Editorial: Hydrological and hydrochemical processes in fragile systems

Abstract

An ecosystem is considered fragile when it exhibits a heightened susceptibility to disruption, degradation, or irreparable harm due to its limited capacity to withstand external stressors or adapt to changes. Fragile ecosystems, often delicate and unique, play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, ecosystem services, and global environmental equilibrium. These environments, encompassing wetlands, alpine regions, coastal areas, and more, are particularly vulnerable to the impact of hydrological and hydrochemical processes. As the world grapples with increasing environmental degradation and climate change, understanding and managing these processes in fragile ecosystems has become an urgent imperative, which is of paramount importance to mitigate their vulnerability and ensure long-term sustainability. This Research Topic aims to improve the knowledge on the processes of hydrology and hydrochemistry, their responses to changing environment, as well as the mechanisms of their ecological effects in fragile ecosystems. Eight papers are included in this Research Topic (Figure 1), encompassing a wide array of themes: (1) hydrologic dynamics and water cycle, (2) hydrochemical evolution, water quality, and risk assessment, and (3) environmentally friendly technology in ecosystems. These studies focus on fragile ecosystems, including drylands, Palm Grove ecosystems, urbanized ecosystems with risks of extreme weather events, and riverine systems with large water-diversion projects.