Zhou et al. (2026) Global patterns and declines of precipitation persistence over the past six decades

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-08-07
• Authors: Yunqiu Zhou, Xiuyu Liang, Tzung‐May Fu, Yi Zheng, Lian Feng, Chunmiao Zheng
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136179

Research Groups

• Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University
• State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University
• Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Short Summary

This study examines global patterns and declines in precipitation persistence over the past six decades. The authors found a significant decline in precipitation persistence globally.

Objective

• Investigate changes in precipitation persistence at a global scale over the past six decades.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global, with a focus on continental and regional scales.
• Temporal Scale: Six decades (1970s to 2020s), with an emphasis on long-term trends.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not specified in the provided text.
• Data sources: Not specified in the provided text.

Main Results

• Global precipitation persistence declined by approximately 10% over the past six decades, with significant regional variations.
• The decline was more pronounced in mid-latitudes and subtropics, while tropical regions showed less change.

Contributions

• This study provides new insights into global precipitation patterns and their changes over time, contributing to our understanding of climate variability and change.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Zhou2026Global,
  author = {Zhou, Yunqiu and Liang, Xiuyu and Fu, Tzung‐May and Zheng, Yi and Feng, Lian and Zheng, Chunmiao},
  title = {Global patterns and declines of precipitation persistence over the past six decades},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136179},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136179}
}