Fu et al. (2026) Global distribution of the terrestrial moisture dynamics response to the meteorological dry-wet abrupt alternation

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-03-12
• Authors: Jianyu Fu, Mingzhu Cao, Yang Lu, Chunzhu Wei, Xuejin Tan, Meiling Zheng, Liqian Peng, Wenhao Jia, Bingjun Liu
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135300

Research Groups

• School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
• School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
• Pearl River Water Resources Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
• Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China

Short Summary

This study quantifies the global patterns and trends in the coincidence between meteorological dry-wet abrupt alternation (M-DWAA) and terrestrial dry-wet abrupt alternation (T-DWAA) events. It finds that approximately 17.4% of M-DWAA events globally coincide with a T-DWAA within the subsequent season, with the M-DWAA alternation velocity being the dominant influencing factor.

Objective

• To quantify the global patterns and trends in the coincidence between meteorological dry-wet abrupt alternation (M-DWAA) and terrestrial dry-wet abrupt alternation (T-DWAA) events to assess compound hydroclimatic risks.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global
• Temporal Scale: 1982–2015 (34 years)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Event Coincidence Analysis
• Data sources: Not explicitly stated in the provided text, but implies global meteorological and terrestrial data.

Main Results

• Approximately 17.4% of M-DWAA events globally coincide with a T-DWAA within the subsequent season.
• High coincidence rates (>20%) are concentrated in humid, well-vegetated regions (e.g., northern Eurasia, monsoon regions), while arid and mountainous regions show lower rates (<20%).
• The alternation velocity of M-DWAA events, rather than their frequency or intensity, is the dominant factor influencing the propagation likelihood to T-DWAA.
• The linkage between M-DWAA and T-DWAA is strengthening in regions like the Atlantic Americas and northern Eurasia, primarily associated with increasing M-DWAA velocity, thereby escalating compound hydrological risks.
• Conversely, a weakening linkage (decreasing coincidence) in some dry regions correlates with reduced meteorological alternation velocity.

Contributions

• Provides the first global assessment of the propagation of meteorological dry-wet abrupt alternation to terrestrial systems.
• Highlights the pivotal role of the transition velocity of meteorological dry-wet abrupt alternation in lagged coincidence with terrestrial extremes.
• Offers a global framework to guide future mechanistic research and targeted adaptation strategies for compound hydroclimatic risks.

Funding

• Not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Fu2026Global,
  author = {Fu, Jianyu and Cao, Mingzhu and Lu, Yang and Wei, Chunzhu and Tan, Xuejin and Zheng, Meiling and Peng, Liqian and Jia, Wenhao and Liu, Bingjun},
  title = {Global distribution of the terrestrial moisture dynamics response to the meteorological dry-wet abrupt alternation},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135300},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135300}
}