Abstract Characterizing hydrological variability is critical for water resource management in Africa. However, whether a spatial cascading link exists within the hydrological cycle remains poorly understood. Using satelliteâbased precipitation, soil moisture (SM), and vegetation products during 2016â2023, we quantify and compare their spatial scales, defined as the distance over which a variable maintains similar temporal variations, across Africa. Results show spatial scales increase sequentially from precipitation to SM to vegetation. Spatial scales diverge from precipitation to the land surface, with precipitation scales having a weak positive correlation with SM scales and moderately negatively correlated with vegetation scales. Soil moisture and vegetation scales remain positively coupled. Regional analyses reveal stronger scale coupling in semiâarid regions. Seasonally, precipitationâsoil moisture scale correlation intensifies from onset to peak of the rainy season across all unimodal regimes, whereas SMâvegetation scale coupling weakens slightly. Our study provides critical insights into landâatmosphere interactions across Africa.
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: March 06, 2026 12:29 PM
Atmospheric COâ
430.2 ppm
+17.8
ppm/year
Atmospheric CHâ
1945.85 ppb
+8.44
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 °C
Peak: +1.73°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year