New Perspectives in Hydrological Extremes

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrological extremes have long been a critical focus in water resources management and environmental science. Traditionally, research and management strategies have centred on heavy rainfall events and their immediate consequences, such as extreme discharges and floods. However, the paradigm of climate change has significantly broadened our understanding and approach to these events, necessitating a more comprehensive examination of hydrological extremes.

In recent years, temperature has emerged as a crucial hydrological variable, playing a significant role in the occurrence of heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires. This shift has prompted researchers to explore new perspectives on hydrological extremes, considering a wider range of variables and their complex interactions. The changing climate has altered precipitation patterns, increased evapotranspiration rates, and modified snow and glacier melt dynamics, all of which contribute to a new landscape of hydrological challenges.

This Special Issue will highlight novel approaches and insights into hydrological extremes, encompassing both traditional and emerging challenges. We welcome studies that investigate the interplay between various hydroclimatic variables, including, but not limited to, precipitation, temperature, humidity, and wind patterns. Of particular interest are research efforts that address the multifaceted nature of hydrological extremes in the context of climate change.

Key Topics of Interest:

1. Advances in modelling techniques for predicting and managing hydrological extremes, incorporating artificial intelligence approaches;
2. The role of temperature in heatwave occurrence, drought intensification, wildfire risk, and changes in water demand patterns;
3. Impact of changing humidity patterns on water availability, extreme precipitation events, and ecosystem responses;
4. Influence of wind dynamics on hydrological processes, including evapotranspiration rates and the distribution of precipitation;
5. Multivariate analysis of hydrological extremes considering multiple variables, moving beyond single-factor assessments;
6. Novel indices for characterising and monitoring hydrological extremes, integrating diverse data sources and remote sensing technologies;
7. Socio-economic implications of evolving hydrological extreme patterns, including impacts on agriculture, urban planning, and water resource management;
8. Adaptation strategies for water infrastructure and management practices in the face of changing hydrological extremes;
9. The role of land-use changes and urbanisation in modifying local and regional hydrological extreme events;
10. Interconnection between hydrological extremes and other environmental systems, such as coastal processes and groundwater dynamics.

By exploring these new perspectives, we will enhance our understanding of hydrological extremes and improve our capacity to mitigate their impacts in a changing climate. This Special Issue will contribute valuable insights to the scientific community, inform adaptive strategies for water resource management, and bridge the gap between theoretical advancements and practical applications for dealing with hydrological extremes.

We encourage submissions that offer innovative methodologies, present case studies from diverse geographical contexts, or provide critical reviews of emerging trends in the field. The goal is to foster multidisciplinary dialogue that can lead to more robust and adaptable approaches to managing hydrological extremes in an era of unprecedented environmental challenges.

Dr. Luis Angel Espinosa
Prof. Dr. Maria Manuela Portela
Dr. João Filipe Santos
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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.

• hydrological extremes
• climate change
• precipitation patterns
• temperature variability
• heatwaves
• droughts
• multivariate analysis
• water resource management
• adaptation strategies
• artificial intelligence