Penna (2026) Controls on runoff processes in forested catchments worldwide

Identification

• Journal: Nature Water
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-06
• Authors: Daniele Penna
• DOI: 10.1038/s44221-025-00547-z

Research Groups

• Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Italy
• Forest Engineering Resources and Management Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA

Short Summary

This study synthesizes data from 691 globally distributed forested catchments to identify the main controls on runoff processes, streamflow response, and streamflow prediction, and how these controls vary with climate. The findings corroborate some existing hydrological theories while challenging others, providing new process-based insights into runoff generation in forested catchments worldwide.

Objective

• To identify the main controls on runoff processes, streamflow response, and streamflow prediction in forested catchments worldwide.
• To assess how these controls vary with climate across the globe.
• To test seven classic and one original hydrological hypothesis regarding runoff generation in forested catchments.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: 691 globally distributed forested catchments.
• Temporal Scale: Synthesis of existing data, implying various temporal scales depending on the source datasets.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not applicable (synthesis and analysis of existing data, not a new modeling study).
• Data sources: Synthesized data from 691 globally distributed forested catchments, publicly available via Zenodo (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15123553).

Main Results

• The study provides a global analysis of runoff processes in forested catchments, addressing a previous lack of such comprehensive understanding.
• Results corroborate some established hydrological theories regarding runoff generation while challenging others.
• New, process-based insights are offered into the intertwined biotic and abiotic factors controlling runoff generation in forested catchments worldwide.
• The analysis identifies how the main controls on runoff processes, streamflow response, and streamflow prediction vary with climate.

Contributions

• First global analysis of runoff processes in forested catchments, filling a critical gap in understanding how biotic and abiotic factors interact globally.
• Provides new, process-based insights into the complex controls on runoff generation, streamflow response, and prediction.
• Systematically tests and evaluates classic and novel hydrological hypotheses using a large, globally distributed dataset.

Funding

• This study was not supported by any project.

Citation

@article{Penna2026Controls,
  author = {Penna, Daniele},
  title = {Controls on runoff processes in forested catchments worldwide},
  journal = {Nature Water},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1038/s44221-025-00547-z},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-025-00547-z}
}