Agrometeorology, Agricultural Water Management and Impacts of Extreme Events

Dear Colleagues,

Water is a crucial resource as its availability can affect all aspects of society, the economy and the environment. Today, more than ever, the effects of water availability-related events are getting more and more visible. The recent drought event that took place in Europe (summer 2022) serves as a significant example and an important lesson, a lesson towards adopting more water-friendly and water-saving practices in our everyday activities. Agriculture is such an activity and, as the greatest water-consuming activity, it requires the attention of the scientists, decision makers, producers and end-users. Every individual group has a role to play towards adapting the agricultural practices while setting the milestones for a water- and food-secure future. One agriculture-related factor that threatens water and food security is the loss of water that is taking place in the distribution systems of agricultural water. A second factor is the use of more water that is actually required by the plants.

Such factors can be addressed and the impacts of agriculture on the environment as well as the impact of a water-related events on agriculture and the economy can be minimized through the use of an arsenal of readily available options. The science of agrometeorology, the instruments and methods for the measurement of the actual agriculture water demand, satellite technology, water leakage detectors, precision irrigation (smart farming), decision-making systems, as well as other tools, methods and practices are already here to assist towards this adaptation.

In this regard, this Special Issue focuses on agrometeorology, the management of agricultural water and the impacts of extreme climatic events on the agricultural production. It also encompasses the adaptation of agricultural practices towards climate change resilience and a water- and food-secure future.  

Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Evapotranspiration and other mass (carbon, water, etc.) and energy fluxes;
• Evapotranspiration models and evaluation;
• Droughts and impacts on plants;
• Water stress;
• Agricultural water management;
• Irrigation management;
• Precision irrigation (smart farming);
• Water losses;
• Water recycling and reuse in irrigation;
• Water and food security;
• Hydrological processes;
• Weather factors' effect on phytopathology and plant diseases;
• Effects of temperature and water availability on plants;
• Impacts of climate and climate change on agricultural crops;
• Agroclimatology;
• Remote sensing and crop modeling;
• Future projections in agricultural productivity;
• Aridity and changes of climate;
• Impacts of vegetation on rural microclimate.

Dr. Demetrios E. Tsesmelis
Dr. Nikolaos Skondras
Guest Editors

Ippokratis Gkotsis
Guest Editor Assistant

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