Hydrological extremes, particularly floods and droughts, are among the most severe natural disasters, causing widespread economic damage and significant human loss. From 1970 to 2019, floods alone accounted for an estimated US$ 115 billion in economic damages worldwide, representing 31% of all disaster-related losses. Meanwhile, droughts were responsible for 34% of disaster-related deaths during the same period, claiming approximately 650,000 lives. These extremes are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, which amplifies their destructive potential. Understanding the drivers and impacts of these events is critical for developing strategies to mitigate their effects and enhance societal resilience in the face of growing environmental challenges.

This Research Topic addresses the pressing challenges posed by hydrological extremes in a changing climate. The goal is to improve the prediction, projection, and mitigation of these events by advancing observational capabilities and refining modeling approaches. Despite recent advances, early warning systems remain imperfect, as demonstrated by the July 2021 floods in Western Europe. Additionally, future projections are uncertain due to the complex interactions among land, atmospheric, and oceanic drivers, particularly when hydrological extremes coincide with other extreme events, creating compound disasters that amplify their impacts. By bringing together advanced research and innovative methodologies, this Research Topic aims to bridge knowledge gaps and offer new insights into the causes, effects, and management of hydrological extremes in the context of climate change.

his Research Topic invites contributions that explore a wide range of issues related to hydrological extremes. We welcome original research articles and review articles that address the following themes:

- Earth observations for predicting hydrological extremes

- Development and enhancement of multi-hazard early warning systems

- Integration of machine learning in hydrological extremes predictions

- Impacts of climate and land use changes on extreme events

- Future intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves

- Hydrological extreme event attribution

- Pre-processing, and postprocessing of weather, climate and hydrologic model simulations

- Statistical and dynamical downscaling methods for hydrological impact assessments

- Socioeconomic impacts

- Vulnerability of water resource systems

- Nature-based solutions

- Disaster risk reduction and management strategies

- Digital twins for improving the prediction of extreme events

- Causative mechanisms of hydrological extremes

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Frontiers in Water

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