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Impacts of Climate Change on Water Sustainability: Rivers, Floods, Droughts, and Extreme Precipitation

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Water Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 5363

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská Cesta 9, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia
Interests: hydrology; climatology; environmental science; natural disasters

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Guest Editor
Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Đure Jakšića 9, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: physical geography; natural hazards; environment; hydrology of torrents; torrential floods; soil erosion; water resources

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka, 78 000 Banjaluka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Interests: physical geography; climatology; hydrology; ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change is significantly altering hydrological systems, intensifying extreme events such as floods, droughts, and erratic precipitation patterns. These changes pose critical challenges for water sustainability, requiring a deeper understanding of shifting river flow regimes, increasing flood risks, prolonged droughts, and their socio-ecological consequences. This Special Issue of Sustainability focuses on advancing research on climate-driven disruptions to water systems by using innovative methodologies, improved climate and hydrological models, and state-of-the-art statistical and machine-learning approaches. We welcome contributions from diverse geographic regions that explore predictive models of river flow variability, flood and drought forecasts, and the socio-economic impacts of hydrological extremes. Studies emphasizing adaptive management strategies, green infrastructure, and AI-driven hydrological predictions are particularly encouraged. By integrating interdisciplinary research—from physical sciences to socio-economic analyses—this Special Issue aims to reduce uncertainties in climate impact assessments and support resilient water resource management. We invite original research articles, case studies, and reviews that provide insights into regional vulnerabilities, ecosystem responses, and governance frameworks for climate adaptation. Through this collective effort, we seek to enhance global strategies for mitigating risks and building sustainable climate-resilient water systems for the future. Potential themes include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Predictive modeling of river flow variability and flood/drought forecasting.
  2. The ecological consequences of altered hydrological regimes.
  3. Socio-economic vulnerabilities and adaptive governance.
  4. Innovations in monitoring and mitigation technologies.
  5. Urban stormwater management under intensified rainfall.
  6. AI-driven hydrological predictions.
  7. Green infrastructure for flood mitigation.
  8. Agricultural adaptation to water scarcity.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Igor Leščešen
Dr. Ana M. Petrović
Dr. Slobodan Gnjato
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Sustainability 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
  • water sustainability
  • flood risk management
  • drought resilience
  • extreme precipitation
  • hydrological modeling
  • river ecosystems
  • hydroclimatic extremes
  • socio-ecological impacts

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 9267 KB  
Article
Floods as a Consequence of Climate Change: Comprehensive Meteorological and Hydrological Analysis of the 2024 Flood Course in the Bóbr River Basin (Southwestern Poland)
by Paweł Tomczyk, Mirosław Wiatkowski, Robert Kasperek, Łukasz Gruss and Ryszard Pokładek
Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10640; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310640 - 27 Nov 2025
Viewed by 516
Abstract
Flooding is a phenomenon that has become more frequent in recent years due to climate change. This also includes Poland, where a flood occurred in 2024 due to the inflow of the Genoese low. The main objective of the article is to comprehensively [...] Read more.
Flooding is a phenomenon that has become more frequent in recent years due to climate change. This also includes Poland, where a flood occurred in 2024 due to the inflow of the Genoese low. The main objective of the article is to comprehensively characterize this phenomenon in the Bóbr River Basin. To achieve this objective, available hourly hydro-meteorological data from stations monitored by the Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management were used. On this basis, the duration, magnitude, scale of the flood, and selected runoff measures were determined. Data shows that the flood was caused by rainfall, which occurred at the highest intensity between 13.09 and 15.09. The duration of the flood was 536 h, assuming warning levels as boundary points. The average duration of the flood in all stations was 125.32 h, and its average magnitude (ratio of the highest level to the alert level)—1.53. The 10-point flood scale adopted in the article indicates that the flood affected the area around Jelenia Góra the most (average 3.10 for the entire basin). In 6 out of 22 stations, the highest water flow measurements in history were recorded in 2024. The area around Jelenia Góra was selected as the region most exposed to flooding. This work can be a compendium of knowledge in the field of understanding the mechanisms related to flooding. It may be important in the context of formulating the future water policy, developing documents related to flood protection, adaptation to climate change and sustainable development goals. Full article
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30 pages, 22873 KB  
Article
An Innovative Holistic Framework for Drought Analysis: Integrating Temporal and Spatial Perspectives for Improved Drought Risk Assessment
by Ahmad Abu Arra, Mehmet Emin Birpınar, Şükrü Ayhan Gazioğlu and Eyüp Şişman
Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10264; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210264 - 17 Nov 2025
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Abstract
The existing literature has studied and addressed the limitations of traditional drought evaluation methods, which often depend on one station without considering the spatiotemporal integration, resulting in an incomplete drought assessment. Given these limitations, this research proposes a new approach using the Specific [...] Read more.
The existing literature has studied and addressed the limitations of traditional drought evaluation methods, which often depend on one station without considering the spatiotemporal integration, resulting in an incomplete drought assessment. Given these limitations, this research proposes a new approach using the Specific Period (SP) and Precipitation Index (PI) concepts and aims to provide new perspectives for drought analysis. The methodology focuses on integrating all stations within the study area, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the evolution and characteristics of drought at each month. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) at Konya Endorheic Basin (KEB) is used in this research to define drought events at multiple time scales, both for the SPI and Run theories. The main objective is to develop an innovative holistic framework for drought evaluation. The results demonstrate that the new approach improves the accuracy and consistency of drought detection compared to traditional methods. The results showed that drought durations ranged from 23 to 29 months for SPI-12 in regions such as Cihanbeyli, Ereğli, and Seydisehir. In contrast, regions such as Aksaray and Konya Havalimanı emerged as the least affected, with positive PI values between +0.14 and +0.19, compared to negative values of −0.71 to −0.83 in Seydisehir, Ereğli, and Cihanbeyli, indicating spatial variations in drought evolution within the KEB. This research provides a more comprehensive framework for monitoring drought in semi-arid regions, supporting water resource management policies and climate change adaptation and mitigation plans. Full article
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30 pages, 11564 KB  
Article
Evaluating ERA5-LAND and IMERG-NASA Products for Drought Analysis: Implications for Sustainable Water Resource Management
by Ahmad Abu Arra, Mehmet Emin Birpınar and Eyüp Şişman
Sustainability 2025, 17(16), 7529; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167529 - 20 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1684
Abstract
Given the growing adverse effects of drought on water resources, agriculture, and various sectors, assessing and evaluating drought and producing high-quality drought maps despite the data scarcity to better understand its impacts and develop effective mitigation strategies is essential. Considering the existing gaps [...] Read more.
Given the growing adverse effects of drought on water resources, agriculture, and various sectors, assessing and evaluating drought and producing high-quality drought maps despite the data scarcity to better understand its impacts and develop effective mitigation strategies is essential. Considering the existing gaps related to drought evaluation, especially in scarce data regions, this research aims to evaluate the efficiency of acceptable time period for drought studies (10–20 years), evaluate the performance of ERA5-LAND and IMERG-NASA precipitation data in estimating the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) using different statistical metrics and the innovative drought classification matrix (IDCM), and finally produce and compare high-quality and accurate drought characteristics maps resulted from in situ stations, ERA5-LAND, and IMERG-NASA. The Kocaeli province in Türkiye, which has limited data and is a scarce data region, has been selected as an application. The results ensure that an acceptable time period can be sufficient and provide reliable accuracy for assessing drought with RMSE ranging between 0.09 and 0.23 standard deviation and IDCM ranging between 85% and 97%. NASA IMERG data gave more accurate drought results than ERA5-LAND, and the Pearson correlation ranges between 0.57 and 0.89. Also, in situ data showed longer drought duration, while ERA5-LAND and NASA had higher intensity. This article enables policymakers and decision-makers to manage and plan water resources within the city boundary, ensuring sustainable agricultural, economic, and industrial activities and supporting effective climate change adaptation strategies. Full article
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27 pages, 906 KB  
Article
Opinions and Knowledge About Drought Among Young People in Krakow (Southern Poland)
by Katarzyna Baran-Gurgul, Karolina Łach and Karol Haduch
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 5085; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115085 - 1 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Recurrent droughts in Poland necessitate an increase in public awareness regarding their causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies. Education plays a crucial role in this process. The aim of this study was to analyze the knowledge and opinions of primary school students and university [...] Read more.
Recurrent droughts in Poland necessitate an increase in public awareness regarding their causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies. Education plays a crucial role in this process. The aim of this study was to analyze the knowledge and opinions of primary school students and university students from Krakow regarding drought. To assess their understanding, a survey was conducted, including multiple-choice questions and Likert-scale-based questions. A comparative analysis was performed to identify differences between the two groups, focusing on the relationship between the level of education and drought awareness. This study highlighted the need to intensify climate education at both the school and university levels. Furthermore, it emphasized the necessity of broader discussions on the risks associated with extreme weather events (including droughts) and the importance of actively supporting youth engagement in climate-related initiatives. Full article
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