@article{fdi:010097610,
  title = {{E}vidence of hydrological regime shifts associated with a major decades-long drought in {W}est {A}frica},
  author = {{P}eugeot, {C}hristophe and {W}endling, {V}. and {L}e {R}oux, {E}. and {P}anthou, {G}. and {H}ector, {B}asile and {R}ouch{\'e}, {N}athalie and {C}respin-{B}oucaud, {A}rthur and {F}avreau, {G}uillaume and {D}obi, {F}. {B}. and {C}ohard, {J}. {M}. and {D}emarty, {J}{\'e}rome and {D}escroix, {L}uc and {E}tchanchu, {J}ordi and {G}rippa, {M}. and {H}iernaux, {P}. and {W}arzagan, {A}. {I}. and {K}ergoat, {L}. and {A}bdou, {M}. {M}. and {M}ougin, {E}. and {P}ierre, {C}. and {R}ajot, {J}ean-{L}ouis and {V}andervaere, {J}. {P}. and {V}ischel, {T}. and {L}ebel, {T}hierry},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{U}sing ground-based meteorological, hydrological and land cover datasets from 1950 to 2015, we provide evidence that the increase in runoff observed in the semi-arid central {S}ahel ({W}est {A}frica) since the 1970-1995 drought is a shift between alternative stable states of low and high runoff. {W}e propose a conceptual model, governed by feedback loops between vegetation and surface runoff, which describes the stabilising mechanisms of each state and the basin-scale impact of local shifts. {W}hile the drought was likely the trigger for the shift, land clearing and rainfall intensification may have reinforced it. {D}ue to wetter conditions and greater resilience, other basins further south did not shift. {O}ur study suggests that the shift towards higher runoff is due to surface processes playing a dominant role in this region, with minimal contribution from subsurface processes. {T}his regime shift framework offers a promising perspective on understanding long-term hydrological changes.},
  keywords = {{AFRIQUE} {DE} {L}'{OUEST} ; {MALI} ; {BURKINA} {FASO} ; {NIGER} ; {BANIN} ; {NIGERIA} ; {ZONE} {SAHELIENNE} ; {ZONE} {SOUDANIENNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{N}ature {C}ommunications},
  volume = {17},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {6162 [14 p.]},
  year = {2026},
  DOI = {10.1038/s41467-026-72648-6},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010097610},
}