Evolutionary Characteristics and Transmission Processes of Meteorological and Hydrological Droughts in the Middle and Upper Reaches of the Yellow River Basin

Evolutionary Characteristics and Transmission Processes of Meteorological and Hydrological Droughts in the Middle and Upper Reaches of the Yellow River Basin | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 9 February 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Evolutionary Characteristics and Transmission Processes of Meteorological and Hydrological Droughts in the Middle and Upper Reaches of the Yellow River Basin Authors : Min Li , Xingfan Wang 0009-0002-1144-8137 [email protected] , Dongyuan Sun , Yali Ma , Lanzhen Wu , Xiao Feng , and Bing Qian Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177064768.86404792/v1 110 views 57 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Understanding drought evolution and the propagation from meteorological to hydrological drought is essential for regional water security and water resources management. This study examines the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River Basin using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and the Standardized Runoff Index (SRI) derived from hydro-meteorological records from 1967 to 2023. Drought evolution and propagation across multiple timescales are analyzed using correlation and wavelet-based approaches. The results demonstrate pronounced differences between meteorological and hydrological droughts. Meteorological droughts occur more frequently with shorter duration and lower intensity, whereas hydrological droughts are less frequent but exhibit stronger persistence and greater severity, reflecting the cumulative response of hydrological systems to sustained meteorological water deficits. At the basin scale, dry and wet conditions were relatively balanced before 1995, while droughts became dominant and Intensified thereafter. Hydrological droughts show a clear lagged response to meteorological droughts, primarily controlled by cumulative meteorological drought effects at an approximate 7-month timescale. Significant spatial heterogeneity characterizes drought propagation, with more dispersed response timescales in upstream regions and increasingly concentrated responses downstream. At medium- to long-term timescales (approximately 16–64 months), stable and persistent coherence between meteorological and hydrological droughts highlights the dominant role of basin-scale water storage and regulation processes. These findings support improved drought monitoring and adaptive water resources management in the Yellow River Basin. Supplementary Material File (figures.docx) Download 3.28 MB File (manuscript.docx) Download 3.49 MB File (tables.docx) Download 17.09 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 09 February 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords ：meteorological drought cross-wavelet analysis drought propagation hydrological drought yellow river basin Authors Affiliations Min Li Gansu Agricultural University View all articles by this author Xingfan Wang 0009-0002-1144-8137 [email protected] Gansu Agricultural University View all articles by this author Dongyuan Sun Gansu Agricultural University View all articles by this author Yali Ma Gansu Agricultural University View all articles by this author Lanzhen Wu Gansu Agricultural University View all articles by this author Xiao Feng Gansu Agricultural University View all articles by this author Bing Qian Gaoqing County Water Conservancy Bureau View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 110 views 57 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Min Li, Xingfan Wang, Dongyuan Sun, et al. Evolutionary Characteristics and Transmission Processes of Meteorological and Hydrological Droughts in the Middle and Upper Reaches of the Yellow River Basin. Authorea . 09 February 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177064768.86404792/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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