storage change. In detail, obvious warming led to the shrinkage of the QHL before 2004 through increasing evaporation, while humidifying and accelerating wind stilling dominated the expansion of the QHL after 2004 by increasing precipitation and decreasing evaporation. This paper indicated that the frameworks of multi-source remote sensing and accurate detection of water bodies were required to protect the high-altitude lakes from further climate changes based on the findings of this paper of the QHL recently. The framework presented herein can provide accurate detection and monitoring of water bodies in different locations in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and provide a necessary basis for future political activities and decisions in terms of sustainable water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the national DK-model hydrological information and prediction (HIP) system and HIP portal viewed as a 'digital twin' and how the introduction of real-time dynamic updating of the DK-model HIP simulations can make room for plug-in submodels with real-time boundary conditions made available from an HIP portal. The possible feedback to a national real-time risk knowledge base during extreme events (flooding and drought) is also discussed. Under climate change conditions, Denmark is likely to experience more rain in winter, more evapotranspiration in summer, intensified cloudbursts, drought, and sea level rise. These challenges were addressed as part of the Joint Governmental Digitalization Strategy 2016–2020 for better use and sharing of public data about the terrain, water, and climate to support climate adaptation, water management, and disaster risk reduction. This initiative included the development of a new web-based data portal (HIP portal) developed by the Danish Agency for Data Supply and Infrastructure (SDFI). GEUS delivered 5 terabytes of hydrological model data to the portal, with robust calibration methods and hybrid machine learning (ML) being key parts of the deliverables. This paper discusses the challenges and potentials of further developing the HIP digital twin with 'plug-in digital twins' for local river basins, including feedback to the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water has emerged as a pivotal global issue encompassing quantitative and qualitative dimensions, albeit with variations across the world. Successive dedicated reports have attributed the causes to i) population growth, leading to an increasing demand, ii) pollution resulting from mining and industrial transformation activities, and iii) climate change impacting the global water cycle. However, the implementation of the integrated water resource management and water sensitive urban design approach still appears to be limited worldwide. Therefore, this paper aims to contribute to stating the water urban issue and facilitate understanding the complexity of the problem at hand through relevant literature. Concrete examples from Algeria and around the world are cited to reveal these aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato cultivation is a significant agricultural activity worldwide. As a staple food in many countries, potatoes provide essential nutrients and are a significant source of income for farmers. This paper investigates current and future net irrigation requirements for potatoes in combination with LCA (life cycle assessment) to assess the GHG emissions due to irrigation. Potato cultivation in Cyprus is used as a model for insular environments, which are often neglected from such studies. The models suggest that an increase in net irrigation requirements is expected but there is a large variability among locations and between years. The increase in rainfall that some of the models predict does not mean that this water will be effectively stored in the soil (and reduce irrigation requirements). The GHG emissions due to potato irrigation in Cyprus are estimated to be 1369.41 tons CO2eq and expected to decrease after 2030 by 35%, mainly due to changes in the electricity mix (from heavy fuel to renewable energy). Further research including other important (irrigated) crops in the island will support the development of strategies towards sustainable resources management under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean coastal lagoons provide important ecological functions and nature's contribution to people, but they are particularly vulnerable to multiple pressures due to their location at the land-sea interface and the many activities they host. Numerous research and monitoring programs have been conducted to study the functioning of Mediterranean coastal lagoons and to improve their ecological and chemical status, especially since the 2000s with the EU Water Framework Directive. However, many coastal lagoons still had not achieved a good ecological status by 2018. The soft-bottom benthic ecosystem plays a crucial role in the functioning of shallow coastal lagoons, regulating among others nutrient and oxygen fluxes, and hosting a high biodiversity. The alteration of this compartment by anthropogenic pressures is therefore a major problem. Through a literature review, this paper aims to summarize information available on the impacts of the five main human-induced pressures — i.e. exploitation of natural resources, habitat destruction, climate change, pollution and alien invasive species — on the soft-bottom benthic ecosystem in Mediterranean coastal lagoons (period 2000—2022), and to identify perspectives for future research that can contribute to the improvement of monitoring programs. Our review shows that resource exploitation and nutrient pollution have been the two most studied pressures whereas research is still underdeveloped on the impacts of climate change, invasive alien species, and contaminants of emerging concern. We also found that the recording and quantification of pressures is still poor, and that their cumulative effect is poorly understood. In terms of indicators, the microbial and microphytobenthic compartments are being overlooked and functional approaches could be strengthened. This review could help scientists realign research on pressures of priority interest and thus better assist stakeholders in managing coastal lagoons in times of global changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrological assessment of the Vistula River basin in the near future will be a key element in the development of strategies to adapt agriculture to climate change. The Vistula River basin covers 61% of Poland's area (190,062 km2) and is mainly used for agricultural production. The aim of this study is to assess the water balance of the Vistula River basin from the perspective of 2050 based on the analysis of two climate scenarios, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, and the three climate models ICHEC-EC-EARTH_KNMI-RACMO22E (A), ICHEC-EC-EARTH_DMI-HIRHAM5 (B), and ICHEC-EC-EARTH_SMHI-RCA4 (C). This paper presents the steps in the development of the SWAT model and the results of the hydrological analysis of the Vistula catchment. Calibration and validation of the model were carried out using the SUFI-2 algorithm in the SWAT-CUP programme for 2013–2018. The data used to calibrate the SWAT model are monthly flow measurements [m3/s] from the measurement station in Tczew, located near the estuary of the Vistula basin to the Baltic Sea. The summary result of the work is the results of modelling the flow of the Vistula River catchment for different climate scenarios in the 2020–2050 perspective. The average annual precipitation for all projections in 2021–2030, 2031–2040, and 2041–2050 will be higher by up to 22% (763 mm) (RCP 8.5.C for 2041–2050) compared to the 2013–2018 simulation years (624 mm). The average annual temperature for most climate projections for 2021–2030 will fall to as low as 8.7 °C (RCP 4.5.B) compared to the 2013–2018 simulation period (9.2 °C). In contrast, for all projections in 2031–2040 and 2041–2050, the average annual temperature will increase to as much as 10.3 °C (RCP 8.5.C). The simulation results for the climate projections (2020–2050) indicate that there are no clear trends of change in the water management of the Vistula River basin for the coming decades. According to scenarios RCP 4.5.A, RCP 8.5.A, and RCP 8.5.B, the annual sums of potential evapotranspiration show a slight downward trend. On the other hand, for the RCP 8.5.C and RCP 4.5.C projections and the climate change scenario RCP 4.5.B, the results obtained show a slight upward trend in the annual sum of potential evapotranspiration. For the overall evapotranspiration and potential evapotranspiration assessment for all climate projections analysed, the annual evapotranspiration total shows a clear increase compared to the 2013–2018 baseline period. The average annual actual evapotranspiration for all projections in 2021–2030, 2031–2040, and 2041–2050 will increase up to 467 mm (RCP 4.5.A—2021–2030) compared to the 2013–2018 simulation period of 401 mm. The average annual potential evapotranspiration for all projections in 2021–2030, 2031–2040, and 2041–2050 will increase up to 755 mm (RCP 8.5.C—2031–2040) compared to the 2013–2018 simulation period—616 mm. The analysis of the total runoff in all climate models for the RCP 4.5 scenario shows that the annual average total runoff tends to decrease. The results of the simulations carried out for the RCP 8.5 scenario, which are generally characterised by an increase in total runoff in subsequent years, are different. When analysing annual total runoff on a regional basis, it appears that for most of the climate projections analysed (except for the RCP 8.5.A scenario), annual runoff will be lower, especially in the lowlands in the central part of the Vistula basin. In regions where the increase in precipitation is greatest in the north-western and southern basins, higher total runoff should be expected. The analysis of the total runoff in all climate models for the RCP 4.5 scenario shows that the annual average total runoff tends to decrease. The results of the simulations carried out for the RCP 8.5 scenario, which are generally characterised by an increase in total runoff in subsequent years, are different. When analysing annual total runoff on a regional basis, it appears that for most of the climate projections analysed (except for the RCP 8.5.A scenario), annual runoff will be lower, especially in the lowlands in the central part of the Vistula basin. In regions where the increase in precipitation is greatest in the north-western and southern basins, higher total runoff should be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a comprehensive overview of machine learning (ML) methodologies and algorithms, highlighting their practical applications in the critical domain of water resource management. Environmental issues, such as climate change and ecosystem destruction, pose significant threats to humanity and the planet. Addressing these challenges necessitates sustainable resource management and increased efficiency. Artificial intelligence (AI) and ML technologies present promising solutions in this regard. By harnessing AI and ML, we can collect and analyze vast amounts of data from diverse sources, such as remote sensing, smart sensors, and social media. This enables real-time monitoring and decision making in water resource management. AI applications, including irrigation optimization, water quality monitoring, flood forecasting, and water demand forecasting, enhance agricultural practices, water distribution models, and decision making in desalination plants. Furthermore, AI facilitates data integration, supports decision-making processes, and enhances overall water management sustainability. However, the wider adoption of AI in water resource management faces challenges, such as data heterogeneity, stakeholder education, and high costs. To provide an overview of ML applications in water resource management, this research focuses on core fundamentals, major applications (prediction, clustering, and reinforcement learning), and ongoing issues to offer new insights. More specifically, after the in-depth illustration of the ML algorithmic taxonomy, we provide a comparative mapping of all ML methodologies to specific water management tasks. At the same time, we include a tabulation of such research works along with some concrete, yet compact, descriptions of their objectives at hand. By leveraging ML tools, we can develop sustainable water resource management plans and address the world's water supply concerns effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]