Articles | Volume 29, issue 18
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4473-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4473-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
17 Sep 2025
Research article |
| 17 Sep 2025
| 17 Sep 2025
Imprints of increases in evapotranspiration on decreases in streamflow during dry periods, a large-sample analysis in Germany
Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), 12587 Berlin, Germany
now at: Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Dorf, 7260, Switzerland
now at: Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zürich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
now at: Climate Change, Extremes and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Center CERC, Davos Dorf, 7260, Switzerland
Laurent Strohmenger
Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), 12587 Berlin, Germany
Doris Duethmann
Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), 12587 Berlin, Germany
now at: State Office for the Environment Rhineland-Palatinate, 55116 Mainz, Germany
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Short summary
Decreases in streamflow during dry periods threaten ecosystems and society, and increases in evapotranspiration may contribute to them. From data for small catchments in Germany, summer low flows decreased over 1970–2019, and evapotranspiration increases significantly contributed to that. Lower-than-expected annual streamflow occurred during the 1989–1993 drought in catchments with increases in evapotranspiration. Changes in evapotranspiration need full consideration for streamflow prediction.
Decreases in streamflow during dry periods threaten ecosystems and society, and increases in...
