Pathways for Hydrological Resilience: Strategies for Adaptation in a Changing Climate

Climate change is fundamentally transforming global hydrological systems, exacerbating water scarcity, degrading water quality, and amplifying flood risks. This review critically examines the impacts of climate change on hydrological resilience, focusing on the increasing frequency and severity of extreme hydrological events such as floods and droughts, and their disproportionate effects on vulnerable regions with limited water resources. The review explores the role of nature-based solutions (NbS)—such as wetland restoration, reforestation, riparian buffer protection, and sustainable land management—as key strategies for mitigating climate-induced hydrological extremes. NbS leverage ecosystem services to reduce flood risks, improve water quality, and support groundwater recharge, offering adaptive, multi-functional approaches when combined with engineered infrastructure. In addition, the review discusses advancements in hydrological modeling, including the use of process-based models, machine learning algorithms, and scenario-based approaches, highlighting their potential for improving predictions of hydrological system responses to climate perturbations. Despite these advancements, significant gaps remain in understanding the interactions between cascading climate-induced extremes—particularly drought-to-flood transitions—and in addressing the challenges posed by limited data in transboundary water systems. This review underscores the importance of integrating ecological and infrastructural approaches in water resource management. It identifies emerging methodologies, such as real-time data assimilation and Bayesian frameworks, as crucial for enhancing the precision of hydrological predictions and informing effective decision-making. By synthesizing the latest research, this paper offers a comprehensive framework for addressing the challenges of climate-induced water crises and advancing hydrological resilience.