Huang et al. (2026) Disentangling the Impacts of Changes in Climate and Vegetation on Hydrological Processes Across 2,252 Global Catchments

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Water Resources Research
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-01
• Authors: Qi Huang, Yongqiang Zhang
• DOI: 10.1029/2025wr043326

Research Groups

• Hydrology Department, University of [Name]
• Climate Change Institute, [University/Research Institution]

Short Summary

This paper analyzes the effects of climate and vegetation change on streamflow signatures in 2,252 unregulated catchments worldwide using a well-performed HBV-PML hydrological model. The study reveals consistent propagation patterns across most climate zones.

Objective

• Investigate the impact of climate and vegetation change on large-scale hydrological responses

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global scale, covering 2,252 unregulated catchments worldwide
• Temporal Scale: Long-term temporal scales (not specified)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: HBV-PML hydrological model with enhanced evapotranspiration processes
• Data sources: Satellite data, observation data, reanalysis data

Main Results

• Increasing Leaf Area Index (LAI) enhances interception and transpiration but suppresses soil evaporation, decreases streamflow magnitude and dynamics, shortens high-flow durations, and increases low-flow frequency/duration.
• Precipitation changes have opposite effects to LAI changes.
• Temperature modulates hydrological processes via rain-snow partitioning, soil evaporation, and evaporation from canopy interception.

Contributions

• This study provides the first global insights into hydrological responses under environmental changes.
• The results offer an essential process-based understanding of impact propagation mechanisms for water resources management.

Funding

• [Not specified in the provided text]

Citation

@article{Huang2026Disentangling,
  author = {Huang, Qi and Zhang, Yongqiang},
  title = {Disentangling the Impacts of Changes in Climate and Vegetation on Hydrological Processes Across 2,252 Global Catchments},
  journal = {Water Resources Research},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1029/2025wr043326},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2025wr043326}
}