Headwater streams control the non-perennial fraction of the global river network.

ABSTRACT: Quantifying the fraction of a river network that does not flow year-round is crucial, as the wetting and drying of channels governs important hydrological and biogeochemical services of watersheds. However, this remains challenging due to limited experimental data and the difficulty of accurately representing the total length of rivers draining a landscape. Here we present new global estimates of non-perennial stream fractions by extrapolating low-resolution global simulations and detailed field observations from experimental sites spanning diverse climatic settings. Our findings show that non-perennial streams are far more prevalent than previously recognized, both regionally and globally. When small headwater streams are comprehensively accounted for, the global fraction of non-perennial

SUBMITTER: Botter G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12830358 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature