The scientific collection “Water extremes: innovative approaches to managing floods and droughts” in the journals Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (NHESS) and Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS) focuses on innovative approaches and methods for dealing with hydrological extreme events such as floods, heavy rainfall and drought. The collection is part of the WaX initiative (Water Extremes) and brings together the latest research findings from various disciplines.
In the context of climate change, which is leading to an increase in the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events, floods and dry spells in many regions worldwide, societies, administrations and ecosystems face growing challenges. Particularly problematic are rapid shifts between wet and dry hydrological conditions, which present regional and local decision-makers with complex management tasks.
The WaX collection brings together contributions that highlight new approaches to developing adaptation strategies, with the aim of mitigating the impacts of water extremes on people, property and ecological systems. Thematically, the collection covers topics ranging from:
- innovative methods for recording, monitoring and forecasting water extremes,
- new approaches to risk communication across different spatial and temporal scales,
- to integrated concepts that consider flood protection and drought prevention together.
The collection thus makes an important contribution to the further development of integrated, preventive and adaptive water and risk management. It brings together perspectives from the natural sciences, engineering and the social sciences, and promotes dialogue between research and practice.
Another paper has recently been added to the collection, presenting a citizen and community science approach to urban heavy rainfall risk management in the Ahr Valley, thereby highlighting the importance of participatory and innovative methods in dealing with extreme water events.
Click here to get to the NHESS/HESS collection ‘Water extremes: innovative approaches to managing floods and droughts’.