Climate Change Effects on Hydrology and Water Resources

A special issue of Hydrology (ISSN 2306-5338). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrology–Climate Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 36334

Special Issue Editors

Associate Professor, School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
Interests: hydrology; climate change; hydrological modelling; hydrological forecast, urban hydrology, water resources management; water quality and treatment
Mawson Lakes Campus, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
Interests: flood and low flow hydrology; ungauged catchment predictions; hydrological Losses; catchment modelling; catchment hydrology in changing climate; soil hydrology; water sensitive urban design (WSUD); water quality modelling; reclaimed water irrigation; efficient irrigation and integrated water resources managements

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change has emerged as one of the major threats to hydrology and water resource systems. Climate change is expected to alter hydrologic processes in many parts of the world; there is a tendency to increase precipitation occurrence and consequently increase the risk of flood in some regions, whereas climate change enhances the risk of drought and creates additional stresses over water resources in other regions. Unusual precipitation patterns such as varying annual rainfall patterns, change in quantity, frequency and intensity of rainfall would significantly alter hydrologic processes in temporal and spatial distribution of water resources and affect streamflow, soil moisture and water availability. These impacts directly affect water supply, the environment, infrastructure, ecosystems, and indirectly affect socio-economic behavior, as water is a critical element for human activities, human communities and local economies.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide an opportunity for researchers in different disciplines to publish their high impact research outcomes related to climatic change, hydrology and water resources. This Special Issue invites research articles including but not limited to:

  • Climate change impacts on surface and groundwater hydrology;
  • Hydro-ecology, hydro-meteorology, hydro-economy and urban hydrology;
  • Climate change analysis, time series analysis, historic trends and predictions;
  • Analysis of extreme events (floods and droughts);
  • Detection and attribution of climate change;
  • Application of GCMs/RCMs in climate change assessment;
  • Hydrological modelling and catchment modelling;
  • Uncertainty assessment in climate change;
  • Remote sensing and GIS for climate change impact assessment;
  • Water resources management (surface water, groundwater, coastal water etc.);
  • Agricultural water use;
  • Urban storm water management;
  • Water supply, water quality and water reuse;
  • Water and wastewater treatment;Biodiversity conservation and ecosystems.

Dr. Ranjan Sarukkalige
Dr. Guna Alankarage Hewa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Hydrology 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 1800 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.

Keywords

  • climate change
  • hydrology
  • water resources
  • hydrological modelling
  • water use
  • water quality

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 8283 KiB  
Article
Bloomin’ Ridiculous: Climate Change, Water Contamination and Algal Blooms in a Land Down Under
by Andrea Crampton and Angela T. Ragusa
Hydrology 2023, 10(9), 185; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/hydrology10090185 - 14 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1425
Abstract
Climate and anthropogenic change, particularly agricultural runoff, increase blue-green algae/cyanobacteria blooms. This article researches cyanobacteria alert-level identification, management, and risk communication in Lake Hume, Australia. Two methods, document and content analysis, evidence contamination events and risk communication, reflect water governance and data management [...] Read more.
Climate and anthropogenic change, particularly agricultural runoff, increase blue-green algae/cyanobacteria blooms. This article researches cyanobacteria alert-level identification, management, and risk communication in Lake Hume, Australia. Two methods, document and content analysis, evidence contamination events and risk communication, reflect water governance and data management limitations. Results found that Lake Hume had amber or red alerts for only one week, December 2021–December 2022. This failed to prevent government tourism promotion of recreational usage, contravening water authority red alert advice. Lake-use restrictions lacked compliance enforcement. Events during amber alerts lacked risk communication to vulnerable populations (children). Lake Hume’s governance by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority restricted risk communication to one authority that reproduced generic advice in minimal outlets/time points. Geophysical signage failed to address diversity needs (language, literacy, age, and disabilities). No risk communication was found for residents with diseases exacerbated by aerosolization. Despite WHO promoting cyanotoxin investigation, Australian research is absent in international literature. Further, Lake Hume cyanobacteria produce potentially carcinogenic microcystein. This coexists with census data revealing cancer rates higher than the national average in a waterside town. The results demonstrate the need to incorporate robust public health risk assessments, communication, and management into water management and advocate international legislation changes based on evidence-based research to reduce blooms and prevent agricultural runoff. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Effects on Hydrology and Water Resources)
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18 pages, 1340 KiB  
Article
Extreme Events Analysis Using LH-Moments Method and Quantile Function Family
by Cristian Gabriel Anghel, Stefan Ciprian Stanca and Cornel Ilinca
Hydrology 2023, 10(8), 159; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/hydrology10080159 - 30 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1591
Abstract
A direct way to estimate the likelihood and magnitude of extreme events is frequency analysis. This analysis is based on historical data and assumptions of stationarity, and is carried out with the help of probability distributions and different methods of estimating their parameters. [...] Read more.
A direct way to estimate the likelihood and magnitude of extreme events is frequency analysis. This analysis is based on historical data and assumptions of stationarity, and is carried out with the help of probability distributions and different methods of estimating their parameters. Thus, this article presents all the relations necessary to estimate the parameters with the LH-moments method for the family of distributions defined only by the quantile function, namely, the Wakeby distribution of 4 and 5 parameters, the Lambda distribution of 4 and 5 parameters, and the Davis distribution. The LH-moments method is a method commonly used in flood frequency analysis, and it uses the annual series of maximum flows. The frequency characteristics of the two analyzed methods, which are both involved in expressing the distributions used in the first two linear moments, as well as in determining the confidence interval, are presented. The performances of the analyzed distributions and the two presented methods are verified in the following maximum flows, with the Bahna river used as a case study. The results are presented in comparison with the L-moments method. Following the results obtained, the Wakeby and Lambda distributions have the best performances, and the LH-skewness and LH-kurtosis statistical indicators best model the indicators’ values of the sample (0.5769, 0.3781, 0.548 and 0.3451). Similar to the L-moments method, this represents the main selection criterion of the best fit distribution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Effects on Hydrology and Water Resources)
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13 pages, 4488 KiB  
Article
Using CMIP6 Models to Assess Future Climate Change Effects on Mine Sites in Kazakhstan
by Saeed Golian, Houcyne El-Idrysy and Desana Stambuk
Hydrology 2023, 10(7), 150; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/hydrology10070150 - 17 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1725
Abstract
Climate change is a threat to mining and other industries, especially those involving water supply and management, by inducing or amplifying some climatic parameters such as changes in precipitation regimes and temperature extremes. Using the latest NASA NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 datasets, this study quantifies the [...] Read more.
Climate change is a threat to mining and other industries, especially those involving water supply and management, by inducing or amplifying some climatic parameters such as changes in precipitation regimes and temperature extremes. Using the latest NASA NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 datasets, this study quantifies the level of climate change that may affect the development of two mine sites (site 1 and site 2) in north–east Kazakhstan. The study analyses the daily precipitation and maximum and minimum temperature a of a number of global circulation models (GCM) over three future time periods, the 2040s, 2060s, and 2080s, under two shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios, SSP245 and SSP585, against the baseline period 1981–2014. The analyses reveal that: (1) both maximum and minimum temperature will increase under both SSP in those time periods, with the rate of change for minimum temperature being higher than maximum temperature. Minimum temperature, for example, will increase by 2.2 and 2.7 °C under SSP245 and SSP585, respectively, over the 2040s period at both sites; (2) the mean annual precipitation will increase by an average rate of 7% and 10.5% in the 2040s for SSP245 and 17.5% and 7.5% for SSP585 in the 2080s at site 1 and site 2, respectively. It is also observed that summer months will experience drier condition whilst all other months will increase in precipitation; (3) the values of 24 h precipitation with a 10 year return period will also increase under both SSP scenarios and future time periods for most of the studied GCM and at both mine sites. For instance, over the near future period, a 6.9% and 2.8% increase in 10 year 24 h precipitation is expected to happen over site 1 and site 2, respectively, under SSP245. These predicted changes should be considered as design criteria adjustments for projected water supply and water management structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Effects on Hydrology and Water Resources)
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19 pages, 6063 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Microclimate Effects and Irrigation Water Requirements of Mesic, Oasis, and Xeric Landscapes
by Rubab Saher, Ariane Middel, Haroon Stephen and Sajjad Ahmad
Hydrology 2022, 9(6), 104; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/hydrology9060104 - 10 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4912
Abstract
Urban irrigation is an essential process in land–atmosphere interactions. It is one of the uncertain parameters of urban hydrology due to various microclimates. This study investigated the microclimate effects and irrigation water requirements of three landscape types in an arid region of Phoenix, [...] Read more.
Urban irrigation is an essential process in land–atmosphere interactions. It is one of the uncertain parameters of urban hydrology due to various microclimates. This study investigated the microclimate effects and irrigation water requirements of three landscape types in an arid region of Phoenix, AZ. The microclimate effect encompassed surface temperature, air temperature, and wind speed. The simulations of the three landscapes were conducted using ENVI-met software for the hottest day of the year (23 June 2011). The simulated model was validated using ground data. Results show that the mesic landscape induced cooling effects, both in the daytime and nighttime, by reducing surface and air temperatures. However, the mesic landscape showed high-water consumption because of a high leaf area density. The oasis landscape showed 2 °C more daytime cooling than the mesic landscape, but the nighttime warming (surface temperature) was comparable to the xeric landscape. The potential irrigation water requirement was 1 mm/day lower than the mesic landscape. Moreover, microclimate conditions varied spatially in each neighborhood. The xeric landscape showed lower wind speeds and air temperatures between the buildings. The wind speed variations in the three landscapes were inconclusive due to differences in building orientations and discrepancies in trees’ heights. The findings can have implications for restricting the municipal irrigation budget. In addition, they can help water managers in choosing a landscape in urban areas. Urban scientists can adapt the methodology to quantify urban ET in arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Effects on Hydrology and Water Resources)
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15 pages, 2927 KiB  
Article
Hydrological Drought Assessment in a Small Lowland Catchment in Croatia
by Tamara Brleković and Lidija Tadić
Hydrology 2022, 9(5), 79; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/hydrology9050079 - 10 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2267
Abstract
Hydrological drought is critical from both water management and ecological perspectives. Depending on its hydrological and physical features, the resilience level of a catchment to groundwater drought can differ from that of meteorological drought. This study presents a comparison of hydrological and meteorological [...] Read more.
Hydrological drought is critical from both water management and ecological perspectives. Depending on its hydrological and physical features, the resilience level of a catchment to groundwater drought can differ from that of meteorological drought. This study presents a comparison of hydrological and meteorological drought indices based on groundwater levels from 1987 to 2018. A small catchment area in Croatia, consisting of two sub-catchments with a continental climate and minimum land-use changes during the observed period, was studied. The first analysis was made on a comparison of standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). The results showed their very high correlation. The correlation between the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized groundwater index (SGI) of different time scales (1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 months) showed different values, but had the highest value in the longest time scale, 48 months, for all observation wells. Nevertheless, the behavior of the SPI and groundwater levels (GW) correlation showed results more related to physical catchment characteristics. The results showed that groundwater drought indices, such as SGI, should be applied judiciously because of their sensitivity to geographical, geomorphological, and topographical catchment characteristics, even in small catchment areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Effects on Hydrology and Water Resources)
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17 pages, 8143 KiB  
Article
Comparing Combined 1D/2D and 2D Hydraulic Simulations Using High-Resolution Topographic Data: Examples from Sri Lanka—Lower Kelani River Basin
by Jayanga T. Samarasinghe, Vindhya Basnayaka, Miyuru B. Gunathilake, Hazi M. Azamathulla and Upaka Rathnayake
Hydrology 2022, 9(2), 39; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/hydrology9020039 - 17 Feb 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4798
Abstract
The application of numerical models to understand the behavioural pattern of a flood is widely found in the literature. However, the selection of an appropriate hydraulic model is highly essential to conduct reliable predictions. Predicting flood discharges and inundation extents are the two [...] Read more.
The application of numerical models to understand the behavioural pattern of a flood is widely found in the literature. However, the selection of an appropriate hydraulic model is highly essential to conduct reliable predictions. Predicting flood discharges and inundation extents are the two most important outcomes of flood simulations to stakeholders. Precise topographical data and channel geometries along a suitable hydraulic model are required to accurately predict floods. One-dimensional (1D) hydraulic models are now replaced by two-dimensional (2D) or combined 1D/2D models for higher performances. The Hydraulic Engineering Centre’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) has been widely used in all three forms for predicting flood characteristics. However, comparison studies among the 1D, 2D to 1D/2D models are limited in the literature to identify the better/best approach. Therefore, this research was carried out to identify the better approach using an example case study of the Kelani River basin in Sri Lanka. Two flood events (in 2016 and 2018) were separately simulated and tested for their accuracy using observed inundations and satellite-based inundations. It was found that the combined 1D/2D HEC-RAS hydraulic model outperforms other models for the prediction of flows and inundation for both flood events. Therefore, the combined model can be concluded as the better hydraulic model to predict flood characteristics of the Kelani River basin in Sri Lanka. With more flood studies, the conclusions can be more generalized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Effects on Hydrology and Water Resources)
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21 pages, 7636 KiB  
Article
Hydrologic Utility of Satellite-Based and Gauge-Based Gridded Precipitation Products in the Huai Bang Sai Watershed of Northeastern Thailand
by Miyuru B. Gunathilake, M. N. M. Zamri, Tharaka P. Alagiyawanna, Jayanga T. Samarasinghe, Pavithra K. Baddewela, Mukand S. Babel, Manoj K. Jha and Upaka S. Rathnayake
Hydrology 2021, 8(4), 165; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/hydrology8040165 - 03 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3079
Abstract
Accurate rainfall estimates are important in many hydrologic activities. Rainfall data are retrieved from rain gauges (RGs), satellites, radars, and re-analysis products. The accuracy of gauge-based gridded precipitation products (GbGPPs) relies on the distribution of RGs and the quality of rainfall data records [...] Read more.
Accurate rainfall estimates are important in many hydrologic activities. Rainfall data are retrieved from rain gauges (RGs), satellites, radars, and re-analysis products. The accuracy of gauge-based gridded precipitation products (GbGPPs) relies on the distribution of RGs and the quality of rainfall data records obtained from these. The accuracy of satellite-based precipitation products (SbPPs) depends on many factors, including basin climatology, basin topography, precipitation mechanism, etc. The hydrologic utility of different precipitation products was examined in many developed regions; however, less focused on the developing world. The Huai Bang Sai (HBS) watershed in north-eastern Thailand is a less focused but an important catchment that significantly contributes to the water resources in Thailand. Therefore, this research presents the investigation results of the hydrologic utility of SbPPs and GbGPPs in the HBS watershed. The efficiency of nine SbPPs (including 3B42, 3B42-RT, PERSIANN, PERSIANN-CCS, PERSIANN-CDR, CHIRPS, CMORPH, IMERG, and MSWEP) and three GbGPPs (including APHRODITE_V1801, APHRODITE_V1901, and GPCC) was examined by simulating streamflow of the HBS watershed through the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), hydrologic model. Subsequently, the streamflow simulation capacity of the hydrological model for different precipitation products was compared against observed streamflow records by using the same set of calibrated parameters used for an RG simulated scenario. The 3B42 product outperformed other SbPPS with a higher Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSEmonthly>0.55), while APHRODITE_V1901 (NSEmonthly>0.53) performed fairly well in the GbGPPs category with closer agreements with observed streamflow. In addition, the CMORPH precipitation product has not performed well in capturing observed rainfall and subsequently in simulating streamflow (NSEmonthly<0) of the HBS. Furthermore, MSWEP and CHIRPS products have performed fairly well during calibration; however, they showcased a lowered performance for validation. Therefore, the results suggest that accurate precipitation data is the major governing factor in streamflow modeling performances. The research outcomes would capture the interest of all stakeholders, including farmers, meteorologists, agriculturists, river basin managers, and hydrologists for potential applications in the tropical humid regions of the world. Moreover, 3B42 and APHRODITE_V1901 precipitation products show promising prospects for the tropical humid regions of the world for hydrologic modeling and climatological studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Effects on Hydrology and Water Resources)
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23 pages, 6546 KiB  
Article
Impact of Climate Change on the Streamflow Modulated by Changes in Precipitation and Temperature in the North Latitude Watershed of Nepal
by Manisha Maharjan, Anil Aryal, Rocky Talchabhadel and Bhesh Raj Thapa
Hydrology 2021, 8(3), 117; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/hydrology8030117 - 06 Aug 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3928
Abstract
It is unambiguous that climate change alters the intensity and frequency of precipitation and temperature distribution at the global and local levels. The rate of change in temperature in the northern latitudes is higher than the worldwide average. The annual distribution of precipitation [...] Read more.
It is unambiguous that climate change alters the intensity and frequency of precipitation and temperature distribution at the global and local levels. The rate of change in temperature in the northern latitudes is higher than the worldwide average. The annual distribution of precipitation over the Himalayas in the northern latitudes shows substantial spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Precipitation and temperature are the major driving factors that impact the streamflow and water availability in the basin, illustrating the importance of research on the impact of climate change on streamflow by varying the precipitation and temperature in the Thuli Bheri River Basin (TBRB). Multiple climate models were used to project and evaluate the precipitation and temperature distribution changes in temporal and spatial domains. To analyze the potential impact of climate change on the streamflow in the basin, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model was used. The climate projection was carried out in three future time windows. The result shows that the precipitation fluctuates between approximately +12% and +50%, the maximum temperature varies between −7% and +7%, and the minimum temperature rises from +0.7% to +5% in intermediate- and high-emission scenarios. In contrast, the streamflow in the basin varies from −40% to +85%. Thus, there is a significant trend in the temperature increase and precipitation reduction in the basin. Further, the relationship between precipitation and temperature with streamflow shows a substantial dependency between them. The variability in precipitation and streamflow is successfully represented by the water yield in the basin, which plays an important role in the sustainability of the water-related projects in the basin and downstream to it. This also helps quantify the amount of water available for hydropower generation, agricultural production, and the water ecosystem in the TBRB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Effects on Hydrology and Water Resources)
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Review

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22 pages, 2644 KiB  
Review
Perspective Impact on Water Environment and Hydrological Regime Owing to Climate Change: A Review
by Mohsin Abbas, Linshuang Zhao and Yanning Wang
Hydrology 2022, 9(11), 203; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/hydrology9110203 - 14 Nov 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4305
Abstract
This study summarizes reviews on climate change’s impact on the water environment and hydrological regime. The results indicate a strong relationship between the climatological parameters and hydrological patterns. This relationship can be determined in two steps: (1) define the variations in climatological factors, [...] Read more.
This study summarizes reviews on climate change’s impact on the water environment and hydrological regime. The results indicate a strong relationship between the climatological parameters and hydrological patterns. This relationship can be determined in two steps: (1) define the variations in climatological factors, particularly temperature and precipitation, and (2) measure the variations in runoff and inflows to streams and river systems using different statistical and global climate modeling approaches. It is evident that the increasing global temperatures have significant positive effects on runoff variations and evapotranspiration. Similarly, the increase in temperature has speeded up the melting of glaciers and ice on hilly terrains. This is causing frequent flash floods and a gradual rise in the sea level. These factors have altered the timing of stream flow into rivers. Furthermore, the accumulation of greenhouse gases, variations in precipitation and runoff, and sea-level rise have significantly affected freshwater quality. These effects are likely to continue if timely mitigation and adaptation measures are not adopted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Effects on Hydrology and Water Resources)
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12 pages, 293 KiB  
Review
A Review on Evapotranspiration Estimation in Agricultural Water Management: Past, Present, and Future
by Susantha Wanniarachchi and Ranjan Sarukkalige
Hydrology 2022, 9(7), 123; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/hydrology9070123 - 08 Jul 2022
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 6134
Abstract
Evapotranspiration (ET) is a major component of the water cycle and agricultural water balance. Estimation of water consumption over agricultural areas is important for agricultural water resources planning, management, and regulation. It leads to the establishment of a sustainable water balance, mitigates the [...] Read more.
Evapotranspiration (ET) is a major component of the water cycle and agricultural water balance. Estimation of water consumption over agricultural areas is important for agricultural water resources planning, management, and regulation. It leads to the establishment of a sustainable water balance, mitigates the impacts of water scarcity, as well as prevents the overusing and wasting of precious water resources. As evapotranspiration is a major consumptive use of irrigation water and rainwater on agricultural lands, improvements of water use efficiency and sustainable water management in agriculture must be based on the accurate estimation of ET. Applications of precision and digital agricultural technologies, the integration of advanced techniques including remote sensing and satellite technology, and usage of machine learning algorithms will be an advantage to enhance the accuracy of the ET estimation in agricultural water management. This paper reviews and summarizes the technical development of the available methodologies and explores the advanced techniques in the estimation of ET in agricultural water management and highlights the potential improvements to enhance the accuracy of the ET estimation to achieve precise agricultural water management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Effects on Hydrology and Water Resources)
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