Changes in our surface water resources in the Lower-Tisza Valley, experiences and prospects in the light of climate change

  • Péter Kozák Lower Tisza District Water Directorate
  • Károly Fiala Lower Tisza District Water Directorate
  • Anna Katalin Vass Lower Tisza District Water Directorate
  • Balázs Behenye Lower Tisza District Water Directorate
  • István Fehérváry Lower Tisza District Water Directorate
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59258/hk.23234
Keywords: Precipitation, soil moisture, runoff, evaporation, water management, climate changing

Abstract

The Lower Tisza river basin has unique hydrological characteristics due to its location and topography. In terms of flood occurrence, there are river valleys that have only a few days advance warning of the onset/peak of floods, but there are also those that give operational flood control managers up to 10 days' advance warning. Floods can subside within a few days, but in the case of the Tisza, floods can last for several months. Due to the soil conditions, topography, and land use of the catchment area, it is particularly susceptible to inland flooding. Combating droughts and water shortages has been a major challenge in the past and remains so today. Given the severity of water shortages, considerable attention is being paid to both surface and groundwater resources.

Author Biographies

Péter Kozák, Lower Tisza District Water Directorate

PÉTER KOZÁK is a certified hydraulic engineer. He completed his scientific degree in connection with inland water genetic analyses at the Doctoral School of Earth Sciences of the University of Szeged. His scientific activity is focused on regional water management related to the management and mitigation of flood and inland water risks. He has been an employee of the Lower Tisza  District Water Directorate since 1994, and its director since 2010. He has been an associate professor at the Eötvös József College since 2007, and a lecturer at the Faculty of Water Sciences of the National University of Public Service since 2017, an assistant professor since 2020, and an associate professor since 2022.

Károly Fiala , Lower Tisza District Water Directorate
KÁROLY FIALA is a certified geographer and environmental researcher (University of Szeged 2002). Since 2003, he has been a member of the Lower Tisza District Water  Directorate, where he deals with riverbed morphology, water management, and hydrographic monitoring.      
Anna Katalin Vass , Lower Tisza District Water Directorate

ANNA KATALIN VASS is a certified chemist. She graduated from the University of Szeged in 2023, where she participated in materials science research as part of her thesis. Since 2024, she has been an employee of the Hydrographic and Data Storage Department of the Lower Tisza District Water Directorate. As a monitoring officer, she performs data analysis and data processing, and contributes to the operation of the hydrographic telemetry system.

Balázs Behenye , Lower Tisza District Water Directorate

BALÁZS BENYHE is a geographer with a degree from the University of Szeged in 2008. He obtained his scientific degree from the Doctoral School of Earth Sciences of the University of Szeged in the field of anthropogenic geomorphology. Since 2012, he has been an employee of the Lower Tisza District Water Directorate, serving in the Hydrographic and Data Storage Department. Since 2016, he has been involved in the development and operation of the drought monitoring system, and since 2018, he has been the deputy head of the working group. Since 2024, he has been the head of the Hydrographic and Data Storage Department. His scientific interests are primarily focused on soil moisture measurement and modeling, as well as GIS.

István Fehérváry , Lower Tisza District Water Directorate

ISTVÁN FEHÉRVÁRY is a geographer who graduated from the University of Szeged in 2015. He obtained his scientific degree from the Doctoral School of Earth Sciences of the University of Szeged for his research on the impact of floodplain vegetation on flood waves. His scientific activities focus on the study of the riverbed-floodplain relationship and drought management. Since 2015, he has been working as a GIS specialist at the Lower Tisza District Water Management Directorate.

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URL1. http://www2.vizeink.hu/

Published
2026-05-21
How to Cite
KozákP., Fiala K., Vass A. K., Behenye B., & FehérváryI. (2026). Changes in our surface water resources in the Lower-Tisza Valley, experiences and prospects in the light of climate change. Hungarian Journal of Hydrology, 106(2), 4-19. https://doi.org/10.59258/hk.23234
Issue
Vol. 106 No. 2 (2026)
Section
Scientific Papers

Copyright (c) 2026 Péter Kozák, Károly Fiala , Anna Katalin Vass , Balázs Behenye , István Fehérváry

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