Rivers originating in the Tibetan Plateau are crucial to the population in Asia. However, research about quantifying seasonal catchment memory of these rivers is still limited. Here, we propose a model able to accurately estimate terrestrial water storage change (TWSC), and characterize catchment memory processes and durations using the memory curve and the influence/domination time, respectively. By investigating eight representative basins of the region, we find that the seasonal catchment memory in precipitation-dominated basins is mainly controlled by precipitation, and that in non-precipitation-dominated basins is strongly influenced by temperature. We further uncover that in precipitation-dominated basins, longer influence time corresponds to longer domination time, with the influence/domination time of approximately six/four months during monsoon season. In addition, the long-term catchment memory is observed in non-precipitation-dominated basins. Quantifying catchment memory can identify efficient lead times for seasonal streamflow forecasts and water resource management.
© 2023. The Author(s).