Coherent streamflow variability in Monsoon Asia over the past eight
centuries---links to oceanic drivers
Abstract
The Monsoon Asia region is home to ten of the world’s biggest rivers,
supporting the lives of 1.7 billion people who rely on streamflow for
water, energy, and food. Yet, a synthesized understanding of
multi-centennial streamflow variability for this region is lacking. To
fill this gap, we produce the first large scale streamflow
reconstruction over Monsoon Asia (62 stations in 16 countries, 813 years
of mean annual flow). In making this reconstruction, we develop a novel,
automated, climate-informed, and dynamic reconstruction framework that
is skillful over most of the region. We show that streamflow in Monsoon
Asia is spatially coherent, owing to common drivers from the Pacific,
Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. We also show how these oceanic
teleconnections change over space and time. By characterizing past and
present hydroclimatic variability, we provide a platform for assessing
the impact of future climatic changes and informing water management
decisions.