Editorial: Climate, water and land in Africa: research trends and challenges

Abstract

Water availability is essential to Africa's socio-economic prosperity in particular for both rain-fed 20 and irrigated agriculture, municipal water supply, energy production and industry. Sustainable 21 management of water resources is key for sustaining ecosystem health, natural resources and 22 wellbeing for the local population. Yet, the African continent's water resources are currently facing 23 severe pressures from (over) exploitation of water storages, severe pollution, and infrastructural 24 challenges. In addition to pressure on water resources, it faces increased risks of hydro extremes like 25 large river floods, flash floods after local high-intense rainstorms, and droughts. 26As a continent Africa currently has over 1.4 billion people and is expecting > 3 billion people till end 27 of the century. It has a distinctly diverse climate and environment and, as elsewhere, faces problems 28 related to insufficient interaction between hydrology and society.