Hydrological Whiplash: Highlighting the Need for Better Understanding and Quantification of Sub-Seasonal Hydrological Extreme Transitions

Abstract

In this commentary, we aim to (1) describe ways that hydrological intensification and hydrological whiplash (sub-seasonal transitions between hydrological extremes) may impact water management decision-making, (2) introduce the complexities of identifying and quantifying hydrological extreme transitions, (3) discuss the processes controlling hydrological transitions and trends in hydrological extremes through time, (4) discuss considerations involved in modeling hydrological extreme transitions, and (5) motivate additional research by suggesting priority research questions that diverge from an assumption of independence between extreme events.