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Effects of Climate Change on Hydrology
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Effects of Climate Change on Hydrology

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 2477

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Wei-Che Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Disaster Prevention Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 360302, Taiwan
Interests: storm surge and wave simulation; large-scale particle image velocity (LSPIV); river hydrological observation (flow, velocity, and water level); applying deep learning to hydrological observations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Wen Cheng Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Disaster Prevention Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 36063, Taiwan
Interests: hydrology and hydraulics; environmental fluid mechanics; disaster prevention and ecological engineering; contaminant transport modeling; environmental monitoring; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Fong Zuo Lee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City 402202, Taiwan
Interests: reservoir sedimentation management; hydraulic engineering; sediment transport

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change poses unprecedented challenges to hydrology, affecting global precipitation patterns, river flows, groundwater levels, storm surges, and water quality. First, rising global temperatures alter the temporal and spatial distribution of precipitation, increasing the intensity and frequency of rainfall, especially of extreme events such as heavy rains and droughts. Some regions may experience an increase in average annual precipitation, while others may see a decrease, leading to greater variability in precipitation patterns. These changes directly impact surface runoff and river flow, causing some areas to face increased flood risks, while others suffer from more severe droughts.

Second, as temperatures rise, evaporation and evapotranspiration intensify, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This not only accelerates the evaporation of surface water bodies but also increases soil and vegetation moisture loss. Moreover, glaciers and permanent snow cover in mountainous regions are melting faster due to global warming, potentially increasing river flows in the short term but leading to long-term decreases, particularly in areas that are reliant on snowmelt. Groundwater systems are similarly affected; as precipitation patterns change and surface runoff increases, the natural recharge processes of groundwater may weaken, causing groundwater levels to decline. Additionally, due to rising sea levels, coastal regions may experience saltwater intrusion into both surface and groundwater systems, further affecting the availability of freshwater resources. Understanding these changes is crucial for managing water resources, mitigating natural disasters, and planning for sustainable development.

Therefore, we invite the submission of papers that provide new insights into the complex interactions between climate change and hydrological systems, including but not limited to the following:

  • The impact of climate change on extreme hydrological events;
  • The effects of changes in precipitation patterns on river flow;
  • The impact of climate change on glacier and snow cover melting;
  • The effects of rising temperatures on evaporation and evapotranspiration;
  • Climate adaptation studies of groundwater systems;
  • Analyses of the relationship between saltwater intrusion in coastal areas and climate change;
  • Changes in storm surges and waves or improved prediction capabilities due to climate change;
  • The impact of climate change on water quality;
  • Water resource management strategies under climate change scenarios.

Dr. Wei-Che Huang
Prof. Dr. Wen Cheng Liu
Dr. Fong Zuo Lee
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Applied Sciences 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 2400 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
  • hydrology
  • river
  • glacier
  • evaporation
  • evapotranspiration
  • groundwater
  • ocean
  • water quality
  • water resource management

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 5336 KB  
Article
Drought Forecasting Using Standard Precipitation Index and Artificial Intelligence Models in the Mediterranean Region of Türkiye
by Rojhat Ergüven, Alp Buğra Aydin and Derya Avci
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 12172; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152212172 - 17 Nov 2025
Viewed by 843
Abstract
The ongoing drought constitutes a pivotal environmental challenge for the Mediterranean Region of Türkiye, where elevated climatic variability and erratic precipitation patterns result in considerable agricultural and hydrological stress. This study applied two artificial intelligence models—artificial neural network (ANN) and Random Forest (RF)—to [...] Read more.
The ongoing drought constitutes a pivotal environmental challenge for the Mediterranean Region of Türkiye, where elevated climatic variability and erratic precipitation patterns result in considerable agricultural and hydrological stress. This study applied two artificial intelligence models—artificial neural network (ANN) and Random Forest (RF)—to forecast meteorological drought using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) derived from nearly a century of monthly precipitation data (1929–2024) across eight provinces: Adana, Antalya, Burdur, Hatay, Isparta, Kahramanmaraş, Mersin, and Osmaniye. The models were evaluated at four accumulation periods (SPI-3, SPI-6, SPI-12, and SPI-24) using multiple statistical indicators. The findings indicated that artificial neural networks (ANNs) attained the highest predictive accuracy at extended timescales (SPI-12 and SPI-24), with R2 values reaching up to 0.94. This outcome signifies the capacity of ANNs to discern nonlinear and persistent drought patterns. The RF model exhibited enhanced stability and responsiveness in short-term forecasts (SPI-3, R2 = 0.89), effectively reproducing rapid fluctuations in rainfall. The comparative findings underscore the complementary strengths of the two models: ANN is better suited for the analysis of long-term drought trends and the study of climate adaptation, while RF offers reliable, low-complexity forecasting for the operational monitoring of drought. Utilizing solely precipitation data, the approach furnishes a cost-effective and transferable framework for data-limited regions. The study proposes a reproducible AI-based methodology that enhances the precision of drought prediction, supports early-warning applications, and strengthens regional water resource management under increasing climatic uncertainty. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Climate Change on Hydrology)
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12 pages, 2151 KB  
Article
Long-Term Drought Analysis in Dura City, Palestine, Using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)
by Hamzah Faquseh and Giovanna Grossi
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 11987; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152211987 - 11 Nov 2025
Viewed by 653
Abstract
Drought is a major climatic hazard affecting water resources, agriculture, and livelihoods in semi-arid regions, with increasing severity under climate change. This study assessed long-term drought in Dura City, Palestine, from 2000 to 2023 using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) at 3-, 6-, [...] Read more.
Drought is a major climatic hazard affecting water resources, agriculture, and livelihoods in semi-arid regions, with increasing severity under climate change. This study assessed long-term drought in Dura City, Palestine, from 2000 to 2023 using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) at 3-, 6-, and 12-month timescales. Monthly precipitation and temperature data were obtained from local meteorological stations, with mean annual precipitation of 408 mm and average summer and winter temperatures of 28 °C and 12 °C, respectively. Trends were analyzed using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator. SPI-3 values ranged from −3.13 to 3.87, including 67 moderates to severe drought months and 12 extreme wet months. SPI-6 ranged from −2.97 to 2.53, showing 34 drought months and 40 wet months, while SPI-12 ranged from −1.94 to 2.32, reflecting generally stable long-term precipitation. Annual rainfall exhibited no significant trend (Sen’s slope = −1.34 mm/year, p = 0.785), whereas yearly average temperature increased significantly by 0.054 °C/year (p = 0.02), raising evapotranspiration and drought risk. Results indicate high short- and medium-term drought variability despite stable annual precipitation, underscoring the need for integrated water management strategies, including rainwater harvesting, groundwater protection, and efficient irrigation, to improve resilience under evolving climate conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Climate Change on Hydrology)
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21 pages, 3035 KB  
Article
Spatial-Temporal Evolution and Driving Force Analysis of Wetland Landscape Pattern in Northern Guangxi
by Tingjiang Tan, Xiangling Tang, Wei Li, Yu Bai, Yisong Han and Siyi Hu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(21), 11485; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152111485 - 27 Oct 2025
Viewed by 525
Abstract
The karst ecologically fragile region of northern Guangxi faces dual pressures from wetland shrinkage and landscape functional degradation driven by rapid urbanisation. The mechanisms governing its multi-scale landscape pattern evolution and the dominance of disturbances require urgent clarification. This study integrates land use [...] Read more.
The karst ecologically fragile region of northern Guangxi faces dual pressures from wetland shrinkage and landscape functional degradation driven by rapid urbanisation. The mechanisms governing its multi-scale landscape pattern evolution and the dominance of disturbances require urgent clarification. This study integrates land use data from 1980 to 2020, employing ArcGIS 10.8 analysis, Fragstats landscape indices, and optimal parameter geographic detectors to construct a ‘pattern-process-driver’ interpretative framework in northern Guangxi. It quantitatively reveals the evolution characteristics and driving mechanisms of wetland landscape patterns in northern Guangxi, thereby optimising wetland ecological conservation pathways. Results indicate the following: (1) Between 1980 and 2020, total wetland area decreased by 65.58 km2, exhibiting a ‘structural substitution’ trend characterised by natural wetland decline and artificial wetland expansion. (2) Wetland landscape patterns exhibited intensified fragmentation and increased structural complexity. (3) Wetland evolution was primarily driven by annual mean temperature, GDP, and annual mean precipitation, reflecting a composite mechanism characterised by climate dominance, economic pressure, and policy failure. Specifically, the increase in temperature is the main reason for the decrease in natural wetlands, while economic growth dominates the expansion of artificial wetlands. This study provides scientific basis for karst wetland ecological restoration and differentiated territorial spatial planning, offering reference for ecological and environmental governance in karst watersheds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Climate Change on Hydrology)
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