Abstract
Abstract. Sociohydrology is the study of coupled human–water systems, building on the premise that water and human systems co-evolve: the state of the water system feeds back onto the human system, and vice versa, a situation denoted as "two-way coupling". A recent special issue in HESS/ESD, "Predictions under change: water, earth, and biota in the Anthropocene", includes a number of sociohydrologic publications that allow for a survey of the current state of understanding of sociohydrology and the dynamics and feedbacks that couple water and human systems together, of the research methodologies being employed to date, and of the normative and ethical issues raised by the study of sociohydrologic systems. Although sociohydrology is concerned with coupled human–water systems, the feedback may be filtered by a connection through natural or social systems, for example, the health of a fishery or through the global food trade, and therefore it may not always be possible to treat the human–water system in isolation. As part of a larger complex system, sociohydrology can draw on tools developed in the social–ecological and complex systems literature to further our sociohydrologic knowledge, and this is identified as a ripe area of future research.
Highlights
Many of the major improvements in hydrology in the past decades have been grounded in the understanding of natural systems
Three major themes emerge for further consideration: (i) the state of our understanding of the coupling between human society and hydrology, (ii) the strengths and new opportunities in the suite of research approaches used within sociohydrology, and (iii) the normative and ethical questions that arise in the context of sociohydrologic research, which are often neglected in research on the hydrology of natural systems
The special issue provided an opportunity to reflect on current research in sociohydrology, as well as the state of the field more generally
Summary
Many of the major improvements in hydrology in the past decades have been grounded in the understanding of natural systems. Externalizing the dependencies between human action and the availability, quality and dynamics of water clearly poses limitations to making predictions about water within the Anthropocene (Thompson et al, 2013) To address these limitations, a new generation of studies focus on sociohydrology, which aims to understand the dynamics and co-evolution of coupled human–water systems (Sivapalan et al, 2012). Improved understanding of the relationships between human decision-making (as it pertains to water systems) and the condition of the water system itself may lead to better prediction, and management, of water systems This joint Hydrology and Earth System Sciences/Earth System Dynamics special issue, “Predictions under change: water, earth, and biota in the Anthropocene”, contains a wide range of studies, from the impact of climate change on water resources to large-sample hydrology. Three major themes emerge for further consideration: (i) the state of our understanding of the coupling between human society and hydrology, (ii) the strengths and new opportunities in the suite of research approaches used within sociohydrology, and (iii) the normative and ethical questions that arise in the context of sociohydrologic research, which are often neglected in research on the hydrology of natural systems
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
