Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Flood and Drought

A special issue of Climate (ISSN 2225-1154).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 6665

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change has caused increased pressure on freshwater ecosystems. A warmer and increased variability in climate has already increased the risk of both floods and droughts. There are a number of climatic and non-climatic factors that cause flood and drought. While severe floods damage infrastructure, arable land, displace communities and cause fatalities, droughts can devastate agricultural and terrestrial ecosystems, cause fire hazards, and lead to local water supply shortages. Due to the changing climate and land use, there is an increasing need to emphasize prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and risk management of these events in order to protect our environment and economy.

This Special Issue invites manuscripts that will have the following focus with an emphasis on freshwater:

  1. Changes in hydroclimatic extremes and their impacts on flood and droughts through data and modeling;
  2. Quantify projected changes in extreme temperature and precipitation leading to floods and droughts;
  3. Provide an overview of existing practices for coping with floods and droughts;
  4. Changes in hydrologic regimes and freshwater ecosystems;
  5. Physical and numerical models to guide the development of freshwater climate adaptation strategies;
  6. Compare strategies in different watersheds and outlines the areas that need improvement.

Dr. Soni M. Pradhanang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • hydroclimatic extremes
  • flood
  • drought
  • hydrologic models
  • watershed management

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 24891 KiB  
Article
The Occurrence of Drought in Mopani District Municipality, South Africa: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation
by Ndamulelo Nembilwi, Hector Chikoore, Edmore Kori, Rendani B. Munyai and Tshilidzi C. Manyanya
Climate 2021, 9(4), 61; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cli9040061 - 09 Apr 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5931
Abstract
Mopani District Municipality in the northeast of South Africa is largely semi-arid and frequently affected by meteorological droughts. The recent 2015/16 event had devastating impacts on water levels, crop yields, livestock herds and rural livelihoods. We investigated the nature of the drought hazard; [...] Read more.
Mopani District Municipality in the northeast of South Africa is largely semi-arid and frequently affected by meteorological droughts. The recent 2015/16 event had devastating impacts on water levels, crop yields, livestock herds and rural livelihoods. We investigated the nature of the drought hazard; its impacts, including vulnerability of rural communities in Mopani District and adaptation strategies they have employed to cope with drought. A mixed methods approach with both quantitative and qualitative datasets was used. The district was divided into two distinct climatic areas: the drier eastern lowveld and the wetter western bushveld. Questionnaires were administered among community members whilst key informant interviews were conducted among relevant government and municipal officials. Climate data was used to characterize historical drought using a Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index whilst vegetation anomaly maps were used to demonstrate impacts. Spatially distinct patterns of drought conditions were evident with harsh and dry conditions towards the east. It was found that nearly half the time there is some form of drought or another in the district mostly linked to the remote El Nino phenomenon. In several areas, rain-fed agriculture is no longer tenable, with a direct impact on rural livelihoods. A Household Vulnerability Index determined variable levels of vulnerability such that different strategies are employed to adapt to drought some of which cause environmental problems. Local government intervention strategies include supply of seeds and fertilisers, providing cheap fodder and supplying water using trucks. The findings of this study contribute to disaster risk reduction efforts in a region that is highly vulnerable to current and future climate-risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Flood and Drought)
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