Sun et al. (2026) Response and adaptation of global terrestrial vegetation production to extreme precipitation

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-02-28
• Authors: Tianyue Sun, Yuan Zhang, Xiaoming Feng, Bojie Fu, DongGang Guo, Weipeng Wang
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135212

Research Groups

• School of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
• Shanxi Center of Technology Innovation for Environmental Meteorology Forecast and Evaluation, Taiyuan, China
• State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Short Summary

This study quantifies the global terrestrial vegetation's gross primary productivity (GPP) response, adaptation, and recovery to extreme precipitation events (EPEs) using FLUXNET data and modeling, finding that EPEs significantly reduce carbon sequestration but most ecosystems recover within 12 days.

Objective

• To systematically quantify the response, adaptation, and recovery of global terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP) to extreme precipitation events (EPEs) at a global scale and over the long term.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global terrestrial ecosystems
• Temporal Scale: Long-term assessment of EPE impacts and recovery, with EPE durations ranging from 5 to 28 days and recovery typically within 12 days.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Partial correlation analysis, Random Forest model
• Data sources: Observational data from 29 FLUXNET stations

Main Results

• A total of 499 EPEs lasting more than 5 days accounted for 95% of all identified EPEs. Their duration ranged from 5 to 28 days in evergreen needleleaf, mixed, and deciduous broadleaf forests, with woody savannas exhibiting significantly longer durations.
• Extreme precipitation significantly reduced ecosystem carbon sequestration, with the mean partial correlation coefficient between extreme precipitation and GPP being less than -0.66 (p < 0.05) in most ecosystems (excluding evergreen broadleaf forests and woody savannas). Extreme precipitation accounted for over 41% of the observed GPP decline.
• Most ecosystems (deciduous broadleaf forests, evergreen broadleaf forests, evergreen needleleaf forests, mixed forests, and woody savannas) typically recovered their carbon sequestration capacity within 12 days. EPE duration and vapor pressure deficit during recovery were identified as primary drivers influencing GPP recovery.

Contributions

• Refines the understanding of diverse ecosystem responses to extreme precipitation events.
• Offers a framework for enhancing the simulation of extreme precipitation events in dynamic vegetation models.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Sun2026Response,
  author = {Sun, Tianyue and Zhang, Yuan and Feng, Xiaoming and Fu, Bojie and Guo, DongGang and Wang, Weipeng},
  title = {Response and adaptation of global terrestrial vegetation production to extreme precipitation},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135212},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135212}
}