Differences in drought characteristics, progression, and recession across ecosystem types in the pantropical region of the Lancang-Mekong River Basin

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2024-10, Vol.947, p.174514, Article 174514
• Main Authors: Feng, Ganlin, Xu, Zhiying, Khongdee, Nuttapon, Mansaray, Lamin R., Song, Qinghai, Chen, Yaoliang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Drought duration; Drought number; Ecosystem type; Lancang-Mekong River Basin; Progression; Recession
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174514

Exploring the development and impacts of drought across different ecosystems can offer new insights for mitigating the adverse effects of drought events. Using the pantropical Lancang-Mekong River Basin as the study region, we investigated the agricultural, ecological, and hydrological drought characteristics and explored their drought progression and recession rates across four vegetation ecosystem types: tropical forests, subtropical forests, shrubs, and crops. We utilized newly developed drought indices based on the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset, GOSIF chlorophyll fluorescence data, and modified Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land cover data. The results showed that agricultural and hydrological droughts exhibited increasing trends from 2001 to 2021, whereas ecological drought displayed a decreasing trend over the same period. The cropland region experienced the fewest drought events, shortest drought durations, slowest progression rates, and lowest recession rates. By contrast, the two evergreen, broadleaf forest ecosystems (subtropical and tropical forests) experienced the highest number of drought events and fastest progression and recession rates. The findings suggest a trade-off relationship between vegetation resistance and recovery, where faster drought onset is associated with faster drought recession for ecological drought. Given the more severe challenges posed by agricultural and hydrological droughts, the riparian countries in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin should adopt proactive financial and management measures to mitigate the adverse impacts of these drought types. The insights gained from this study can inform the development of targeted strategies for drought monitoring, preparedness, and response across diverse ecosystems. [Display omitted] •Agricultural and hydrological drought increased while ecological drought decreased during 2001–2021 in PLMB.•Large spatial and ecosystem heterogeneities were observed in drought characteristics, progression, and recession.•Crops experienced the fewest drought events, whereas forests experienced the highest number.•Crops had the slowest rates of progression and recession, whereas forests had the fastest.•A positive correlation was found between drought progression and recession rates.