Fig. 6: Spatial distribution of urbanization effects on drought characteristics in China.
From: Urbanization’s dual role in the exacerbation and mitigation of drought dynamics in China
Urbanization effects (%UE) on changes in drought characteristics (ΔDC) were evaluated across multiple SPEI timescales (SPEI-3, SPEI-6, SPEI-9, SPEI-12) and quantified by comparing drought metrics between urban (ΔDCUi) and rural (ΔDCRi) station pairs (Eq. 9). Maps illustrate the spatial distribution of %UE for five drought metrics: mean drought duration (MDD), mean drought peak (MDP), mean drought severity (MDS), mean drought intensity (MDI), and total number of droughts (TND). Color and symbol coding represent the magnitude and direction of urbanization effects. MD and ED denote “mitigating drought” and “exacerbated drought” conditions, where urbanization contributed to reducing or intensifying drought severity, respectively. The analysis includes stations that transitioned from rural to urban before 1985 (Ub, urbanized before 1985). Bottom panels summarize mean urbanization effects (MUE, %) on ΔDC between the pre-1985 and post-1985 periods, highlighting systematic positive and negative changes in drought characteristics associated with urban growth.
