ABSTRACT
Urbanization directly impacts the natural environment through shifts in water cycles and microclimates. The hydroclimate (i.e. clouds, precipitation, land surface hydrology and associated flooding) is sensitive to and affected by urbanization and can have critical impacts on the fabric of society. Observational and modeling studies show compelling evidence that precipitation patterns, convective storms and flood activity in and around major urban areas have been modified in recent times. Increasingly, urban-hydroclimatic influences must now transition from an era of exploratory analysis to an integrated understanding offering actionable information. An in-depth understanding of water resources, water security, flood hazards and anomalies in the urban water cycle is vital to planning and policy-making for the future when global climate change and local urban land-atmosphere interactions will have coupled impacts on the environment.
