Enhanced flash droughts in recent decades over the Arabian Peninsula
Study region: Arabian Peninsula (AP) is an arid region with less rainfall and high temperature throughout the year. Study focus: Flash droughts have emerged as a significant threat to water resources and ecosystems globally. Despite the far-reaching consequences of flash droughts, their spatiotempor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825005257 |
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| author | Md Saquib Saharwardi Waqar Ul Hassan Hari Prasad Dasari Yasser Abualnaja Ibrahim Hoteit |
| author_facet | Md Saquib Saharwardi Waqar Ul Hassan Hari Prasad Dasari Yasser Abualnaja Ibrahim Hoteit |
| author_sort | Md Saquib Saharwardi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study region: Arabian Peninsula (AP) is an arid region with less rainfall and high temperature throughout the year. Study focus: Flash droughts have emerged as a significant threat to water resources and ecosystems globally. Despite the far-reaching consequences of flash droughts, their spatiotemporal variability remains uncertain, especially in arid regions including the AP. This study analyzes the evolution and characteristics of flash droughts in the AP from 1981 to 2022, using the root zone soil moisture (RZSM) data. New hydrological insight: Our findings reveal a significant increasing trend in frequency and duration of flash drought with ∼32 % increase in area-affected in the AP during the last two decades (2002–2022) compared to the previous decades (1981–2001). This escalation is mainly attributed to the rainfall reduction and amplified warming that has been observed across the region. In particular, the northern regions experience more frequent flash droughts (∼70 %) than the southern regions during winter, and this pattern reverses during summer. We observed that rainfall has a stronger influence on flash droughts due to soil-moisture depletion than potential-evaporation. In general, a higher number of flash droughts is observed during winter, however, the mean duration of droughts is longer in summer. Interestingly, the RZSM percentile nearly reaches zero during summer flash drought compared to winter. The occurrence of severe and widespread flash droughts indicates serious concern for the AP region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e96a07ea08e047f9b893d4b3017d57a0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-e96a07ea08e047f9b893d4b3017d57a02025-08-20T03:40:21ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182025-10-016110269610.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102696Enhanced flash droughts in recent decades over the Arabian PeninsulaMd Saquib Saharwardi0Waqar Ul Hassan1Hari Prasad Dasari2Yasser Abualnaja3Ibrahim Hoteit4Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Climate Change Center, National Center for Meteorology, Jeddah 21431, Saudi ArabiaPhysical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Climate Change Center, National Center for Meteorology, Jeddah 21431, Saudi ArabiaPhysical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Climate Change Center, National Center for Meteorology, Jeddah 21431, Saudi ArabiaPhysical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Climate Change Center, National Center for Meteorology, Jeddah 21431, Saudi ArabiaPhysical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Correspondence to: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Physical Science and Engineering Division, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.Study region: Arabian Peninsula (AP) is an arid region with less rainfall and high temperature throughout the year. Study focus: Flash droughts have emerged as a significant threat to water resources and ecosystems globally. Despite the far-reaching consequences of flash droughts, their spatiotemporal variability remains uncertain, especially in arid regions including the AP. This study analyzes the evolution and characteristics of flash droughts in the AP from 1981 to 2022, using the root zone soil moisture (RZSM) data. New hydrological insight: Our findings reveal a significant increasing trend in frequency and duration of flash drought with ∼32 % increase in area-affected in the AP during the last two decades (2002–2022) compared to the previous decades (1981–2001). This escalation is mainly attributed to the rainfall reduction and amplified warming that has been observed across the region. In particular, the northern regions experience more frequent flash droughts (∼70 %) than the southern regions during winter, and this pattern reverses during summer. We observed that rainfall has a stronger influence on flash droughts due to soil-moisture depletion than potential-evaporation. In general, a higher number of flash droughts is observed during winter, however, the mean duration of droughts is longer in summer. Interestingly, the RZSM percentile nearly reaches zero during summer flash drought compared to winter. The occurrence of severe and widespread flash droughts indicates serious concern for the AP region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825005257Flash droughtArabian PeninsulaSoil-moistureSeasonsRainfall |
| spellingShingle | Md Saquib Saharwardi Waqar Ul Hassan Hari Prasad Dasari Yasser Abualnaja Ibrahim Hoteit Enhanced flash droughts in recent decades over the Arabian Peninsula Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Flash drought Arabian Peninsula Soil-moisture Seasons Rainfall |
| title | Enhanced flash droughts in recent decades over the Arabian Peninsula |
| title_full | Enhanced flash droughts in recent decades over the Arabian Peninsula |
| title_fullStr | Enhanced flash droughts in recent decades over the Arabian Peninsula |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced flash droughts in recent decades over the Arabian Peninsula |
| title_short | Enhanced flash droughts in recent decades over the Arabian Peninsula |
| title_sort | enhanced flash droughts in recent decades over the arabian peninsula |
| topic | Flash drought Arabian Peninsula Soil-moisture Seasons Rainfall |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825005257 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mdsaquibsaharwardi enhancedflashdroughtsinrecentdecadesoverthearabianpeninsula AT waqarulhassan enhancedflashdroughtsinrecentdecadesoverthearabianpeninsula AT hariprasaddasari enhancedflashdroughtsinrecentdecadesoverthearabianpeninsula AT yasserabualnaja enhancedflashdroughtsinrecentdecadesoverthearabianpeninsula AT ibrahimhoteit enhancedflashdroughtsinrecentdecadesoverthearabianpeninsula |