Publications and Data
For the complete list of publications, kindly visit Aalto Research.
Water and Development Research Group aims to publishing the research data used in our studies. Open and freely reusable data enables new studies and integration of new disciplines. Please find our latest data published online, and please follow the guidelines and licenses for reusing the data.
List of recent doctoral and master theses
Recent publications
The alarming trend of water weaponization during the Russian war in Ukraine. Tomin, O., Porokhivnyk, T., Juvakoski, A., & Varis, O. (2026). Earth’s Future, 14(10), e2026EF008132.
Africa’s water-related risks to humanity: Spatial patterns and archetypes. Chen, X., Juvakoski, A., & Varis, O. (2026). Resources, Environment and Sustainability, 100380.
Integrating machine learning failure probabilities and tracer-based infiltration indicators for sewer condition screening and asset management. Motamedi, B., Sayyar, S. M., Heiderscheidt, E., Kummu, M., Laakso, T., & Rossi, P. M. (2026). Journal of Environmental Management, 419, 131130.
Compound and heterogeneous relationships between climate extremes and global net migration. Petrova, K., Zantout, K., Zimmermann, S., Niva, V., Kummu, M., Frieler, K., & Schewe, J. (2026). Nature Climate Change, 1-8.
Angles of trust in transboundary water cooperation: Capturing the multidimensional and dynamic nature of trust in the Sava and Syrdarya river basins. Sharipova, B., Sehring, J., Komatina, D., & Keskinen, M. (2027). Geoforum, 178, 104875.
Working life relevance of sustainability-oriented engineering education and graduates’ influencing possibilities–insights from Finnish employers. Karvinen, M., Sundman, J., Kaikko, A., & Keskinen, M. (2026). European Journal of Engineering Education, 1-28.
Collaborative water resources management: A multilayer social network analysis. Banafa, T., Eräranta, S., Yletyinen, J., Pihlajamäki, M., & Keskinen, M. (2025). Journal of Hydrology, 134335.
Towards transformative learning: students’ disorienting dilemmas and coping strategies in interdisciplinary problem-based learning. Xiaoqi Feng, Julia Sundman, Hanna Aarnio, Maija Taka, Marko Keskinen, Olli Varis, 2024. European Journal of Engineering Education, 1–23.
Opportunities for carbon sequestration from removing or intensifying pasture-based beef production. Matthew N. Hayek, Johannes Piipponen, Matti Kummu, Kajsa Resare Sahlin, Shelby C. McClelland, Kimberly Carlson, 2024. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(46), e2405758121.
Archetypal flow regime change classes and their associations with anthropogenic drivers of global streamflow alterations. Vili Virkki, Reetik Kumar Sahu, Mikhail Smilovic, Josias Láng-Ritter, Miina Porkka, Matti Kummu, 2024. Environmental Research Communications, 6(11), 111007.
Navigating Dilemmas: university educators’ journeys in creativity teaching. Xiaoqi Feng, Sara Figueiredo, Pauliina Mattila, Marko Keskinen, Tua Björklund, 2024. Teaching in Higher Education, 1-21.
The potential to increase food system resilience by replacing feed imports with domestic food system byproducts. Vilma Sandström, Thomas Kastner, Florian Schwarzmueller, Matti Kummu, 2024. Environmental Research Letters, 19(8), 084018.
An exploration of biodiversity limits to grazing ruminant milk and meat production. Kajsa Resare Sahlin, Line J. Gordon, Regina Lindborg, Johannes Piipponen, Pierre Van Rysselberge, Julia Rouet-Leduc, Elin Röös, 2024. Nature Sustainability, 1-11.
Timing the first emergence and disappearance of global water scarcity. Junguo Liu, Delong Li, He Chen, Hong Wang, Yoshihide Wada, Matti Kummu, Simon Newland Gosling, Hong Yang, Yadu Pokhrel, Philippe Ciais, 2024. Nature Communications, 15(1), 7129.
Extent of global decarbonization of the power sector through energy policies and governance capacity. Xu Peng, Laixiang Sun, Kuishuang Feng, Honglin Zhong, Jing Liang, Chao Zhang, Dandan Zhao, Hong Chen, Ruyin Long, Zhencheng Xing, Klaus Hubacek, 2024. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1), 321.
Scenario projections of South Asian migration patterns amidst environmental and socioeconomic change. Sophie de Bruin, Jannis Hoch, Jens de Bruijn, Kathleen Hermans, Amina Maharjan, Matti Kummu, Jasper van Vliet, 2024. Global Environmental Change, 88, 102920.
Finding common ground: Comparing Finnish and US engineering design graduate students’ conceptualizations of interdisciplinary education. Margaret Webb, Xiaoqi Feng, Hanna Aarnio, Julia Sundman, Felicity Bilow, Maija Taka, Marie C. Paretti, Marko Keskinen. In 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.
Notable shifts beyond pre-industrial streamflow and soil moisture conditions transgress the planetary boundary for freshwater change. Miina Porkka, Vili Virkki, Lan Wang-Erlandsson, Dieter Gerten, Tom Gleeson, Chinchu Mohan, Ingo Fetzer, Fernando Jaramillo, Arie Staal, Sofie te Wierik, Arne Tobian, Ruud van der Ent, Petra Döll, Martina Flörke, Simon N. Gosling, Naota Hanasaki, Yusuke Satoh, Hannes Müller Schmied, Niko Wanders, James S. Famiglietti, Johan Rockström , Matti Kummu, 2024. Nature Water 2, 262–273 .
Intermediaries as drivers of innovation development in resource-constrained environments: Insights from the Kenyan water sector. Anne Hyvärinen, Marko Keskinen, Jarkko Levänen, 2024. Technovation, 131, 102956.
Catch ‘em When the Water is Low: Longue Durée Hypothesis on Floodplains Fishing and its Rhythm in the Palembang and Jambi Region of Sumatra. Wesa Perttola, Marko Kallio, 2024. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, pp. 1–21.
The asymmetric impacts of international agricultural trade on water use scarcity, inequality and inequity. Weiyi Gu, Fang Wang, Stefan Siebert, Matti Kummu, Xuhui Wang, Chaopeng Hong, Feng Zhou, Qing Zhu, Yong Liu, Yue Qin, 2024. Nature Water 2, 324–336.
Dependency on imported agricultural inputs—global trade patterns and recent trends. Vilma Sandström, Ellen Huan-Niemi, Jyrki Niemi, Matti Kummu, 2024. Environmental Research: Food Systems 1.
Water consumption and biodiversity: Responses to global emergency events. Dandan Zhao, Junguo Liu, Laixiang Sun, Klaus Hubacek, Stephan Pfister, Kuishuang Feng, Heran Zheng, Xu Peng, Daoping Wang, Hong Yang, Lei Shen, Fei Lun, Xu Zhao, Bin Chen, Marko Keskinen, Shaohui Zhang, Jialiang Cai, Olli Varis, 2024. Science Bulletin 69:16, 2632-2646.
Effects of new-type urbanization on resource pressure: Evidence from a water-energy-food system perspective in China. Qing Xia, Guiliang Tian, Dandan Zhao, Qiuya Zhao, Olli Varis, 2024. Sustainable Cities and Society 107, 105411.
The dry sky: future scenarios for humanity’s modification of the atmospheric water cycle. Patrick W. Keys, Lan Wang-Erlandsson, Michele-Lee Moore, Agnes Pranindita, Fabian Stenzel, Olli Varis, Rekha Warrier, R. Bin Wong, Paolo D’Odorico, Carl Folke, 2024. Global Sustainability 7, e11, 1-13.
Environmental drivers of increased ecosystem respiration in a warming tundra. S. L. Maes, J. Dietrich, G. Midolo, S. Schwieger, M. Kummu, V. Vandvik, R. Aerts, I. H. J. Althuizen, C. Biasi, R. G. Björk, H. Böhner, M. Carbognani, G. Chiari, C. T. Christiansen, K. E. Clemmensen, E. J. Cooper, J. H. C. Cornelissen, B. Elberling, P. Faubert, N. Fetcher, T. G. W. Forte, J. Gaudard, K. Gavazov, Z. Guan, J. Guðmundsson, R. Gya, S. Hallin, B. B. Hansen, S. V. Haugum, J.-S. He, C. Hicks Pries, M. J. Hovenden, M. Jalava, I. S. Jónsdóttir, J. Juhanson, J. Y. Jung, E. Kaarlejärvi, M. J. Kwon, R. E. Lamprecht, M. Le Moullec, H. Lee, M. E. Marushchak, A. Michelsen, T. M. Munir, E. M. Myrsky, C. S. Nielsen, M. Nyberg, J. Olofsson, H. Óskarsson, T. C. Parker, E. P. Pedersen, M. Petit Bon, A. Petraglia, K. Raundrup, N. M. R. Ravn, R. Rinnan, H. Rodenhizer, I. Ryde, N. M. Schmidt, E. A. G. Schuur, S. Sjögersten, S. Stark, M. Strack, J. Tang, A. Tolvanen, J. P. Töpper, M. K. Väisänen, R. S. P. van Logtestijn, C. Voigt, J. Walz, J. T. Weedon, Y. Yang, H. Ylänne, M. P. Björkman, J. M. Sarneel, E. Dorrepaal, 2024. Nature 629, 105–113.
Agricultural input shocks affect crop yields more in the high-yielding areas of the world. Aino Ahvo, Matias Heino, Vilma Sandström, Daniel Chrisendo, Mika Jalava, Matti Kummu, 2023. Nature Food, 4, pp. 1037–1046.
Water governance for water security: analysing institutional strengths and challenges in Finland. Lauri Ahopelto, Suvi Sojamo, Antti Belinskij, Niko Soininen, Marko Keskinen, 2023. International Journal of Water Resources Development, pp. 1-21.
Evidence of waste management impacting severe diarrhea prevalence more than WASH: An exhaustive analysis with Brazilian municipal-level data. Anni Juvakoski, Henrik Rantanen, Michela Mulas, Francesco Corona, Riku Vahala, Olli Varis, Ilkka Mellin, 2023. Water Research, 247, 120805.
Root zone soil moisture in over 25 % of global land permanently beyond pre-industrial variability as early as 2050 without climate policy. En Ning Lai, Lan Wang-Erlandsson, Vili Virkki, Miina Porkka, Ruud J. van der Ent, 2023. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 27:21, pp. 3999-4018.
Spatiotemporal changes of forest vegetation after the implementation of a natural forest protection project and underlying driving factors: Case study of a typical natural secondary forest area in the Loess Plateau. Xinying Wang, Zheng Gong, Dandan Zhao, Jincheng Liu, 2023. Ecological Engineering, 199, 107164.
World’s human migration patterns in 2000–2019 unveiled by high-resolution data. Venla Niva, Alexander Horton, Vili Virkki, Matias Heino, Maria Kosonen, Marko Kallio, Pekka Kinnunen, Guy J. Abel, Raya Muttarak, Maija Taka, Olli Varis, Matti Kummu, 2023. Nature Human Behaviour.
Trust in Transboundary Waters: Identifying Trust-Building in Water Diplomacy Literature. Marko Keskinen, Elina Häkkinen, Juho Haapala and Bota Sharipova, 2023. Water Alternatives, 16:3, pp. 949-977.
Socioeconomic factors of global food loss. Daniel Chrisendo, Johannes Piipponen, Matias Heino & Matti Kummu, 2023. Agriculture & Food Security, 12:1, 23.
Social network analysis of EU flood risk management plans: Case Finland. Thomas Banafa, Susa Eräranta, Lasse Peltonen, Marko Keskinen, 2023. Journal of Flood Risk Management, e12945.
Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries. Katherine Richardson, Will Steffen, Wolfgang Lucht, Jørgen Bendtsen, Sarah E. Cornell, Jonathan F. Donges, Markus Drüke, Ingo Fetzer, Govindasamy Bala, Werner von Bloh, Georg Feulner, Stephanie Fiedler, Dieter Gerten, Tom Gleeson, Matthias Hofmann, Willem Huiskamp, Matti Kummu, Chinchu Mohan, David Nogués-Bravo, Stefan Petri, Miina Porkka, Stefan Rahmstorf, Sibyll Schaphoff, Kirsten Thonicke, Arne Tobian, Vili Virkki, Lan Wang-Erlandsson, Lisa Weber, and Johan Rockström, 2023. Science Advances, 9:37, eadh2458.
Drought hazard and annual precipitation predicted to increase in the Sirppujoki river basin, Finland. Lauri Ahopelto, Marko Kallio, Noora Veijalainen, Roope Kouki, Marko Keskinen, 2023. Climate Services, 31, 100400.
Making waves: Mental health impacts of inadequate drinking water services—From sidenote to research focus. Aada Toivettula, Olli Varis , Riku Vahala , Anni Juvakoski, 2023. Water Research, 120335.
Environmental communication for expert audiences-experimenting three approaches. Johanna Jämsä, Vilma Sandström, Jani Holopainen, Sirkku Juhola, Tuomo Kalliokoski, Kaisa Korhonen-Kurki, Veera Lyytikäinen, Osmo Mattila, Janna Pietikäinen, Katriina Soini, 2023. Applied Environmental Education & Communication, 22:2, pp. 61-75.
Leveraging opportunity of low carbon transition by super-emitter cities in China. Heran Zheng, Zengkai Zhang, Erik Dietzenbacher, Ya Zhou, Johannes Többen, Kuishuang Feng, Daniel Moran, Meng Jiang, Yuli Shan, Daoping Wang, Xiaoyu Liu, Li Li, Dandan Zhao, Jing Meng, Jiamin Ou, Dabo Guan, 2023. Science Bulletin, 68, pp. 2456–2466.
Water quality analysis using mmWave radars. Dariush Salami, Anni Juvakoski, Riku Vahala, Michael Beigl, Stephan Sigg, 2023. In 2023 IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications Workshops and other Affiliated Events (PerCom Workshops): WIP papers, pp. 412-415.
Arctic rooting depth distribution influences modelled carbon emissions but cannot be inferred from aboveground vegetation type. Blume-Werry, G., Dorrepaal, E., Keuper, F., Kummu, M., Wild, B. and Weedon, J.T. New Phytologist.
Ribbon map of the Mekong (2023-04-29). Kallio, M. 2023. Zenodo.
Modeling the drivers of eutrophication in Finland with a machine learning approach. Heikonen, S., Yli-Heikkilä, M., Heino, M. 2023. Ecosphere. 14:5, e4522.
Disparate history of transgressing planetary boundaries for nutrients. V. Sandström, J. Kaseva, M. Porkka, M. Kuisma, Y. Sakieh, H. Kahiluoto, 2023. Global Environmental Change. 78, p. 102628.
Urban vertical farming with a large wind power share and optimised electricity costs. Vahid Arabzadeh, Panu Miettinen, Titta Kotilainen, Pasi Herranen, Alp Karakoc, Matti Kummu, Lauri Rautkari, 2023. Applied Energy. 331, p. 120416.
Impact of international trade on water scarcity: An assessment by improving the Falkenmark indicator. Rui Zhong, Aifang Chen, Dandan Zhao, Ganquan Mao, Xu Zhao, Hao Huang, Junguo Liu, 2023. 385, p. 135740.
Contributions from climate variation and human activities to flow regime change of Tonle Sap Lake from 2001 to 2020. Khosro Morovati, Fuqiang Tian, Matti Kummu, Lidi Shi, Mahmut Tudaji, Pouria Nakhaei, Marcelo Alberto Olivares, 2023. Journal of Hydrology. 616, p. 128800.
Oil palm cultivation improves living standards and human capital formation in smallholder farm households. Daniel Chrisendo, Hermanto Siregar, Matin Qaim, 2022. World Development. 159, p. 106034.
Unpacking dasymetric modelling to correct spatial bias in environmental model outputs. Marko Kallio, Joseph H.A. Guillaume, Peter Burek, Sylvia Tramberend, Mikhail Smilovic, Alexander J. Horton, Kirsi Virrantaus, 2022. Environmental Modelling & Software. 157, p. 105511.
Beyond the Green Revolution: A roadmap for sustainable food systems research and action. Kyle Frankel Davis, Carole Dalin, Matti Kummu, Landon Marston, Prabhu Pingali, Marta Tuninetti, 2022. Environmental Research Letters. 17:10, p. 100401.
Empirical insights into knowledge-weaving processes in strategic environmental research. K. Korhonen-Kurki, S. Bor, M. Faehnle, A.-K. Kosenius, S. Kuusela, J. Käyhkö, M. Pekkonen, H. Saarikoski, M. Keskinen, 2022. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. 24:6, p. 733-748.
Assessment of ecological water scarcity in China. Kewei Liu, Wenfang Cao, Dandan Zhao, Shuman Liu, Junguo Liu5, 2022. Environmental Research Letters. 17:10, p. 104056.
Rising agricultural water scarcity in China is driven by expansion of irrigated cropland in water scarce regions. Xinxian Qi, Kuishuang Feng, Laixiang Sun, Dandan Zhao, Xianjin Huang, Dingxiang Zhang, Zemiao Liu, Giovanni Baiocchi, 2022. One Earth. 5:10, p. 1139-1152.
Poor correlation between large-scale environmental flow violations and freshwater biodiversity: implications for water resource management and the freshwater planetary boundary. Mohan, C., Gleeson, T., Famiglietti, J. S., Virkki, V., Kummu, M., Porkka, M., Wang-Erlandsson, L., Huggins, X., Gerten, D., and Jähnig, S. C., 2022. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 26, p. 6247–6262.
A framework for assessing freshwater vulnerability along China’s Belt and Road Initiative : An exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity approach. Battamo, A. Y., Varis, O., Giesy, J. P., Oba, B. T., Aborisade, M. A., Sun, P., Yang, Y. & Zhao, L., Jun 2022, In: Environmental Science and Policy. 132, p. 247-261 15 p.
Africa’s water security in the twenty-first century. Varis, O., 2022, In: Water International. 47, 8, p. 1235-1248 14 p.
A planetary boundary for green water. Wang-Erlandsson, L., Tobian, A., van der Ent, R. J., Fetzer, I., te Wierik, S., Porkka, M., Staal, A., Jaramillo, F., Dahlmann, H., Singh, C., Greve, P., Gerten, D., Keys, P. W., Gleeson, T., Cornell, S. E., Steffen, W., Bai, X. & Rockström, J., Jun 2022, In: Nature Reviews : Earth and Environment. 3, 6, p. 380-392 13 p.
A review of volunteers’ motivations to monitor and control invasive alien species. Andelkovic, A. A., Handley, L. L., Marchante, E., Adriaens, T., Brown, P. M. J., Tricarico, E. & Verbrugge, L. N. H., 25 May 2022, In: NeoBiota. 73, p. 153-175 23 p.
Assessment of ecological water scarcity in China. Liu, K., Cao, W., Zhao, D., Liu, S. & Liu, J., 1 Oct 2022, In: Environmental Research Letters. 17, 10, 10 p., 104056.
Food system by-products upcycled in livestock and aquaculture feeds can increase global food supply. Vilma Sandström, Anna Chrysafi, Marjukka Lamminen, Max Troell, Mika Jalava, Johannes Piipponen, Stefan Siebert, Ollie van Hal, Vili Virkki, Matti Kummu, 2022. Nature Food. 3, p. 729–740.