Southern Europe and the Circum-Mediterranean region are facing the challenge of managing its water resources under conditions of increasing scarcity and concerns about water quality. Already, the availability of fresh water in sufficient quality and quantity is one of the major factors limiting socio economic development. Especially, in terms of hydrology semi-arid regions, such as the Circum-Mediterranean, is characterized by very complex hydro- and hydrogeological systems that often exhibit extreme behavior. Commonly used models and analysis techniques often do not represent these processes, or at best they are seldom tested for adequacy and robustness. The complexity of the water cycle contrasts strongly with the poor data availability, which limits the number of analysis techniques and methods available to researchers.

This session seeks contributions on recent advances in science as well as in practical application, including:
- the development, analysis, and application of new data collection techniques, such as environmental sensor networks, satellite imagery and participatory data collection methods, but also human capacity development;
- new understanding of hydrological processes that are characteristic for the Mediterranean, such as large scale droughts and other extremes;
- innovative water management strategies, such as the storage of reclaimed water or excess water from different sources in Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)