Assessing Meteorological Impacts on Hydrological Switches in the CONUS

Authors

• Surendra Maharjan, Chapman UniversityFollow
• Wenzhao Li, Chapman UniversityFollow
• Sujan Shrestha, Tribhuvan University
• Hesham el-Askary, Chapman UniversityFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

8-2025

Abstract

Hydrological switches, defined as rapid transitions between extreme meteorological events such as droughts and floods, are becoming increasingly frequent across the contiguous United States (CONUS) due to climate variability. This study analyzes the spatial and temporal patterns of these hydrological switches and their correlation with large-scale meteorological indices, such as the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Streamflow data from the US Geological Survey (USGS) is analyzed to investigate the impact of meteorological drivers on hydrological variability. Results indicate that regions dependent on snowmelt exhibit delayed hydrological responses to climatic conditions, while areas in the Eastern and Southern U.S. respond quickly to precipitation events. These findings underscore the need for region-specific water management strategies to mitigate the risks posed by increasing hydroclimatic extremes.

Comments

This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in IGARSS 2025 - 2025 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium in 2025. This article may not exactly replicate the final published version. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/

Recommended Citation

S. Maharjan, W. Li, S. Shrestha and H. El-Askary, "Assessing Meteorological Impacts on Hydrological Switches in the CONUS," IGARSS 2025 - 2025 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 2025, pp. 3218-3222, https://doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS55030.2025.11243705.

Copyright

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