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Atmosphere
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Compound Extreme Events in a Changing Climate: Atmospheric Mechanisms and...
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Compound Extreme Events in a Changing Climate: Atmospheric Mechanisms and Hydrological Consequences

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Biosphere/Hydrosphere/Land–Atmosphere Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 2970

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Huanhuan Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Hydraulic Engineering, HeBei University of Water Resources and Electric Engineering, Cangzhou Technology Innovation Center of Remote Sensing and Smart Water, Cangzhou 061001, China
Interests: meteorological drought and hydrological drought coupling; land–atmosphere interactions; hydrological response to extreme precipitation; climate model downscaling and application; integrated water resources management under changing environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yudong Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Water and Environment, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, China
Interests: land–atmosphere interactions and feedback; hydrometeorological hazard forecasting and early warning; climate change impact on hydrological cycles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xianmin Ke

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Energy and Power Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, China
Interests: meteorological drought and hydrological drought coupling; hydrological changes in cold regions under climate warming; simulation of groundwater dynamics under extreme climate; predicting hydrological processes in future climate scenarios

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing frequency and intensity of compound extreme events—where multiple climate hazards occur simultaneously or in succession—pose one of the most severe challenges under anthropogenic climate change. These compound events, such as concurrent heatwaves and droughts, and storm sequences leading to floods, often lead to cascading impacts that are disproportionately larger than the sum of their individual parts. Understanding the atmospheric processes that drive these phenomena and their subsequent hydrological consequences is therefore critical for risk assessment and the development of effective adaptation strategies. This Special Issue aims to bridge the gap between atmospheric science and hydrology by providing a platform for cutting-edge research on this critical topic. It will focus on elucidating the atmospheric mechanisms (e.g., persistent blocking patterns, land–atmosphere feedback, atmospheric rivers) that trigger and amplify compound extremes. The scope encompasses studies that investigate hydrological impacts, including flash flooding, watershed inundation, water quality degradation, and alterations to the terrestrial water cycle. We encourage submissions that employ novel methodologies, including high-resolution modeling, AI and machine learning, remote sensing, paleoclimatology, and risk assessment frameworks. The purpose of this Special Issue is to synthesize current knowledge, advance predictive capabilities, and foster interdisciplinary dialogue. We invite contributions of original research and comprehensive reviews that will ultimately inform policies and strategies for building a more resilient society.

Dr. Huanhuan Li
Prof. Dr. Yudong Lu
Dr. Xianmin Ke
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • compound extreme events
  • climate change
  • atmospheric rivers
  • land–atmosphere interactions
  • hydrological modeling
  • flood risk
  • drought
  • climate resilience
  • risk assessment
  • cascading hazards

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 7224 KB  
Article
Seasonal Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Soil Carbon Flux in the Vadose Zone of Sandy Land
by Huanlong Zhao, Yaowei Gao and Ce Zheng
Atmosphere 2026, 17(4), 340; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17040340 - 27 Mar 2026
Viewed by 458
Abstract
Soil CO2 emissions are critical for predicting terrestrial ecosystem feedbacks to climate change, yet significant knowledge gaps persist regarding carbon flux dynamics within the deep vadose zone and during freeze–thaw processes. In this study, the Mu Us Sandy Land, a representative seasonally [...] Read more.
Soil CO2 emissions are critical for predicting terrestrial ecosystem feedbacks to climate change, yet significant knowledge gaps persist regarding carbon flux dynamics within the deep vadose zone and during freeze–thaw processes. In this study, the Mu Us Sandy Land, a representative seasonally frozen and semi-arid region in Northwestern China, was selected as the research site. Based on in situ observation data and the XGBoost algorithm, the spatiotemporal variations of soil carbon flux and its environmental drivers were investigated. Results revealed distinct depth-dependent patterns, where carbon release reached its maximum flux in the 100–200 cm layer and carbon sequestration dominated the soil layers below 200 cm. Soil temperature and moisture were the primary controlling factors, but their impacts exhibited significant depth and seasonal heterogeneity. Notably, in the 20–50 cm soil layer, soil water content provided the highest explanatory power, reaching 55.3% and 47.8% in winter and summer, respectively. Furthermore, carbon fluxes exhibited distinct response thresholds to environmental factors, and their spatiotemporal variations were fundamentally regulated by an atmosphere-driven coupled water–vapor–heat–carbon process. These findings elucidate the complex relationship between soil carbon fluxes and the environment at different depths, providing theoretical support for deepening the understanding of regional carbon cycling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compound Extreme Events in a Changing Climate: Atmospheric Mechanisms and Hydrological Consequences)
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28 pages, 12075 KB  
Article
Research on the Driving Mechanism of Water and Sediment Evolution in the Area of the Datengxia Water Control Hub Project: Principle Analysis, Method Design, and Prediction Simulation
by Chengyong Gong, Yinying Wang, Weitao Weng, Shiming Chen and Xinyu Guo
Atmosphere 2026, 17(2), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17020217 - 19 Feb 2026
Viewed by 533
Abstract
This study investigates the characteristics of water and sediment evolution under the influence of the Datengxia Water Control Hub Project by analyzing its affected area, with a focus on the driving mechanisms of human activities on these processes. Utilizing hydrological data (1993–2022) from [...] Read more.
This study investigates the characteristics of water and sediment evolution under the influence of the Datengxia Water Control Hub Project by analyzing its affected area, with a focus on the driving mechanisms of human activities on these processes. Utilizing hydrological data (1993–2022) from the Wuxuan and Dahuangjiangkou Stations, along with meteorological, land use, and population data, we applied the M–K (Mann–Kendall) trend test, Pettitt change point test, double mass curve method, and a random forest model. These methods were used to quantify the contributions of rainfall and human activities and to identify the dominant controlling factors. Model reliability was verified by comparing predicted and observed P-III (Pearson Type III distribution curve), enabling an assessment of water–sediment changes before and after the project’s construction. The results indicate that (1) both stations showed a non-significant declining trend in runoff and sediment load, with a human activity-induced change point detected in 2003; (2) human activities accounted for 93.18% and 92.38% of the reduction in runoff and sediment load at Wuxuan Station, and 74.44% and 54.33% at Dahuangjiangkou Station, respectively; (3) population density was the dominant factor for water–sediment changes at Wuxuan Station (influence weight: 0.41), while grassland area (0.41) and population density (0.40) primarily controlled runoff and sediment changes, respectively, at Dahuangjiangkou Station; (4) following project construction, the trend of the decreasing flood inundation extent with increasing frequency became more pronounced, and sediment deposition was concentrated mainly in the reservoir area and downstream reaches. The study confirms the dominant role of human activities in the basin’s water–sediment dynamics, and the established methodological framework provides a scientific basis for integrated watershed management and ecological conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compound Extreme Events in a Changing Climate: Atmospheric Mechanisms and Hydrological Consequences)
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27 pages, 6672 KB  
Article
How Do Different Precipitation Products Perform in a Dry-Climate Region?
by Noelle Brobst-Whitcomb and Viviana Maggioni
Atmosphere 2026, 17(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17010005 - 20 Dec 2025
Viewed by 627
Abstract
Dry climate regions face heightened risks of flooding and infrastructure damage even with minimal rainfall. Climate change is intensifying this vulnerability by increasing the duration, frequency, and intensity of precipitation events in areas that have historically experienced arid conditions. As a result, accurate [...] Read more.
Dry climate regions face heightened risks of flooding and infrastructure damage even with minimal rainfall. Climate change is intensifying this vulnerability by increasing the duration, frequency, and intensity of precipitation events in areas that have historically experienced arid conditions. As a result, accurate precipitation estimation in these regions is critical for effective planning, risk mitigation, and infrastructure resilience. This study evaluates the performance of five satellite- and model-based precipitation products by comparing them against in situ rain gauge observations in a dry-climate region: The fifth generation European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis (ERA5) (analyzing maximum and minimum precipitation rates separately), the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA2), the Western Land Data Assimilation System (WLDAS), and the Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG). The analysis focuses on both average daily rainfall and extreme precipitation events, with particular attention to precipitation magnitude and the accuracy of event detection, using a combination of statistical metrics—including bias ratio, mean error, and correlation coefficient—as well as contingency statistics such as probability of detection, false alarm rate, missed precipitation fraction, and false precipitation fraction. The study area is Palm Desert, a mountainous, arid, and urban region in Southern California, which exemplifies the challenges faced by dry regions under changing climate conditions. Among the products assessed, WLDAS ranked highest in measuring total precipitation and extreme rainfall amounts but performed the worst in detecting the occurrence of both average and extreme rainfall events. In contrast, IMERG and ERA5-MIN demonstrated the strongest ability to detect the timing of precipitation, though they were less accurate in estimating the magnitude of rainfall per event. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the reliability and limitations of different precipitation estimation products in dry regions, where even small amounts of rainfall can have disproportionately large impacts on infrastructure and public safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compound Extreme Events in a Changing Climate: Atmospheric Mechanisms and Hydrological Consequences)
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19 pages, 19402 KB  
Article
The Response of Maximum Freezing Depth in the Permafrost Region of the Source Region of the Yellow River to Ground Temperature Change
by Xinyu Bai and Wei Wang
Atmosphere 2025, 16(12), 1399; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16121399 - 12 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 706
Abstract
The source region of the Yellow River on the Tibetan Plateau constitutes a critical ecological security barrier and a key water-conservation region, where permafrost dynamics exercise primary control over ecosystem stability and hydrological processes. Although observations document intensifying freeze–thaw processes under climate warming, [...] Read more.
The source region of the Yellow River on the Tibetan Plateau constitutes a critical ecological security barrier and a key water-conservation region, where permafrost dynamics exercise primary control over ecosystem stability and hydrological processes. Although observations document intensifying freeze–thaw processes under climate warming, the historical and future evolution of maximum freezing depth, abbreviated as MFD, in the source region of the Yellow River remains poorly constrained. Using ground-temperature and meteorological records from 15 stations for 1981–2014, we estimated MFD with a Stefan-type formulation, assessed trend significance using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope, and characterized changes through 2100 using CMIP6 projections under four shared socioeconomic pathways: SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5. We found a strong inverse association between MFD and annual mean ground temperature, such that a 1 °C increase corresponds to an average decrease of approximately 13.2 cm. Historically, MFD has progressively shallowed and exhibits a clear meridional gradient—deeper in the north and shallower in the south; low-value zones declined from 0.75 to 0.50 m, whereas high-value zones decreased from 2.92 to 2.83 m. Across future scenarios, MFD continues to shallow; the strongest signal occurs under SSP5-8.5, yielding an additional decline of approximately 42 percent relative to the historical baseline, with degradation most pronounced at lower elevations. These findings provide actionable guidance for understanding ecohydrological processes and for water resource management in the source region of the Yellow River under climate warming. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compound Extreme Events in a Changing Climate: Atmospheric Mechanisms and Hydrological Consequences)
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