Zhou et al. (2026) Temporal Scaling of Hydrological Signals Reveals Forcing Persistence and Watershed Filtering Across the Contiguous U.S.

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

Identification

• Journal: Geophysical Research Letters
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-11-04
• Authors: Yunqiu Zhou, Yi Zheng, 杨英杰, Xiuyu Liang
• DOI: 10.1029/2026gl124564

Research Groups

Not specified in the provided abstract.

Short Summary

This study analyzed spectral scaling across 671 U.S. watersheds to distinguish the relative contributions of hydrological inputs and watershed filtering to streamflow persistence, identifying three distinct watershed regimes based on their scaling exponents.

Objective

• To distinguish the relative contributions of hydrological inputs and watershed filtering in shaping streamflow temporal persistence.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: 671 contiguous U.S. watersheds.
• Temporal Scale: Not explicitly defined, but implied long-term analysis for spectral scaling of temporal persistence.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Spectral scaling analysis.
• Data sources: Hydrological variables including precipitation, evapotranspiration, effective precipitation, streamflow, and the effective precipitation-to-streamflow transfer function. Specific data sources (e.g., satellite, observation, reanalysis) are not detailed in the abstract.

Main Results

• Streamflow and transfer-function scaling exponents exhibit greater variability across watersheds compared to those of the hydrological inputs.
• Three distinct watershed regimes were identified by combining effective-precipitation and transfer-function exponents:
  • Rapid-response watersheds: Characterized by weak input persistence and filtering, prevalent across the central and eastern U.S.
  • Forcing-persistent watersheds: Exhibit persistent inputs but limited filtering, primarily located in the western U.S.
  • Hydrologically buffered watersheds: Demonstrate strong filtering, concentrated in the western mountains, northern regions, and Southeast.
• Western mountain buffered watersheds show increased snow influence and baseflow contributions.
• Southeastern buffered watersheds, despite low snow influence, possess more permeable soils and subsurface materials.
• The combined analysis of effective-precipitation and transfer-function exponents successfully distinguishes the roles of input persistence and watershed filtering in shaping streamflow persistence.

Contributions

This study provides a novel framework using spectral scaling exponents of effective precipitation and the effective precipitation-to-streamflow transfer function to quantitatively distinguish the relative contributions of hydrological input persistence and watershed filtering to streamflow temporal persistence. It identifies and characterizes three distinct hydrological response regimes across contiguous U.S. watersheds.

Funding

Not specified in the provided abstract.

Citation

@article{Zhou2026Temporal,
  author = {Zhou, Yunqiu and Zheng, Yi and 杨英杰 and Liang, Xiuyu},
  title = {Temporal Scaling of Hydrological Signals Reveals Forcing Persistence and Watershed Filtering Across the Contiguous U.S.},
  journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1029/2026gl124564},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2026gl124564}
}