Assessing water security across scales: a case study of the United States
Water security is a multi-dimensional concept that varies across spatial scales. However, evaluations tend to focus on a single scale, which can suppress spatial heterogeneity and may not be relevant to the scale of decision making. We have identified four considerations encountered when selecting a...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021
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| _version_ | 1797108487255228416 |
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| author | Doeffinger, T Hall, J |
| author_facet | Doeffinger, T Hall, J |
| author_sort | Doeffinger, T |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Water security is a multi-dimensional concept that varies across spatial scales. However, evaluations tend to focus on a single scale, which can suppress spatial heterogeneity and may not be relevant to the scale of decision making. We have identified four considerations encountered when selecting a scale in water security analyses: (1) the natural scale of phenomena, (2) the scale of data availability, (3) the decision-making scale, and (4) precision versus accuracy. To explore these considerations and how they may impede a multiscale analysis, we have created a water security index comprised of ten sub-indicators focused on system performance and outcomes. These sub-indicators are assembled across three scales: the United States of America and its constituent states and counties. A tiered multiscale analysis was difficult for several reasons, not least because of the challenges of obtaining requisite data. Nonetheless, the analysis has proved to be worthwhile by exposing areas of
insecurity within the United States both at the state and county levels, and by demonstrating greater spatial heterogeneity than might previously have been assumed. Combining the sub-national indicators with a more comprehensive national assessment can support decision-making in terms of prioritization of policies and investments to target hotspots of insecurity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:29:57Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:293743d4-9280-467c-8959-26537b5fa275 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:29:57Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:293743d4-9280-467c-8959-26537b5fa2752023-01-16T08:56:34ZAssessing water security across scales: a case study of the United StatesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:293743d4-9280-467c-8959-26537b5fa275EnglishSymplectic ElementsElsevier2021Doeffinger, THall, JWater security is a multi-dimensional concept that varies across spatial scales. However, evaluations tend to focus on a single scale, which can suppress spatial heterogeneity and may not be relevant to the scale of decision making. We have identified four considerations encountered when selecting a scale in water security analyses: (1) the natural scale of phenomena, (2) the scale of data availability, (3) the decision-making scale, and (4) precision versus accuracy. To explore these considerations and how they may impede a multiscale analysis, we have created a water security index comprised of ten sub-indicators focused on system performance and outcomes. These sub-indicators are assembled across three scales: the United States of America and its constituent states and counties. A tiered multiscale analysis was difficult for several reasons, not least because of the challenges of obtaining requisite data. Nonetheless, the analysis has proved to be worthwhile by exposing areas of insecurity within the United States both at the state and county levels, and by demonstrating greater spatial heterogeneity than might previously have been assumed. Combining the sub-national indicators with a more comprehensive national assessment can support decision-making in terms of prioritization of policies and investments to target hotspots of insecurity. |
| spellingShingle | Doeffinger, T Hall, J Assessing water security across scales: a case study of the United States |
| title | Assessing water security across scales: a case study of the United States |
| title_full | Assessing water security across scales: a case study of the United States |
| title_fullStr | Assessing water security across scales: a case study of the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing water security across scales: a case study of the United States |
| title_short | Assessing water security across scales: a case study of the United States |
| title_sort | assessing water security across scales a case study of the united states |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT doeffingert assessingwatersecurityacrossscalesacasestudyoftheunitedstates AT hallj assessingwatersecurityacrossscalesacasestudyoftheunitedstates |