Emerging Directions in Socio-Hydrology: Climate Adaptation and Transformation

This Research Topic is part of a series of article collections published within Frontiers in Water including:
- Emerging Directions in Socio-Hydrology: Digital, Big Data & AI
- Emerging Directions in Socio-Hydrology: Policy, Practice & Communication
- Emerging Directions in Socio-Hydrology: Climate Adaptation and Transformation


Climate change is intensifying hydrological extremes such as floods, droughts, and water scarcity, posing significant challenges to societies and ecosystems worldwide. These changes are not only altering hydrological processes but are also reshaping how communities interact with water resources, adapt to risks, and manage water systems. Socio-hydrology provides an important framework for understanding the dynamic feedbacks between climate variability, hydrological change, and human responses. Adaptation strategies such as infrastructure development, policy reforms, livelihood adjustments, and migration can themselves influence hydrological conditions and long-term system resilience. Understanding these coupled dynamics is critical for anticipating how human–water systems evolve under climate stress. As societies face increasing uncertainty, socio-hydrological research plays a key role in exploring pathways for adaptation, resilience, and long-term transformation in human–water systems.

The goal of this Research Topic is to advance understanding of how human–water systems respond and transform under the pressures of climate change. While considerable research has examined the hydrological impacts of climate change, less attention has been given to the complex feedbacks between societal responses and evolving hydrological processes. Adaptation strategies—whether technological, institutional, or behavioral, can reshape water demand, risk exposure, and long-term system dynamics.

This Research Topic seeks to highlight interdisciplinary research that examines how climate-driven changes interact with human decision-making, governance systems, and socio-economic conditions. Contributions are encouraged that explore adaptation pathways, resilience-building strategies, and transformative changes in water-dependent livelihoods and institutions. By integrating hydrological science with insights from social sciences, economics, and policy studies, this topic aims to deepen understanding of how adaptation measures influence human–water feedbacks and how societies can transition toward more resilient and sustainable water systems under climate change.

This Research Topic welcomes contributions that examine climate-driven changes in human–water systems and the socio-hydrological dynamics of adaptation and transformation. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: transformation pathways of water-dependent livelihoods; feedbacks between adaptation strategies and hydrological change; migration, resilience, and recovery dynamics following water-related hazards; socio-hydrological responses to climate extremes; and governance and institutional responses to changing water availability. Studies that integrate hydrological modeling, socio-economic analysis, and participatory approaches to understand adaptation processes are particularly encouraged.

We welcome Original Research Articles, Review Articles, Methods papers, and Perspectives that advance theoretical, methodological, or applied understanding of climate adaptation and transformation within socio-hydrological systems. Interdisciplinary contributions connecting hydrology, climate science, social sciences, and water management are strongly encouraged.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Climate Adaptation, Human–Water Interactions, Socio-Hydrological Resilience, Hydrological Extremes, Transformation Pathways

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.