Spatial partitioning and temporal evolution of Australia's total water storage under extreme hydroclimatic impacts

摘要: Abstract Australia experienced one of the worst droughts in history during early 21st-century (termed ‘big dry’), exerting negative impacts on food production and water supply, with increased forest die-back bushfires across large areas. Following dry’, largest La Nina events past century, conjunction an extreme positive excursion Southern Annular Mode (SAM), resulted dramatic precipitation from 2010 to 2011 wet’), causing widespread flooding a recorded sea level drop. Despite these hydroclimatic impacts, spatial partitioning temporal evolution total storage remains unknown. In this study we investigated spatial-temporal recent dry’ wet’ Australia's dynamics using anomaly (TWSA) data derived Gravity Recovery Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites. Results showed widespread, continental-scale decreases TWS resulting net loss 3.89 ± 0.47 cm (299 km3) water, while induced sharp increase TWS, equivalent 11.68 ± 0.52 cm (898 km3) or three times dry’. We found highly variable continental patterns resources, involving differences direction, magnitude, duration responses drought wet periods. These clustered into distinct geographic zones that correlated well influences multiple large-scale climate modes. Specifically, persistent increasing trend was over northern northeastern Australia, where is strongly influenced by El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). By contrast, western region predominantly controlled Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), exhibited continuous decline only subtle wet’, indicating weak recovery storage. Southeastern combined ENSO, IOD SAM interactions, pronounced drying followed rapid increases complete recoveries. A intensification cycle further identified, wetting wetter regions (northern Australia) drier (western Australia). Our results highlight value GRACE TWSA as important indicator hydrological system performance for improved impact assessments management resources space time.