Articles | Volume 30, issue 16
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-5281-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-30-5281-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
20 Aug 2026
Research article |
| 20 Aug 2026
| 20 Aug 2026
Runoff thresholds, runoff generation mechanisms, and catchment characteristics: a global synthesis
Zhen Cui
Department of Hydraulic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Key Laboratory of Hydrosphere Sciences of the Ministry of Water Resources, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Department of Hydraulic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Key Laboratory of Hydrosphere Sciences of the Ministry of Water Resources, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Short summary
This study synthesizes storm-runoff thresholds from 138 catchments worldwide to clarify why threshold behavior differs across environments. We show that runoff thresholds are often shaped by catchment wetness, storage, soils, geology, and flow-path connectivity, not rainfall alone. The results support a connectivity-based framework for interpreting runoff generation across diverse landscapes.
This study synthesizes storm-runoff thresholds from 138 catchments worldwide to clarify why...
