With climate change, the frequency and intensity of heavy-rainfall events, floods, and droughts are increasing in many parts of the world, causing high levels of damage to people, property, and ecological systems. Managing these water extremes, in particular rapid changes between contrasting hydrological conditions, poses a challenge for regional and local decision-makers. This collection includes articles on innovative approaches and methods for the development of adaptation strategies that limit the impacts of wet and dry hydrological extremes on society and ecological systems. It covers (but is not limited to) topics related to new methods for monitoring, forecasting, and the communication of water extremes on different spatial and temporal scales, as well approaches integrating flood protection and drought mitigation.

This collection was initiated by the BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research) funding measure "Water Extremes" (WaX) (in German, Wasser-Extremereignisse).