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This study proposes an improved nonstationary model for flood frequency analysis by investigating the relationship between flood peak and flood volume, using the Three Gorges Dam (TGD), China, for verification. First, the generalized additive model for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS) is used as the prior distribution. Then, under Bayesian theory, the prior distribution is updated using the conditional distribution, which is derived from the copula function. The results show that the improvement of the proposed model is significant compared with the GAMLSS-based prior distribution. Meanwhile, selection of a suitable prior distribution has a significant effect on the results of the improvement. For applications to the TGD, the nonstationary model can obviously increase the engineering management benefits and reduce the perceived risks of large floods. This study provides guidance for the dynamic management of hydraulic engineering under nonstationary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editors of several journals in the field of hydrology met during the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union—EGU in Vienna in April 2017. This event was a follow-up of similar meetings held in 2013 and 2015. These meetings enable the group of editors to review the current status of the journals and the publication process, and to share thoughts on future strategies. Journals were represented at the 2017 meeting by their editors, as shown in the list of authors. The main points on invigorating hydrological research through journal publications are communicated in this joint editorial published in the above journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article assesses the impact of the tensiometer on the consumption of groundwater and electric power in paddy cultivation in Indian Punjab, and its subsequent economic benefits. We find that compared to the continuous flooding method, the tensiometer-based application of irrigation reduces water and power consumption by 13%, cutting variable costs by 7% without any yield penalty. If 30% of the paddy area is irrigated following tensiometer-based schedules, then the state could save a total of 0.67 million ha m of water and 1516 million kWh of electric power in 2010-2025, with aggregate economic benefits of US$ 459 million. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The agriculture sector in India accounts for more than 85% of the total water use for irrigation. Within irrigation, the share of groundwater in the net irrigated area is around 50% to 55%, which is responsible for two-thirds of the total agricultural production. Agriculture also accounts for non-point-source pollution that arises from excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides. The Green Revolution was partly based on increased fertilizer use and intensive irrigation. During the past three decades, food production was tripled and poverty witnessed a decline. However, agriculture intensification led to overexploitation and pollution of groundwater resources, causing degradation of the environment and depletion of natural resources. Over and above, absence of significant public investment in surface water-based irrigation infrastructure, free or highly subsidized electricity, unregulated groundwater pumping, and irrational pricing policies have promoted cropping choices independent of resource endowments of water and energy. Over the long term, the current trends toward resource depletion and degradation, combined with a lack of proper reforms and policies that ensure agricultural sustainability and threats from climate change, pose a huge risk to farmers' income and can force poorer farmers out of the agricultural sector. In turn, these problems would lead to increased migration and poverty and decreased crop production, which are serious threats to food security. In this paper, we have discussed various challenges to water sustainability and food security of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]