Modeling approach to understanding the nexus of emerging contaminants, climate change, and water security

Abstract

Emerging contaminants (ECs) threaten water security and ecosystem health, with climate change intensifying their risks by altering hydrology and driving temperature changes. Process-based (PB) and data-driven (DD) models are vital for understanding EC dynamics and predicting long-term impacts under climate scenarios. This review highlights the integration of PB and DD models with climate change outputs to assess risks and inform sustainable water management. A proposed holistic framework combines these approaches to predict contaminant behavior, identify hotspots, and mitigate risks. Leveraging interdisciplinary insights, it offers a proactive strategy to address EC challenges and safeguard global water resources.