Extended Data Fig. 1: The Budyko framework.

The Budyko framework⁵⁹ parameterizes how the long-term aridity E₀/P (potential evaporation over precipitation ratio) determines the partitioning of precipitation into evaporation and streamflow. (a) displayes the evaporation over precipitation ratio E/P, while (b) displays the streamflow over precipitation ratio Q/P. The dots display the range of values found in our study for grassland and forest (land-cover based on the IGBP dataset⁶⁰). The lines represent the mean grassland and forest E/P and Q/P. The arrows show the direction of movement in the Budyko space for an increase in tree cover (which results in a higher E/P and lower Q/P) and an increase in precipitation as a consequence of evaporation recycling (which results in a lower E₀/P and possibly a lower E/P and higher Q/P). (c) displays the difference in Q/P between forest and grassland for the six different Budyko models. The numbers refer to the models in Extended Data Table 3.