Erokhin et al. (2026) Global water-risk signals and public search interest: a country-year analysis of NASA POWER hydroclimate indices and google trends, 2004–2025

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Identification

• Journal: Environmental Earth Sciences
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-06
• Authors: Dmitry V. Erokhin, Nadejda Komendantova
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-026-13132-8

Research Groups

• NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
• University research group(s) not specified in the paper

Short Summary

This study examines how hydroclimatic anomalies correspond with public information-seeking behavior globally from 2004 to 2025, revealing that visible hazards stimulate online information seeking. The analysis integrates physical and digital indicators within a harmonized global framework.

Objective

• Investigate the relationship between hydroclimatic conditions and public attention at a global scale

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global (country-year panel)
• Temporal Scale: 2004–2025

Methodology and Data

• Models used: NASA POWER meteorological data
• Data sources:
  • Hydroclimatic screening indices derived from NASA POWER data
  • Google Trends topics for public information-seeking behavior

Main Results

• Heat-related water stress shows the strongest contemporaneous association with search interest, followed by flood and extreme rainfall.
• Fixed-effects results reinforce this ordering and show that changes in hydroclimatic conditions are reflected in variations in search salience within countries over time.
• Substantial geographical heterogeneity is observed, demonstrating that the relationship between physical anomalies and public attention depends on national and local contexts.

Contributions

This study contributes to socio-hydrological research by integrating physical and digital indicators within a harmonized global framework. The findings highlight the importance of considering both environmental and informational signals in understanding public attention to hydroclimatic hazards.

Funding

• Not specified in the paper

Citation

@article{Erokhin2026Global,
  author = {Erokhin, Dmitry V. and Komendantova, Nadejda},
  title = {Global water-risk signals and public search interest: a country-year analysis of NASA POWER hydroclimate indices and google trends, 2004–2025},
  journal = {Environmental Earth Sciences},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1007/s12665-026-13132-8},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-026-13132-8}
}