Artificial neural networks are widely employed as data mining methods by researchers across various fields, including rainfall-runoff (R-R) statistical modelling. To enhance the performance of these networks, deep learning (DL) neural networks have been developed to improve modelling accuracy. The present study aims to improve the effectiveness of DL networks in enhancing the performance of artificial neural networks via merging with the gradient boosting (GB) technique for daily runoff data forecasting in the river Amu Darya, Uzbekistan. The obtained results showed that the new hybrid proposed model performed exceptionally well, achieving a 16.67% improvement in determination coefficient ( R²) and a 23.18% reduction in root mean square error ( RMSE) during the training phase compared to the single DL model. Moreover, during the verification phase, the hybrid model displayed remarkable performance, demonstrating a 66.67% increase in R ² and a 50% reduction in RMSE. Furthermore, the hybrid model outperformed the single GB model by a significant margin. During the training phase, the new model showed an 18.18% increase in R ² and a 25% reduction in RMSE. In the verification phase, it improved by an impressive 75% in R ² and a 33.33% reduction in RMSE compared to the single GB model. These findings highlight the potential of the hybrid DL-GB model in improving daily runoff data forecasting in the challenging hydrological context of the Amu Darya River basin in Uzbekistan.

This research addresses the growing complexity and urgency of climate change’s impact on water resources in arid regions. It combines advanced climate modelling, machine learning, and hydrological modelling to gain profound insights into temperature variations and precipitation patterns and their impacts on the runoff. Notably, it predicts a continuous rise in both maximum and minimum air temperatures until 2050, with minimum temperatures increasing more rapidly. It highlights a concerning trend of decreasing basin precipitation. Sophisticated hydrological models factor in land use, vegetation, and groundwater, offering nuanced insights into water availability, which signifies a detailed and comprehensive understanding of factors impacting water availability. This includes considerations of spatial variability, temporal dynamics, land use effects, vegetation dynamics, groundwater interactions, and the influence of climate change. The research integrates data from advanced climate models, machine learning, and real-time observations, and refers to continuously updated data from various sources, including weather stations, satellites, ground-based sensors, climate monitoring networks, and stream gauges, for accurate basin discharge simulations (Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency – NSE _RCP2.6 = 0.99, root mean square error – RMSE _RCP2.6 = 1.1, and coefficient of determination R ² _RCP2:6= 0.95 of representative concentration pathways 2.6 (RCP)). By uniting these approaches, the study offers valuable insights for policymakers, water resource managers, and local communities to adapt to and manage water resources in arid regions.