Structural Hillslope Connectivity Is Driven by Tectonics More Than Climate and Modulates Hydrologic Extremes and Benefits

Structural hydrologic connections, formed by the coaction of tectonic and climatic processes, facilitate transfer matter across Earth's surface. Large-scale analysis hillslope connectivity controls is lacking, thus limiting our understanding drivers extremes, like floods landslides, benefits, wetlands. Here, we model using Index Connectivity, at 10-m resolution for contiguous United States. We show dominance drivers, river steepness (ρ = 0.84) seismic activity 0.48), over precipitation −0.31) aridity −0.07), in controlling strength connectivity. Highly connected basins were associated with landslide occurrence 0.69) while poorly had greater wetland density −0.50). Lastly, share results an open access data portal land managers to leverage structural maps their respective study domains.