Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
HESS
Articles | Volume 29, issue 18
Articles | Volume 29, issue 18
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4371-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4371-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 29, issue 18
Review article
 | 
16 Sep 2025
Review article |  | 16 Sep 2025

Have river flow droughts become more severe? A review of the evidence from the UK – a data-rich, temperate environment

Jamie Hannaford, Stephen Turner, Amulya Chevuturi, Wilson Chan, Lucy J. Barker, Maliko Tanguy, Simon Parry, and Stuart Allen

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Short summary
This extended review asks whether hydrological (river flow) droughts have become more severe over time in the UK based on literature review and original analyses. The UK is a good international exemplar, given the richness of available data. We find that there is little compelling evidence for a trend towards worsening river flow droughts, at odds with future climate change projections. We outline reasons for this discrepancy and make recommendations to guide researchers and policymakers.
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Drought, society, and ecosystems (NHESS/BG/GC/HESS inter-journal...