Topic Editors

Prof. Dr. Yun Yang
School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Dr. Chong Chen
Department of Electronic Information Engineering, College of Artificial Intelligence, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Dr. Hao Sun
College of Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China

Water Management in the Age of Climate Change

Abstract submission deadline
31 October 2025
Manuscript submission deadline
31 January 2026
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922

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water is a precious and unique resource for agriculture, domestic use, industry, and ecosystems. Climate change includes extreme weather, prolonged droughts, severe floods, and shifting precipitation patterns. Freshwater only accounts for 3% of the water resources, among which much is inaccessible. Therefore, the effective utilization and optimal management of these scarce water resources is critical for ecosystem sustainability, human well-being, and economic growth. The degradation of freshwater ecosystems, intensified by competing demands from agriculture, industry, and urbanization, highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions.

This collection focuses on the key challenges brought on by the impact of climate change on water resource management, in addition to the integration of traditional practices with advanced tools such as numerical modeling, machine learning, and hydro-informatics. We welcome contributions addressing the following:

  • Groundwater modeling and management under climate change;
  • Surface water and groundwater interactions and allocation;
  • Machine learning and simulations for hydrologic dynamics;
  • Multiphysics and multiphase systems in water resource management;
  • Restoration of freshwater ecosystems and environmental flows;
  • Precise agriculture and water-saving technologies;
  • GIS and remote sensing in water resource planning;
  • Rainwater harvesting and green infrastructure solutions;
  • Hydro-informatics and heuristic tools for decision-making.

We invite original research and reviews that advance sustainable water management and propose actionable solutions for these pressing challenges.

Prof. Dr. Yun Yang
Dr. Chong Chen
Dr. Hao Sun
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • sustainable water resource management
  • climate-smart irrigation
  • freshwater ecosystem restoration
  • groundwater modeling
  • water harvesting
  • hydrologic alterations
  • irrigation
  • machine learning in water management
  • numerical simulations of water systems
  • rainwater harvesting

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Agriculture
agriculture
3.3 4.9 2011 19.2 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Remote Sensing
remotesensing
4.2 8.3 2009 23.9 Days CHF 2700 Submit
Sustainability
sustainability
3.3 6.8 2009 19.7 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Water
water
3.0 5.8 2009 17.5 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Hydrology
hydrology
3.1 4.9 2014 15.3 Days CHF 1800 Submit
Limnological Review
limnolrev
- 1.6 2001 21.8 Days CHF 1000 Submit
Earth
earth
2.1 3.3 2020 23.7 Days CHF 1200 Submit

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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16 pages, 3608 KiB  
Article
Changes in Regional Practices and Their Effects on the Water Quality of Portuguese Reservoirs
by Ivo Pinto, Luísa Azevedo and Sara C. Antunes
Earth 2025, 6(2), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/earth6020029 - 15 Apr 2025
Viewed by 300
Abstract
At the global level, numerous reservoirs exhibit a pronounced water degradation. Inadequate land use and climate change effects contribute to freshwater degradation and disrupt the ecosystem balances. This study aimed to evaluate the temporal and spatial effects of the surrounding area on two [...] Read more.
At the global level, numerous reservoirs exhibit a pronounced water degradation. Inadequate land use and climate change effects contribute to freshwater degradation and disrupt the ecosystem balances. This study aimed to evaluate the temporal and spatial effects of the surrounding area on two Portuguese reservoirs: Rabagão and Aguieira. For each reservoir sub-watershed scale, the evolution of land use and soil occupation and the pressures reported over the past decade were analyzed. Additionally, official records of water quality parameters were collected, and water quality was assessed according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Both reservoirs show anthropogenic pressure, reflected in the water quality. Rabagão has good water quality, associated with undeveloped lands (47%), agriculture (26%), and one pressure on the aquaculture sector. Aguieira is characterized by high nutrient concentrations, low transparency, and phytoplankton. This is linked to various land uses, including forestry (75%), and agriculture (19%), as well as multiple environmental pressures. Key contributors include urban discharge (27 sites) and water catchments allocated for agricultural purposes (89 sites) and others. The long-term data showed an increase in chlorophyll a concentration, water temperature, and pH values, and a decrease in the concentration of total phosphorus, but higher than the reference value. Additionally, the usage of the surrounding area of the hydrographic basin shows that it is extremely important for water quality and should be included in the WFD. Addressing the problems in the surrounding areas reservoirs is essential to adopting measures that improve water quality, therefore guaranteeing the health of the environment as expected under the One Health concept. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)
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27 pages, 11601 KiB  
Article
Monitoring and Evaluation of Ecological Restoration Effectiveness: A Case Study of the Liaohe River Estuary Wetland
by Yongli Hou, Nanxiang Hu, Chao Teng, Lulin Zheng, Jiabing Zhang and Yifei Gong
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 2973; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072973 - 27 Mar 2025
Viewed by 300
Abstract
The Liaohe River Estuary Wetland, located in Panjin City, plays a critical role in reducing pollution loads, maintaining biodiversity, and ensuring ecological security in China’s coastal regions, contributing significantly to the implementation of the land–sea coordination strategy. As key components of ecological restoration [...] Read more.
The Liaohe River Estuary Wetland, located in Panjin City, plays a critical role in reducing pollution loads, maintaining biodiversity, and ensuring ecological security in China’s coastal regions, contributing significantly to the implementation of the land–sea coordination strategy. As key components of ecological restoration projects, monitoring and evaluating restoration effectiveness provide a reliable basis for decision-making and ecosystem management. This study established an innovative three-dimensional integrated monitoring and evaluation system combining satellite imagery, UAV aerial photography, and field sampling surveys, addressing the technical gaps in multi-scale and multi-dimensional dynamic ecological monitoring. Through systematic monitoring and the assessment of key indicators, including water environment, soil environment, biodiversity, water conservation capacity, and carbon sequestration capacity, we comprehensively evaluated the enhancement effects of ecological restoration projects on regional ecosystem structure, quality, and service functions. The findings demonstrated that the satellite–airborne–ground integrated monitoring technology significantly improved water quality and soil properties, enhanced soil–water conservation capabilities, and increased biodiversity indices and carbon sequestration potential. These results validate the scientific validity of ecological protection measures and the comprehensive benefits of restoration outcomes. The primary contributions of this research lie in the following: developing a novel monitoring framework that provides critical data support for decision-making, project acceptance, effectiveness evaluation, and adaptive management in ecological restoration; establishing transferable methodologies applicable not only to the Liaohe River Estuary wetlands, but also to similar ecosystems globally, showcasing broad applicability in ecological governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Water Management in the Age of Climate Change)
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