Fig. 1: Decreasing runoff intersects with increasing and more vulnerable population. | npj Climate and Atmospheric Science

Fig. 1: Decreasing runoff intersects with increasing and more vulnerable population.

From: Finer resolutions and targeted process representations in earth system models improve hydrologic projections and hydroclimate impacts

Fig. 1

Analysis of changes in the 2010s (2005–2014) relative to 1970s (1965–1974) in 30 of the largest river basins suggests decreasing runoff intersecting with increasing population, especially in highly populated low- to middle-income countries with a low Human Development Index (HDI). A Runoff (measured using GRUN data) changes are categorized: diagonal hatching for decreases (< − 5 mm/year), blank for stable (− 5 to 5mm/year), and vertical hatching for increases (> 5 mm/year). Population changes are marked by blue (decreasing), yellow (stable), and red (increasing), indicating shifts of more than 10 people per square kilometer. Notable declines in runoff are noted in tropical regions of Africa and South Asia, with rising population densities. B Global population density, C Human Development Index, and D GDP per capita in 2020 are shown with varying shades.

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