Water management vulnerability in the Carpathian Basin: the hydrological significance of the water retention function of the landscape

Abstract

The water balance of the Carpathian Basin has undergone a long-term transformation over the last 150 years, affecting the structure and functioning of hydrological processes at multiple spatial scales. While these changes are often interpreted in terms of climate variability and water resource use, they are also closely related to historical patterns of land use and landscape transformation associated with anthropogenic development. Since the late 19th century, river regulation, drainage interventions, agricultural intensification, groundwater abstraction, and urban expansion have collectively modified the pathways of water movement. These processes have contributed to reduced infiltration capacity, declining soil moisture, and changes in groundwater recharge conditions in several regions. The study adopts an integrated, landscape-based approach to water balance processes. It emphasises that infiltration, soil moisture dynamics, and subsurface flow systems are not independent variables, but are determined by the structural and functional properties of the landscape, including geology, geomorphology, soil characteristics, and vegetation cover. The analysis indicates that current water-related challenges cannot be interpreted solely as a consequence of climate change. Rather, climate variability interacts with an already modified hydrological system, in which the capacity of the landscape to retain and redistribute water has been altered. The paper argues that addressing these challenges may require a conceptual extension of conventional water management approaches. In addition to water allocation and regulation, greater emphasis should be placed on processes that influence water retention, residence time, and the interaction between surface and subsurface systems. The findings suggest that a landscape-oriented interpretation of water balance processes can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of hydrological functioning and may support the development of more integrative approaches to water management planning and adaptation.