US Corn Belt enhances regional precipitation recycling.

ABSTRACT: Precipitation recycling, where evapotranspiration (ET) from the land surface contributes to precipitation within the same region, is a critical component of the water cycle. This process is especially important for the US Corn Belt, where extensive cropland expansions and irrigation activities have significantly transformed the landscape and affected the regional climate. Previous studies investigating precipitation recycling typically relied on analytical models with simplifying assumptions, overlooking the complex interactions between groundwater hydrology and agricultural management. In this study, we use high-resolution climate models coupled with an explicit water vapor tracer algorithm to quantify the impacts of shallow groundwater, dynamic crop growth, and irrigation on regional pre

SUBMITTER: Zhang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11725895 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature