Drought impacts on river water temperature: A process-based understanding from temperate climates

High river water temperature (Tw) extremes have been widely reported during drought conditions as extreme low-flows often coincide with high atmospheric energy inputs. This has significant implications for freshwater ecosystem health and sustainable river management practices globally. However, the extent to which different meteorological and hydrological processes interact during droughts to govern Tw dynamics, and how this varies between environmental contexts, remains poorly understood. Here, we review the mechanisms controlling Tw dynamics during droughts across temperate, maritime environments, using the United Kingdom as a detailed case study. We evidence that Tw spikes have widely occurred during extreme low-flow events observed within droughts, but such trends have been inconsistent due to varying hydroclimatic conditions and river basin controls. To better understand this, we re-conceptualize the mechanisms governing drought-induced Tw dynamics operating across three 'process sets': (i) 'energy flux dynamics' as non-advective controls on Tw; (ii) the role of 'reach-scale habitat conditions' in mediating non-advective controls on Tw, including hydraulic properties (e.g., residence time) and physical conditions (e.g., riparian vegetation coverages, wetted perimeters); (iii) 'water source contributions' (surface water and groundwater) as advective heat and water flow controls. We review natural and anthropogenic influences affecting Tw controls within each process set and discuss how such mechanisms are likely to change under drought conditions. More systematic research (spanning various river environments and drought severities) is required to test such concepts, with existing scientific knowledge on drought-induced Tw dynamics being largely gleaned from studies examining non-extreme low-flow conditions or with broader focuses (e.g., annual thermal dynamics). We conclude by highlighting critical future research questions that need to be answered to better model Tw dynamics during future droughts and for unmonitored sites. Such scientific advances would more effectively inform how high Tw extremes could be better managed through evidence-based mitigation and adaptation strategies. Changes in the relative influence of dominant heat fluxes governing drought-induced river water temperature (Tw) variations. Thin, moderate and thick lines denote small, intermediate and large relative effects, respectively. Emboldened, italicized and underlined text denotes mechanisms comprising the 'energy flux dynamics', 'reach-scale habitat conditions' and 'water source contributions' process sets, respectively.image

Automated summary

High river water temperature extremes during drought conditions have significant implications for freshwater ecosystem health and river management practices. The mechanisms and factors controlling water temperature dynamics during droughts are still poorly understood. This study reviews these mechanisms using the United Kingdom as a case study and highlights critical future research questions that need to be addressed.