Impacts of Climate Change on Extreme Hydro-Climatic Events: Droughts and Floods

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 5024

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Física Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
Interests: climate variability; climate change; dynamical downscaling; statistical downscaling; streamflow variability; drought; extreme events; teleconnections; seasonal forecasting
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Applied Physics Department, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: climate change; regional climate models; climate projections; convection-permitting models; climate variability; hydrological models; flood hazards; drought; land–atmosphere feedback; aridity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Applied Physics Department, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: climate variability; climate change; seasonal prediction; decadal prediction; climate change projections; downscaling techniques; regional climate models; convection-permitting models; streamflow variability; drought
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change is having a profound impact on extreme hydro-climatic events. On the one hand, droughts are becoming more frequent and severe, leading to reduced agricultural yields, water scarcity, and ecosystem stress. These dry spells also pose health and economic impacts in many parts of the world.

On the other hand, floods and extreme precipitation events are increasing in intensity and frequency, particularly in coastal regions. Rising sea levels, storm surges, and altered precipitation patterns contribute to more severe flooding and devasting effects. This results, among other negative impacts, in damage to critical infrastructure, land displacement, and water quality issues.

Implementing strategies for sustainable water management, resilient infrastructure, and early warning systems is essential to address these evolving hydro-climatic challenges and reduce their impacts on communities and ecosystems. To address these challenges, accurate climate projections as well as forecasting at different time scales (from seasonal to decadal) are crucial as climate services tools. This information can help communities and governments make appropriate decisions about water resource management, infrastructure planning, and disaster preparedness.

This Special Issue offers an opportunity to publish papers related to the impacts of climate change on extreme hydro-climatic events, specifically droughts and floods, but also those related to other extreme precipitation compound extreme events. Papers focused on observed and projected changes during the near and far future in the 21st century from different spatial scales and methodological approaches (statistical, physical, GCMs, downscaling, hydrological modeling, etc.) are welcome for submission. Papers dealing with climate change implications in topics such as water management are also of interest.

Dr. María Jesús Esteban Parra
Dr. Matilde García-Valdecasas Ojeda
Dr. Sonia Raquel Gámiz-Fortis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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

  • climate change
  • drought
  • flood
  • extreme events
  • climate models
  • downscaling
  • water management
  • extreme precipitation compound events

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 4673 KiB  
Article
Variability of Dry Days and Sequences of Dry Days in the Polish Carpathians in the Period 1986–2020
by Marta Cebulska and Robert Twardosz
Water 2024, 16(20), 2982; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16202982 (registering DOI) - 19 Oct 2024
Abstract
This study provides a climatological analysis of annual and long-term variability of dry days and sequences of dry days in the Polish Carpathians between 1986 and 2020. The input data for the research was compiled from the daily precipitation totals from 17 meteorological [...] Read more.
This study provides a climatological analysis of annual and long-term variability of dry days and sequences of dry days in the Polish Carpathians between 1986 and 2020. The input data for the research was compiled from the daily precipitation totals from 17 meteorological stations and the T. Niedźwiedź catalogue of circulation types over southern Poland. The frequency of sequences of dry days of different duration has been presented. The incidence of long-term periods has been related to the atmospheric circulation. The number of dry days and the averages of both the number and of the duration of sequences of dry days were analysed for the study period. This yielded an average annual number of dry days ranging from 142 to 195 (39–53% of days in a year), depending on the altitude above sea level and longitude. A general pattern emerged in which the number of dry days increased from west to east. At most stations, there were no statistically significant trends with respect to the dry day characteristics analysed. This is an obvious result of high year-to-year variability, which means that only large changes can achieve statistical significance. Dry days have been evidenced to relate to circulation types. The vast majority of dry days are related to anticyclonic systems, particularly the anticyclonic wedge (Ka) and western anticyclonic (Wa) situations. On the other hand, no clear-cut relationship was established between an increase in air temperature and the occurrence of dry days. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 9614 KiB  
Article
Spatial and Temporal Variations’ Characteristics of Extreme Precipitation and Temperature in Jialing River Basin—Implications of Atmospheric Large-Scale Circulation Patterns
by Lin Liao, Saeed Rad, Junfeng Dai, Asfandyar Shahab, Jianying Mo and Shanshan Qi
Water 2024, 16(17), 2504; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16172504 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 571
Abstract
In recent years, extreme climate events have shown to be occurring more frequently. As a highly populated area in central China, the Jialing River Basin (JRB) should be more deeply explored for its patterns and associations with climatic factors. In this study, based [...] Read more.
In recent years, extreme climate events have shown to be occurring more frequently. As a highly populated area in central China, the Jialing River Basin (JRB) should be more deeply explored for its patterns and associations with climatic factors. In this study, based on the daily precipitation and atmospheric temperature datasets from 29 meteorological stations in JRB and its vicinity from 1960 to 2020, 10 extreme indices (6 extreme precipitation indices and 4 extreme temperature indices) were calculated. The spatial and temporal variations of extreme precipitation and atmospheric temperature were analyzed using Mann–Kendall analysis, to explore the correlation between the atmospheric circulation patterns and extreme indices from linear and nonlinear perspectives via Pearson correlation analysis and wavelet coherence analysis (WTC), respectively. Results revealed that among the six selected extreme precipitation indices, the Continuous Dry Days (CDD) and Continuous Wetness Days (CWD) showed a decreasing trend, and the extreme precipitation tended to be shorter in calendar time, while the other four extreme precipitation indices showed an increasing trend, and the intensity of precipitation and rainfall in the JRB were frequent. As for the four extreme temperature indices, except for TN10p, which showed a significant decreasing trend, the other three indices showed a significant increasing trend, and the number of low-temperature days in JRB decreased significantly, the duration of high temperature increased, and the basin was warming continuously. Spatially, the spatial variation of extreme precipitation indices is more obvious, with decreasing stations mostly located in the western and northern regions, and increasing stations mostly located in the southern and northeastern regions, which makes the precipitation more regionalized. Linearly, most of the stations in the extreme atmospheric temperature index, except TN10p, show an increasing trend and the significance is more obvious. Except for the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), other atmospheric circulation patterns have linear correlations with the extreme indices, and the Arctic Oscillation (AO) has the strongest significance with the CDD. Nonlinearly, NINO3.4, Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and SOI are not the main circulation patterns dominating the changes of TN90p, and average daily precipitation intensity (SDII), maximum daily precipitation amount (RX1day), and maximum precipitation in 5 days (Rx5day) were most clearly associated with atmospheric circulation patterns. This also confirms that atmospheric circulation patterns and climate tend not to have a single linear relationship, but are governed by more complex response mechanisms. This study aims to help the relevant decision-making authorities to cope with the more frequent extreme climate events in JRB, and also provides a reference for predicting flood, drought and waterlogging risks. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 11839 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Long-Term Streamflow Response to Flash Drought in the São Francisco River Basin over the Last Three Decades (1991–2020)
by Humberto Alves Barbosa and Catarina de Oliveira Buriti
Water 2024, 16(16), 2271; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16162271 - 12 Aug 2024
Viewed by 938
Abstract
Flash droughts, characterized by a rapid onset and severe intensity, pose a serious threat to water resource management. Extensive research has indicated that drought has lagged impacts on streamflow. Nevertheless, the hydrometeorological conditions by which streamflow dynamics respond to drought within the São [...] Read more.
Flash droughts, characterized by a rapid onset and severe intensity, pose a serious threat to water resource management. Extensive research has indicated that drought has lagged impacts on streamflow. Nevertheless, the hydrometeorological conditions by which streamflow dynamics respond to drought within the São Francisco River Basin (SFRB) remain ambiguous. To bridge this gap, we conducted a study on long-term streamflow responses to flash drought in the SFRB from 1991 to 2020, combining the Standardized Antecedent Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SAPEI) and quantile streamflow with a trend analysis. This study employed the SAPEI, a daily drought index, to identify flash droughts and assess the response of streamflow to the identified events across the SFRB. Our findings reveal insights into the direct response of streamflow to flash drought conditions, stimulated by the application of the SAPEI for analysis of flash drought events. The interannual flash droughts fluctuated over the years, with the middle part of the SFRB experiencing frequent, longer flash droughts, while the south part encountered shorter but less frequent events. About 55% of the study area is trended towards drying conditions. A comparative analysis of the SAPEI and streamflow identified a synchronized response to the onset of flash drought events, but the recovery timescale for the SAPEI and streamflow varied among the events. This study enhances understanding of the flash-drought–streamflow relationship in the SFRB and provides theoretical support for addressing drought risks under climate change. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 14381 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Climate Change on Hydro-Meteorological Droughts in the Chao Phraya River Basin, Thailand
by Bounhome Kimmany, Supattra Visessri, Ponleu Pech and Chaiwat Ekkawatpanit
Water 2024, 16(7), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16071023 - 1 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1760
Abstract
This study evaluated the impacts of climate change on hydro-meteorological droughts in the Chao Phraya River Basin (CPRB), Thailand under two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). We used three Reginal Climate Models (RCMs) of the Southeast Asia Regional Climate Downscaling/Coordinated [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the impacts of climate change on hydro-meteorological droughts in the Chao Phraya River Basin (CPRB), Thailand under two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). We used three Reginal Climate Models (RCMs) of the Southeast Asia Regional Climate Downscaling/Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment—Southeast Asia (SEACLID/CORDEX-SEA), which are bias corrected. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to simulate streamflow for future periods. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI) were estimated and used for drought characterization at three time scales (3, 6, and 12 months). The lag time between meteorological and hydrological droughts is approximately 1–3 months. The results suggest that the CPRB is likely to experience less frequent hydro-meteorological drought events in the future. The meteorological drought is projected to be longer, more severe, and intense. The severity of hydrological drought tends to decrease, but the intensity could increase. Climate change has been discovered to alter drought behaviors in the CPRB, posing a threat to drought monitoring and warning because droughts will be less predictable in future climate scenarios. The characterization of historical and future droughts over the CPRB is therefore valuable in developing an improved understanding of the risks of drought. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 15310 KiB  
Article
The Applicability of the Drought Index and Analysis of Spatiotemporal Evolution Mechanisms of Drought in the Poyang Lake Basin
by Zihan Gui, Heshuai Qi, Faliang Gui, Baoxian Zheng, Shiwu Wang and Hua Bai
Water 2024, 16(5), 766; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16050766 - 4 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1270
Abstract
Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, is an important regional water resource and a landmark ecosystem. In recent years, it has experienced a period of prolonged drought. Using appropriate drought indices to describe the drought characteristics of the Poyang Lake Basin [...] Read more.
Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, is an important regional water resource and a landmark ecosystem. In recent years, it has experienced a period of prolonged drought. Using appropriate drought indices to describe the drought characteristics of the Poyang Lake Basin (PLB) is of great practical significance in the face of severe drought situations. This article explores the applicability of four drought indices (including the precipitation anomaly index (PJP), standardized precipitation index (SPI), China Z-index (CPZI), and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI)) based on historical facts. A systematic study was conducted on the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of meteorological drought in the PLB based on the optimal drought index. The results show that SPI is more suitable for the description of drought characteristics in the PLB. Meteorological droughts occur frequently in the summer and autumn in the PLB, with the frequency of mild drought being 17.29% and 16.88%, respectively. The impact range of severe drought or worse reached 22.19% and 28.33% of the entire basin, respectively. The probability of drought occurrence in the PLB shows an increasing trend in spring, while in most areas, it shows a decreasing trend in other seasons, with only a slight increase in the upper reaches of the Ganjiang River (UGR). One of the important factors influencing drought in the PLB is atmospheric circulation. The abnormal variation of the Western Pacific Subtropical High was one of the key factors contributing to the severe drought in the PLB in 2022. This study is based on a long-term series of meteorological data and selects the drought index for the PLB. It describes the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and evolution patterns of drought and investigates the developmental path and influencing factors of drought in typical years. This study provides a reliable scientific basis for similar watershed water resource management. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop