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This book explores how human civilization has contributed to changes in the Anthropocene, an era that marks a fundamental change in the way mankind has interacted with the Earth system. It examines the 21st century in the context of human development of water infrastructures, climate change impacts on freshwater resources, groundwater depletion, rising population, land use change, extreme events (droughts, floods, and wildfires). The implications of climate change impacts on environmental assets and the global water cycle are also highlighted. The book takes a pragmatically trans-disciplinary and holistic approach to the discussion of these issues, and the Earth system in the Anthropocene, drawing from a plethora of case studies. The capabilities of machine learning tools in satellite hydrology applications have been demonstrated as well as the feasibility of remote sensing data and innovative geospatial tools in environmental assessment. The book further showcases the multiple strengths and potential of new multi-disciplinary satellite radar programmes and geodetic missions, to measure and characterize extreme events, and their links to global climate, as well as in remote sensing of the environment. The aim is to provide innovative tools and a scientific framework that underpin our fundamental understanding of environmental systems, and the complexities of socio-hydrological systems in the Anthropocene. Policy issues have also been raised as an important aspect that can strengthen the management and administration of water resources, particularly in emerging economies where observational data is often lacking, limited, or difficult to access. It also highlights the lessons learned from freshwater hotspots (e.g., Lake Chad and Lake Urmia) where prolonged droughts and human activities have led to a permanent loss of surface water. It identifies the role of institutions and stakeholders in driving policies that underpins water management and climate changeadaptation. The book articulates the novel applications of remote sensing tools as part of a monitoring framework that can alert stakeholders and the public sector to the dangers of mismanagement of freshwater in these hotspots and help facilitate water governance approaches. The book fills a critical gap in the multi-disciplinary aspect of planetary science, particularly in understanding the impacts of climate change and human actions on freshwater resources, as well as the stability of the Earth system.

Advances in Streamflow Forecasting: From Traditional to Modern Approaches covers the three major data-driven approaches of streamflow forecasting including traditional approach of statistical and stochastic time-series modelling with their recent developments, stand-alone data-driven approach such as artificial intelligence techniques, and modern hybridized approach where data-driven models are combined with preprocessing methods to improve the forecast accuracy of streamflows and to reduce the forecast uncertainties. This book starts by providing the background information, overview, and advances made in streamflow forecasting. The overview portrays the progress made in the field of streamflow forecasting over the decades. Thereafter, chapters describe theoretical methodology of the different data-driven tools and techniques used for streamflow forecasting along with case studies from different parts of the world. Each chapter provides a flowchart explaining step-by-step methodology followed in applying the data-driven approach in streamflow forecasting. This book addresses challenges in forecasting streamflows by abridging the gaps between theory and practice through amalgamation of theoretical descriptions of the data-driven techniques and systematic demonstration of procedures used in applying the techniques. Language of this book is kept simple to make the readers understand easily about different techniques and make them capable enough to straightforward replicate the approach in other areas of their interest. This book will be vital for hydrologists when optimizing the water resources system, and to mitigate the impact of destructive natural disasters such as floods and droughts by implementing long-term planning (structural and nonstructural measures), and short-term emergency warning. Moreover, this book will guide the readers in choosing an appropriate technique for streamflow forecasting depending upon the given set of conditions. - Contributions from renowned researchers/experts of the subject from all over the world to provide the most authoritative outlook on streamflow forecasting - Provides an excellent overview and advances made in streamflow forecasting over the past more than five decades and covers both traditional and modern data-driven approaches in streamflow forecasting - Includes case studies along with detailed flowcharts demonstrating a systematic application of different data-driven models in streamflow forecasting, which helps understand the step-by-step procedures