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Spatiotemporal Evolution Patterns and Propagation Mechanisms in Drought

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water and Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 2214

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Interests: drought assessment; drought monitoring; drought propagation; remote sensing; extreme precipitation

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Interests: water resources; drought disaster; agricultural drought; drought assessment
School of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Interests: drought monitoring; drought prediction; drought propagation; hydrological model; carbon cycling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change is intensifying the occurrence of extreme weather events, with particularly profound impacts on drought. Drought stands as the most common natural disaster globally, characterized by its high frequency, long duration, extensive coverage, and substantial losses. With climate change and human activities affecting water resources, the frequency, severity, and unpredictability of droughts and other extreme events are set to increase significantly.

Therefore, we are pleased to announce the launch of a Special Issue titled “Spatiotemporal Evolution Patterns and Propagation Mechanisms in Drought”, in which we aim to integrate the latest research methods, technologies, applications, and advancements into the monitoring, forecasting, and mitigation of drought events. This Special Issue seeks to enhance our societal and ecosystem-related understanding of, and responses to, the challenges posed by drought events.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Improving existing drought indices and developing novel composite drought indices;
  2. Exploring pathways and mechanisms for multi-type drought propagation;
  3. Identifying the driving factors behind drought events;
  4. Characterizing and predicting the impacts of climate change and human activities on various aspects of drought events;
  5. Revealing spatiotemporal evolution patterns in multi-type drought on various spatial and temporal scales;
  6. Developing scientifically sound drought management plans to effectively control drought at its source or interrupt its propagation.

We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Dr. Fei Wang
Prof. Dr. Yanbin Li
Dr. Kai Feng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • drought indicators
  • drought propagation
  • spatiotemporal evolution
  • remote sensing
  • drought mitigation strategies

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 17515 KiB  
Article
Regional Drought Monitoring Using Satellite-Based Precipitation and Standardized Palmer Drought Index: A Case Study in Henan Province, China
by Mingwei Ma, Fandi Xiong, Hongfei Zang, Chongxu Zhao, Yaquan Wang and Yuhuai He
Water 2025, 17(8), 1123; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081123 - 9 Apr 2025
Viewed by 276
Abstract
Drought poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity and water resource sustainability in Henan Province, emphasizing the need for effective monitoring approaches. This study investigates the suitability of the TRMM 3B43V7 satellite precipitation product for drought assessment, based on monthly data from 15 meteorological [...] Read more.
Drought poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity and water resource sustainability in Henan Province, emphasizing the need for effective monitoring approaches. This study investigates the suitability of the TRMM 3B43V7 satellite precipitation product for drought assessment, based on monthly data from 15 meteorological stations during 1998–2019. Satellite-derived precipitation was compared with ground-based observations, and the Standardized Palmer Drought Index (SPDI) was calculated to determine the optimal monitoring timescale. Statistical metrics, including Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE = 0.87) and Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC = 0.88), indicate high consistency between TRMM data and ground measurements. The 12-month SPDI (SPDI-12) was found to be the most effective for capturing historical drought variability. To support integrated drought management, a regionally adaptive framework is recommended, balancing agricultural demands and ecosystem stability through tailored strategies such as enhanced irrigation efficiency in humid regions and ecological restoration in arid zones. These findings provide a foundation for implementing an operational drought monitoring and response system in Henan Province. Full article
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18 pages, 10230 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Surface Water Spatiotemporal Changes and Reservoir-Based Droughts in Small and Medium-Sized Reservoirs in China
by Zhenzhen Li, Shuyuan Xu, Changyan Li, Jine Lei, Dekun Tan and Li Tang
Water 2025, 17(7), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17071104 - 7 Apr 2025
Viewed by 220
Abstract
In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of surface water area changes in 9235 small and medium-sized reservoirs across China from 1985 to 2021. Using Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellite data, our investigation delved into the spatiotemporal changes in these reservoirs and explored [...] Read more.
In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of surface water area changes in 9235 small and medium-sized reservoirs across China from 1985 to 2021. Using Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellite data, our investigation delved into the spatiotemporal changes in these reservoirs and explored reservoir-based droughts. Using a robust algorithm, we examined the spatial and temporal patterns of surface water area (SWA) change on a national scale. While cumulative SWA remained stable at the national level, our analysis revealed diverse variations in individual catchments. To improve our understanding of reservoir-based hydrological drought, we introduced the Standardized Area Index (SAI). This index serves as a metric for quantifying drought severity and reveals a distinct north–south divide in China. The study shows that water-scarce northern regions experience prolonged and severe droughts, necessitating increased conservation efforts. Conversely, the water-rich southern region prioritizes increasing reservoir capacity. Our findings underscore the importance of small and medium-sized reservoirs in shaping China’s water resources landscape. Furthermore, this study provides valuable insights into the nuanced characteristics of droughts, facilitating the development of regionally tailored water management strategies. Full article
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22 pages, 17451 KiB  
Article
Identification of the Runoff Evolutions and Driving Forces during the Dry Season in the Xijiang River Basin
by Fei Wang, Ruyi Men, Shaofeng Yan, Zipeng Wang, Hexin Lai, Kai Feng, Shikai Gao, Yanbin Li, Wenxian Guo and Qingqing Tian
Water 2024, 16(16), 2317; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16162317 - 17 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1211
Abstract
During the dry season, river flow gradually diminishes, and surface water flow dries up. Therefore, the investigation of runoff during the dry season is of great practical significance for rational water allocation and water resource management. Based on hydrological station data from the [...] Read more.
During the dry season, river flow gradually diminishes, and surface water flow dries up. Therefore, the investigation of runoff during the dry season is of great practical significance for rational water allocation and water resource management. Based on hydrological station data from the Xijiang River Basin (XRB) from 1961 to 2020, this study examines the trend and periodic characteristics of dry-season runoff, identifies fluctuation and variability in dry-season runoff, and investigates the main circulation factor combinations influencing dynamic changes in dry-season runoff. The results indicate the following: (1) the characteristics of dry-season runoff variations are basically consistent across sub-basins in the XRB during the study period, with the minimum (21.96 × 108 m3) and maximum (54.67 × 108 m3) average monthly runoff occurring in February and October, respectively; (2) interannual-scale dry-season runoff exhibits periodicity of 3.53 years and 7.5 years; (3) using the Bayesian estimator of abrupt seasonal and trend change algorithm (BEAST), a seasonal abrupt point with a probability of 20.5% occurs in 1983, and the confidence interval for this abrupt point is from 1980 to 1986; (4) based on the cross wavelet approach, solar sunspots are identified as the primary circulation factor contributing to dry-season runoff in the XRB, exhibiting a significant 8–14 years resonance cycle of negative correlation with runoff during the high-energy phase from 1972 to 2006. These findings offer a new perspective on understanding the evolution of dry-season runoff and circulation factor variations, which are crucial for accurate prediction, early warning, and rational allocation of water resources during the dry season. Full article
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