About this Research Topic
Amidst the dual pressures of global climate change and human activities, nations worldwide are confronting increasingly severe Water Security risks. Ensuring the sustainable use of water resources has become an urgent, shared responsibility for all of humanity. The issues of water scarcity, uneven spatial and temporal distribution, deteriorating water quality, and mismanagement are becoming more pronounced. Climate Change is altering global water cycle patterns, exacerbating the water crisis, and further straining water supply systems. Global warming has triggered more frequent extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and glacial melt, all of which directly impact the availability of water resources. As water scarcity intensifies, it increasingly serves as a catalyst for political tensions. The frequency of disputes over shared water resources across national boundaries is on the rise, potentially leading to more international conflicts and undermining regional stability. The impact of water resource issues extends far beyond daily life, posing significant threats to agricultural production, industrial development, and ecological balance. Water resources are intricately linked with both the natural environment and human society, forming a complex interactive relationship. Any shortage or contamination of water can ripple across multiple sectors, leading to severe social, economic, and environmental consequences. Therefore, the complexity of water resource issues makes it not only a resource supply or environmental concern, but also a challenge related to global socio-economic stability and security. This special issue aims to explore the risk identification, driving mechanisms, and response strategies of global and regional/watershed water issues, delve into current water security risks, and provide valuable academic support for water resource management and protection.
Current research on water resources spans a broad spectrum, including key areas such as water cycles and hydrological processes, the impacts of climate change on water resources, water pollution control and water quality protection, agricultural water efficiency and conservation technologies, and eco-hydrology. Despite significant progress made, the unpredictability of climate change, rapid urbanization, challenges in data collection and sharing, water rights allocation, ecosystem protection, and transboundary water management present new and emerging challenges. Moving forward, research must expand to encompass both natural processes and social governance, integrating knowledge from various fields to enhance the comprehensiveness and applicability of studies. This will enable more effective responses to global water resource challenges and provide the scientific foundation and policy support necessary for achieving sustainable water use and ecological balance.
Therefore, research on global water resource issues is not only aimed at meeting current water needs, but also at ensuring future sustainable development and ecological balance. Faced with the increasingly severe water resource crisis, conducting systematic research, formulating long-term management policies, and promoting global cooperation have become the shared responsibilities that countries urgently need to undertake. This special issue welcomes original research articles and reviews on water-related topics that are critical to the future of humanity, with particular interest in studies presenting challenging or controversial findings, as well as forward-looking and innovative research perspectives. The research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
• Water Security and Strategy in a Changing Environment
• Water Resource Utilization and Optimal Allocation
• Flood and Drought Disasters
• Water Ecology and Water Pollution
• Water Infrastructure Development and Smart Water Management
• Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources
• Resilience and Stability of Water Circulation Systems
• Ecological Balance of Surface and Groundwater
• The Driving Mechanism of Water Demand
• Water and Urbanization
• Water and Food Security
• Water and Energy
• Green Development of Hydropower
• Flood and Drought Disaster Identification and Response
• Socioeconomic Valuation of Water Resources
• Water Footprint and Virtual Water Trade
• Application of AI and Large-scale Models in Water Management
Current research on water resources spans a broad spectrum, including key areas such as water cycles and hydrological processes, the impacts of climate change on water resources, water pollution control and water quality protection, agricultural water efficiency and conservation technologies, and eco-hydrology. Despite significant progress made, the unpredictability of climate change, rapid urbanization, challenges in data collection and sharing, water rights allocation, ecosystem protection, and transboundary water management present new and emerging challenges. Moving forward, research must expand to encompass both natural processes and social governance, integrating knowledge from various fields to enhance the comprehensiveness and applicability of studies. This will enable more effective responses to global water resource challenges and provide the scientific foundation and policy support necessary for achieving sustainable water use and ecological balance.
Therefore, research on global water resource issues is not only aimed at meeting current water needs, but also at ensuring future sustainable development and ecological balance. Faced with the increasingly severe water resource crisis, conducting systematic research, formulating long-term management policies, and promoting global cooperation have become the shared responsibilities that countries urgently need to undertake. This special issue welcomes original research articles and reviews on water-related topics that are critical to the future of humanity, with particular interest in studies presenting challenging or controversial findings, as well as forward-looking and innovative research perspectives. The research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
• Water Security and Strategy in a Changing Environment
• Water Resource Utilization and Optimal Allocation
• Flood and Drought Disasters
• Water Ecology and Water Pollution
• Water Infrastructure Development and Smart Water Management
• Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources
• Resilience and Stability of Water Circulation Systems
• Ecological Balance of Surface and Groundwater
• The Driving Mechanism of Water Demand
• Water and Urbanization
• Water and Food Security
• Water and Energy
• Green Development of Hydropower
• Flood and Drought Disaster Identification and Response
• Socioeconomic Valuation of Water Resources
• Water Footprint and Virtual Water Trade
• Application of AI and Large-scale Models in Water Management
Keywords: Water Resource, Climate Change, Water Security Risks, Water Scarcity, Water Cycle, Extreme Weather Events. Transboundary Water Management, Ecosystem Balance, Sustainability, Socio-economic Impact, Policy Support
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