Articles | Volume 24, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3015-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3015-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
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09 Jun 2020
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 09 Jun 2020
| 09 Jun 2020
Changing global cropping patterns to minimize national blue water scarcity
Hatem Chouchane
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Twente Water Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, the
Netherlands
Maarten S. Krol
Twente Water Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, the
Netherlands
Arjen Y. Hoekstra
Twente Water Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, the
Netherlands
Institute of Water Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy,
National University of Singapore, Singapore
deceased, 18 November 2019
Related authors
No articles found.
Han Su, Bárbara Willaarts, Diana Luna-Gonzalez, Maarten S. Krol, and Rick J. Hogeboom
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 4397–4418, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-4397-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-4397-2022, 2022
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There are over 608 million farms around the world but they are not the same. We developed high spatial resolution maps showing where small and large farms were located and which crops were planted for 56 countries. We checked the reliability and have the confidence to use them for the country level and global studies. Our maps will help more studies to easily measure how agriculture policies, water availability, and climate change affect small and large farms.
Sebastian Multsch, Maarten S. Krol, Markus Pahlow, André L. C. Assunção, Alberto G. O. P. Barretto, Quirijn de Jong van Lier, and Lutz Breuer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 307–324, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-307-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-307-2020, 2020
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Expanding irrigation in agriculture is one of Brazil's strategies to increase production. In this study the amount of water required to grow the main crops has been calculated and compared to the water that is available in rivers at least 95 % of the time. Future decisions regarding expanding irrigated cropping areas must, while intensifying production practices, consider the likely regional effects on water scarcity levels, in order to reach sustainable agricultural production.
Pute Wu, La Zhuo, Guoping Zhang, Mesfin M. Mekonnen, Arjen Y. Hoekstra, Yoshihide Wada, Xuerui Gao, Xining Zhao, Yubao Wang, and Shikun Sun
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-436, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-436, 2018
Manuscript not accepted for further review
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This study estimates the concomitant economic benefits and values to the crop-related (physical and virtual) water flows at a basin level. The net benefit of blue water was 13–42 % lower than that of green water in the case for the Yellow River Basin. The basin got a net income through the virtual water exports. It is necessary to manage the internal trade-offs between the water consumption and economic returns, for maximizing both the water use efficiency and water economic productivities.
Abebe D. Chukalla, Maarten S. Krol, and Arjen Y. Hoekstra
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3245–3259, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3245-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3245-2018, 2018
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This paper provides the first detailed and comprehensive study regarding the potential for reducing the grey WF of crop production by changing management practice such as the nitrogen application rate, nitrogen form (inorganic N or manure N), tillage practice and irrigation strategy. The paper shows that although water pollution (grey WF) can be reduced dramatically, this comes together with a great yield reduction.
Abebe D. Chukalla, Maarten S. Krol, and Arjen Y. Hoekstra
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3507–3524, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3507-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3507-2017, 2017
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In the current study, we have developed a method to obtain marginal cost curves (MCCs) for WF reduction in crop production. The method is innovative by employing a model that combines soil water balance accounting and a crop growth model and assessing costs and WF reduction for all combinations of irrigation techniques, irrigation strategies and mulching practices. While this approach has been used in the field of constructing MCCs for carbon footprint reduction, this has never been done before.
La Zhuo, Mesfin M. Mekonnen, and Arjen Y. Hoekstra
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 4547–4559, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4547-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4547-2016, 2016
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Benchmarks for the water footprint (WF) of crop production can serve as a reference and be helpful in setting WF reduction targets. The study explores which environmental factors should be distinguished when determining benchmarks for the consumptive (green and blue) WF of crops. Through a case study for winter wheat in China over 1961–2008, we find that when determining benchmark levels for the consumptive WF of a crop, it is most useful to distinguish between different climate zones.
A. D. Chukalla, M. S. Krol, and A. Y. Hoekstra
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 4877–4891, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4877-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4877-2015, 2015
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This paper provides the first detailed and comprehensive study regarding the potential for reducing the consumptive WF of a crop by changing management practice such as irrigation technique, irrigation strategy and mulching practice. If we consider all the cases of drip or subsurface drip irrigation with synthetic mulching, including all crops and environments, we find an average consumptive WF reduction of 28-29%. The corresponding blue WF reduction is 44% and the green WF reduction 14%.
J. F. Schyns, A. Y. Hoekstra, and M. J. Booij
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 4581–4608, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4581-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4581-2015, 2015
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The paper draws attention to the fact that green water (soil moisture returning to the atmosphere through evaporation) is a scarce resource, because its availability is limited and there are competing demands for green water. Around 80 indicators of green water availability and scarcity are reviewed and classified based on their scope and purpose of measurement. This is useful in order to properly include limitations in green water availability in water scarcity assessments.
M. C. Demirel, M. J. Booij, and A. Y. Hoekstra
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 275–291, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-275-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-275-2015, 2015
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This paper investigates the skill of 90-day low-flow forecasts using three models. From the results, it appears that all models are prone to over-predict runoff during low-flow periods using ensemble seasonal meteorological forcing. The largest range for 90-day low-flow forecasts is found for the GR4J model. Overall, the uncertainty from ensemble P forecasts has a larger effect on seasonal low-flow forecasts than the uncertainty from ensemble PET forecasts and initial model conditions.
L. Zhuo, M. M. Mekonnen, and A. Y. Hoekstra
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 2219–2234, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2219-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2219-2014, 2014
H. H. G. Savenije, A. Y. Hoekstra, and P. van der Zaag
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 319–332, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-319-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-319-2014, 2014
M. C. Demirel, M. J. Booij, and A. Y. Hoekstra
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4241–4257, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4241-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4241-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject: Water Resources Management | Techniques and Approaches: Mathematical applications
Synthesis of historical reservoir operations from 1980 to 2020 for the evaluation of reservoir representation in large-scale hydrologic models
A Bayesian model for quantifying errors in citizen science data: application to rainfall observations from Nepal
A novel objective function DYNO for automatic multivariable calibration of 3D lake models
The importance of non-stationary multiannual periodicities in the North Atlantic Oscillation index for forecasting water resource drought
Decreased virtual water outflows from the Yellow River basin are increasingly critical to China
AI-based techniques for multi-step streamflow forecasts: application for multi-objective reservoir operation optimization and performance assessment
Optimal water use strategies for mitigating high urban temperatures
Physical versus economic water footprints in crop production: a spatial and temporal analysis for China
Development of a revised method for indicators of hydrologic alteration for analyzing the cumulative impacts of cascading reservoirs on flow regime
Climate change impacts on the Water Highway project in Morocco
HESS Opinions: How should a future water census address consumptive use? (And where can we substitute withdrawal data while we wait?)
Complex relationship between seasonal streamflow forecast skill and value in reservoir operations
Water footprint of crop production for different crop structures in the Hebei southern plain, North China
Benchmark levels for the consumptive water footprint of crop production for different environmental conditions: a case study for winter wheat in China
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Machine learning methods for empirical streamflow simulation: a comparison of model accuracy, interpretability, and uncertainty in seasonal watersheds
The question of Sudan: a hydro-economic optimization model for the Sudanese Blue Nile
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A dynamic water accounting framework based on marginal resource opportunity cost
Climate change and non-stationary flood risk for the upper Truckee River basin
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China's water sustainability in the 21st century: a climate-informed water risk assessment covering multi-sector water demands
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Jennie C. Steyaert and Laura E. Condon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 1071–1088, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1071-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1071-2024, 2024
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Reservoirs impact all river systems in the United States, yet their operations are difficult to quantify due to limited data. Using historical reservoir operations, we find that storage has declined over the past 40 years, with clear regional differences. We observe that active storage ranges are increasing in arid regions and decreasing in humid regions. By evaluating reservoir model assumptions, we find that they may miss out on seasonal dynamics and can underestimate storage.
Jessica A. Eisma, Gerrit Schoups, Jeffrey C. Davids, and Nick van de Giesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3565–3579, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3565-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3565-2023, 2023
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Citizen scientists often submit high-quality data, but a robust method for assessing data quality is needed. This study develops a semi-automated program that characterizes the mistakes made by citizen scientists by grouping them into communities of citizen scientists with similar mistake tendencies and flags potentially erroneous data for further review. This work may help citizen science programs assess the quality of their data and can inform training practices.
Wei Xia, Taimoor Akhtar, and Christine A. Shoemaker
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3651–3671, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3651-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3651-2022, 2022
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The common practice of calibrating lake hydrodynamic models only to temperature data is shown to be unable to reproduce the flow dynamics well. We proposed a new dynamically normalized objective function (DYNO) for multivariable calibration to be used with parallel or serial optimization methods. DYNO is successfully applied to simultaneously calibrate the temperature and velocity of a 3-dimensional tropical lake model.
William Rust, John P. Bloomfield, Mark Cuthbert, Ron Corstanje, and Ian Holman
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2449–2467, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2449-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2449-2022, 2022
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We highlight the importance of the North Atlantic Oscillation in controlling droughts in the UK. Specifically, multi-year cycles in the NAO are shown to influence the frequency of droughts and this influence changes considerably over time. We show that the influence of these varying controls is similar to the projected effects of climate change on water resources. We also show that these time-varying behaviours have important implications for water resource forecasts used for drought planning.
Shuang Song, Shuai Wang, Xutong Wu, Yongyuan Huang, and Bojie Fu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2035–2044, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2035-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2035-2022, 2022
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A reasonable assessment of the contribution of the water resources in a river basin to domestic crops supplies will be the first step in balancing the water–food nexus. Our results showed that although the Yellow River basin had reduced its virtual water outflow, its importance to crop production in China had been increasing when water footprint networks were considered. Our complexity-based approach provides a new perspective for understanding changes in a basin with a severe water shortage.
Yuxue Guo, Xinting Yu, Yue-Ping Xu, Hao Chen, Haiting Gu, and Jingkai Xie
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5951–5979, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5951-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5951-2021, 2021
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We developed an AI-based management methodology to assess forecast quality and forecast-informed reservoir operation performance together due to uncertain inflow forecasts. Results showed that higher forecast performance could lead to improved reservoir operation, while uncertain forecasts were more valuable than deterministic forecasts. Moreover, the relationship between the forecast horizon and reservoir operation was complex and depended on operating configurations and performance measures.
Bin Liu, Zhenghui Xie, Shuang Liu, Yujing Zeng, Ruichao Li, Longhuan Wang, Yan Wang, Binghao Jia, Peihua Qin, Si Chen, Jinbo Xie, and ChunXiang Shi
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 387–400, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-387-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-387-2021, 2021
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We implemented both urban water use schemes in a model (Weather Research and Forecasting model) and assessed their cooling effects with different amounts of water in different parts of the city (center, suburbs, and rural areas) for both road sprinkling and urban irrigation by model simulation. Then, we developed an optimization scheme to find out the optimal water use strategies for mitigating high urban temperatures.
Xi Yang, La Zhuo, Pengxuan Xie, Hongrong Huang, Bianbian Feng, and Pute Wu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 169–191, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-169-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-169-2021, 2021
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Maximizing economic benefits with higher water productivity or lower water footprint is the core sustainable goal of agricultural water resources management. Here we look at spatial and temporal variations and developments in both production-based (PWF) and economic value-based (EWF) water footprints of crops, by taking a case study for China. A synergy evaluation index is proposed to further quantitatively evaluate the synergies and trade-offs between PWF and EWF.
Xingyu Zhou, Xiaorong Huang, Hongbin Zhao, and Kai Ma
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4091–4107, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4091-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4091-2020, 2020
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The main objective of this work is to discuss the cumulative effects on flow regime with the construction of cascade reservoirs. A revised IHA (indicators of hydrologic alteration) method was developed by using a projection pursuit method based on the real-coded accelerated genetic algorithm in this study. Through this method, IHA parameters with a high contribution to hydrological-alteration evaluation could be selected out and given high weight to reduce the redundancy among the IHA metrics.
Nabil El Moçayd, Suchul Kang, and Elfatih A. B. Eltahir
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1467–1483, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1467-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1467-2020, 2020
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The present work addresses the impact of climate change on the Water Highway project in Morocco. This project aims to transfer 860 × 106 m3 yr−1 of water from the north to the south. As the project is very sensitive to the availability of water in the northern regions, we evaluate its feasibility under different future climate change scenarios: under a pessimistic climate scenario, the project is infeasible; however, under an optimistic scenario a rescaled version might be feasible.
Benjamin L. Ruddell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5551–5558, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5551-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5551-2018, 2018
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We now lack sufficient empirical observations of consumptive use of water by humans and their economy, so it is worth considering what we can do with the withdrawal-based water use data we already possess. Fortunately, a wide range of applied water management and policy questions can be addressed using currently available withdrawal data. This discussion identifies important data collection problems and argues that the withdrawal data we already possess are adequate for some important purposes.
Sean W. D. Turner, James C. Bennett, David E. Robertson, and Stefano Galelli
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4841–4859, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4841-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4841-2017, 2017
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This study investigates the relationship between skill and value of ensemble seasonal streamflow forecasts. Using data from a modern forecasting system, we show that skilled forecasts are more likely to provide benefits for reservoirs operated to maintain a target water level rather than reservoirs operated to satisfy a target demand. We identify the primary causes for this behaviour and provide specific recommendations for assessing the value of forecasts for reservoirs with supply objectives.
Yingmin Chu, Yanjun Shen, and Zaijian Yuan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3061–3069, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3061-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3061-2017, 2017
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In this study, we analyzed the water footprint (WF) of crop production and found winter wheat, summer maize and vegetables were the top water-consuming crops in the Hebei southern plain (HSP). The total WF, WFblue, WFgreen and WFgrey for 13 years (2000–2012) of crop production were 604.8, 288.5, 141.3 and 175.0 km3, respectively, with an annual downtrend from 2000 to 2012. Finally, we evaluated a reasonable farming structure by analyzing scenarios of the main crops' WF.
La Zhuo, Mesfin M. Mekonnen, and Arjen Y. Hoekstra
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 4547–4559, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4547-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4547-2016, 2016
Short summary
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Benchmarks for the water footprint (WF) of crop production can serve as a reference and be helpful in setting WF reduction targets. The study explores which environmental factors should be distinguished when determining benchmarks for the consumptive (green and blue) WF of crops. Through a case study for winter wheat in China over 1961–2008, we find that when determining benchmark levels for the consumptive WF of a crop, it is most useful to distinguish between different climate zones.
Wei Hu and Bing Cheng Si
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3183–3191, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3183-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3183-2016, 2016
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Bivariate wavelet coherence has been used to explore scale- and location-specific relationships between two variables. In reality, a process occurring on land surface is usually affected by more than two factors. Therefore, this manuscript is to develop a multiple wavelet coherence method. Results showed that new method outperforms other multivariate methods. Matlab codes for a new method are provided. This method can be widely applied in geosciences where a variable is controlled by many factors.
Julie E. Shortridge, Seth D. Guikema, and Benjamin F. Zaitchik
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 2611–2628, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2611-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2611-2016, 2016
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This paper compares six methods for data-driven rainfall–runoff simulation in terms of predictive accuracy, error structure, interpretability, and uncertainty. We demonstrate that autocorrelation in model errors can result in biased estimates of important values and show how certain model structures can be more easily interpreted to yield insights on physical watershed function. Finally, we explore how model structure can impact uncertainty in climate change sensitivity estimates.
S. Satti, B. Zaitchik, and S. Siddiqui
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2275–2293, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2275-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2275-2015, 2015
Z. Lu, Y. Wei, H. Xiao, S. Zou, J. Xie, J. Ren, and A. Western
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2261–2273, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2261-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2261-2015, 2015
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This paper quantitatively analyzed the evolution of human-water relationships in the Heihe River basin over the past 2000 years by reconstructing the catchment water balance. The results provided the basis for investigating the impacts of human societies on hydrological systems. The evolutionary processes of human-water relationships can be divided into four stages: predevelopment, take-off, acceleration, and rebalancing. And the transition of the human-water relationship had no fixed pattern.
A. Tilmant, G. Marques, and Y. Mohamed
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 1457–1467, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1457-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1457-2015, 2015
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As water resources are increasingly used for various purposes, there is a need for a unified framework to describe, quantify and classify water use in a region, be it a catchment, a river basin or a country. This paper presents a novel water accounting framework whereby the contribution of traditional water uses but also storage services are properly considered.
L. E. Condon, S. Gangopadhyay, and T. Pruitt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 159–175, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-159-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-159-2015, 2015
T. K. Lissner, C. A. Sullivan, D. E. Reusser, and J. P. Kropp
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 4039–4052, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4039-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4039-2014, 2014
X. Chen, D. Naresh, L. Upmanu, Z. Hao, L. Dong, Q. Ju, J. Wang, and S. Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 1653–1662, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1653-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1653-2014, 2014
J. Shi, J. Liu, and L. Pinter
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 1349–1357, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1349-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1349-2014, 2014
A. Castelletti, F. Pianosi, X. Quach, and R. Soncini-Sessa
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 189–199, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-189-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-189-2012, 2012
D. Anghileri, F. Pianosi, and R. Soncini-Sessa
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 2025–2038, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-2025-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-2025-2011, 2011
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Short summary
Previous studies on water saving through food trade focussed either on comparing water productivities among countries or on analysing food trade in relation to national water endowments. Here, we consider, for the first time, both differences in water productivities and water endowments to analyse national comparative advantages. Our study reveals that blue water scarcity can be reduced to sustainable levels by changing cropping patterns while maintaining current levels of global production.
Previous studies on water saving through food trade focussed either on comparing water...
