Vidushi et al. (2026) Flash Drought Dynamics and Vegetation Responses to Soil Moisture and Vapor Pressure Deficit in India

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Identification

• Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-04-22
• Authors: Vidushi, T. H. Syed, Ashok K. Mishra
• DOI: 10.1029/2025jd045487

Research Groups

Not specified in the provided text.

Short Summary

This study investigates the impacts of soil moisture (SM) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on vegetation productivity during flash droughts (FDs) across India, highlighting biome-specific sensitivities and recovery dynamics.

Objective

• To analyze the individual and combined effects of SM and VPD on vegetation productivity during FDs.
• To assess the spatial patterns, intensity, and ecological consequences of FDs across different climatic zones and biomes in India.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: National scale (India), covering diverse climatic zones and biomes (humid, semi-humid, and semi-arid).
• Temporal Scale: Not explicitly stated, but includes long-term trend analysis of FD affected areas.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis for recovery-phase predictors.
• Data sources: Solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), soil moisture (SM), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD).

Main Results

• Spatial Distribution: Low-intensity FDs are widespread across India, while high-intensity events are concentrated in central regions.
• Drivers of Productivity:
  • In humid ecosystems, SM is the primary driver, controlling SIF variations over approximately 62% (41%) of the area.
  • In semi-arid and semi-humid regions, VPD is the dominant driver during hot, energy-intensive conditions.
• Recovery Dynamics: Resilience time is the primary driver of post-FD recovery, followed by drought severity.
• Biome Sensitivity: Croplands are the most sensitive biome, with a rapid response time of 11 days.
• Trends: The percentage of FD-affected area is declining across all biomes, but the rate of decline is slowest for croplands (−0.15% yr⁻¹) compared to forests (−0.27% yr⁻¹) and grasslands (−0.26% yr⁻¹).

Contributions

The research provides a comprehensive understanding of the distinct roles of SM and VPD in triggering vegetation stress during flash droughts and identifies the specific vulnerability and recovery patterns of different Indian biomes.

Funding

Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Vidushi2026Flash,
  author = {Vidushi and Syed, T. H. and Mishra, Ashok K.},
  title = {Flash Drought Dynamics and Vegetation Responses to Soil Moisture and Vapor Pressure Deficit in India},
  journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1029/2025jd045487},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2025jd045487}
}