Huang et al. (2025) Spatiotemporal Evolution, Transition, and Ecological Impacts of Flash and Slowly Evolving Droughts in the Dongjiang River Basin, China

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Identification

• Journal: Water
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-10-10
• Authors: Liao Ouyang, Zimiao Wang, Jiayao Lin
• DOI: 10.3390/w17202925

Research Groups

Not specified in the provided text.

Short Summary

This study systematically investigated the spatiotemporal evolution, transition, and ecological responses of flash and slowly evolving droughts in the Dongjiang River Basin, China, from 1950 to 2024. It found that flash droughts frequently precede longer-lasting droughts, particularly in winter, and exhibit low ecosystem resilience despite causing relatively mild initial vegetation suppression, contrasting with cross-seasonal droughts.

Objective

• To systematically investigate the spatiotemporal evolution, transition process, and ecological responses of flash droughts and slowly evolving droughts (including seasonal and cross-seasonal droughts) in the Dongjiang River Basin of China.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Dongjiang River Basin, China, at a resolution of 0.1° × 0.1°.
• Temporal Scale: 1950 to 2024.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly stated; analysis based on reanalysis and remote sensing data.
• Data sources: 0.1° × 0.1° soil moisture reanalysis data, remote sensing ecological products including Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and gross primary productivity (GPP).

Main Results

• The average occurrence frequencies within the basin were 4.1% for flash droughts, 7.8% for seasonal droughts, and 8.4% for cross-seasonal droughts.
• Approximately 90.1% of flash droughts further developed into longer-lasting, slowly evolving droughts, indicating their role as a critical precursor to persistent drought events.
• Winter was identified as the key season for the occurrence of flash droughts and their transition to slowly evolving droughts.
• Droughts significantly suppressed vegetation growth, but ecosystem resilience varied: flash droughts caused relatively mild initial suppression but were accompanied by a severe lack of ecosystem resilience, while cross-seasonal droughts induced stronger suppression but were met with higher ecosystem resilience.

Contributions

• Systematically investigates the spatiotemporal evolution, transition processes, and ecological responses of different drought types (flash, seasonal, cross-seasonal) in a humid basin.
• Highlights flash droughts as critical precursors to persistent drought events, emphasizing the importance of their early monitoring and warning.
• Provides a scientific basis for drought risk management strategies in humid basins by detailing differential ecosystem resilience responses to various drought types.

Funding

Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Huang2025Spatiotemporal,
  author = {Huang, Qiang and Ouyang, Liao and Wang, Zimiao and Lin, Jiayao},
  title = {Spatiotemporal Evolution, Transition, and Ecological Impacts of Flash and Slowly Evolving Droughts in the Dongjiang River Basin, China},
  journal = {Water},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.3390/w17202925},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/w17202925}
}