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Water Stress and Migration in Asia

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Book cover International Handbook of Population and Environment

Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Population ((IHOP,volume 10))

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Abstract

This chapter provides a geospatial review of the empirical research on the link between migration and water stress in Asia. Despite Asia’s large landmass, populous countries and diverse cultures and environments, water stress has widely contributed to migration across the region. What generalities can be made? One of the most compelling findings emerging from recent research recognizes the link between surface temperature variation, physical water scarcity, agricultural change, and migration. Temperature appears to be a contributing factor to migration in settings affected not only by drought, but also rainfall extremes. In diverse cases, the mechanism by which changes in temperature influence migration patterns appears to be water scarcity’s negative impacts on seasonal agricultural production. While much is known about migration and water stress in Asia, this paper identifies the geographical gaps where migration has not been studied, but where water stress is likely to occur in the coming century, as well as thematic research gaps in the region. This review concludes with a summary of the key implications for policymakers emerging from research.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA

    David J. Wrathall & Jamon Van Den Hoek

Authors
  1. David J. Wrathall
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  2. Jamon Van Den Hoek
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David J. Wrathall .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA

    Lori M. Hunter

  2. Department of Geography, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Clark Gray

  3. Campus Condorcet, National Institute for Demographic Studies, Aubervilliers Cedex, France

    Jacques Véron

Appendix 1: Additional Articles Considered in the Geospatial Review

Appendix 1: Additional Articles Considered in the Geospatial Review

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Wrathall, D.J., Van Den Hoek, J. (2022). Water Stress and Migration in Asia. In: Hunter, L.M., Gray, C., Véron, J. (eds) International Handbook of Population and Environment. International Handbooks of Population, vol 10. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76433-3_9

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