Catchment processes can amplify the effect of increasing rainfall variability

Abstract By filtering the incoming climate signal when producing streamflow, river basins can attenuate—or amplify—projected increases in rainfall variability. A common perception is that systems dampen variability by averaging spatial and temporal variations their watersheds. However, analyzing 671 watersheds throughout United States, we find many catchments actually amplify coefficient of variation rainfall, these also likely changes Based on catchment-scale water balance principles, relate faculty to interplay between two fundamental hydrological processes: uptake vegetation storage subsequent release as discharge. increasing plant uptake, warmer temperatures might exacerbate amplifying effect catchments. More variable precipitations associated with a are therefore expected lead even more flows—a significant potential challenge for transportation, ecosystem sustainability supply reliability.