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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3476
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3476
28 Nov 2024
 | 28 Nov 2024

An extension of the logistic function to account for nonstationary drought losses

Tongtiegang Zhao, Zecong Chen, and Yongyong Zhang

Abstract. While the intensity loss function is fundamental to drought impact assessment, the relationship between drought loss and intensity can be nonstationary, i.e., changing as time progresses, owing to socio-economic developments. This paper builds three novel intensity loss functions upon the classic logistic function to account for nonstationary drought losses. Specifically, the time is explicitly formulated as an explanatory variable and respectively incorporated into the magnitude, shape and location parameters of the logistic function to derive three nonstationary intensity loss functions. To examine the effectiveness, a case study is devised for the drought-affected population by province in mainland China during the period from 2006 to 2023. The results highlight the existence of nonstationarity in that the drought-affected population exhibits significant correlation not only with standard precipitation index but also with year. The three nonstationary intensity loss functions are shown to outperform the classic logistic function and also the linear regression. They present effective characterizations of observed drought loss in different ways: 1) the nonstationary function with the flexible magnitude parameter fits the data by adjusting the maximum drought loss by year; 2) the nonstationary function with the flexible shape parameter works by modifying the growth rate of drought loss with intensity; and 3) the nonstationary function with the flexible shape parameter acts by shifting the response curves along the axis by year. In general, the nonstationary function with the flexible magnitude parameter is shown to be the most promising in terms of high coefficient of determination, low Bayesian information criterion and explicit physical meaning. Taken together, the nonstationary intensity loss functions developed in this paper can serve as an effective tool for drought management.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

11 Jun 2025
An extension of the logistic function to account for nonstationary drought losses
Tongtiegang Zhao, Zecong Chen, Yongyong Zhang, Bingyao Zhang, and Yu Li
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2429–2443, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2429-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2429-2025, 2025
Short summary
Tongtiegang Zhao, Zecong Chen, and Yongyong Zhang

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3476', Anonymous Referee #1, 02 Jan 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Tongtiegang Zhao, 24 Jan 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3476', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Jan 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Tongtiegang Zhao, 24 Jan 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3476', Anonymous Referee #1, 02 Jan 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Tongtiegang Zhao, 24 Jan 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3476', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Jan 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Tongtiegang Zhao, 24 Jan 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (05 Feb 2025) by Xing Yuan
AR by Tongtiegang Zhao on behalf of the Authors (06 Feb 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (06 Feb 2025) by Xing Yuan
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (20 Feb 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (04 Mar 2025)
ED: Publish as is (12 Mar 2025) by Xing Yuan
AR by Tongtiegang Zhao on behalf of the Authors (15 Mar 2025)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

11 Jun 2025
An extension of the logistic function to account for nonstationary drought losses
Tongtiegang Zhao, Zecong Chen, Yongyong Zhang, Bingyao Zhang, and Yu Li
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2429–2443, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2429-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2429-2025, 2025
Short summary
Tongtiegang Zhao, Zecong Chen, and Yongyong Zhang
Tongtiegang Zhao, Zecong Chen, and Yongyong Zhang

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Short summary
The classic logistic function characterizes the stationary relationship between drought loss and intensity. This paper incorporates the time into the three parameters of logistic function and derives three nonstationary intensity loss functions. The functions are tested through a case study of drought-affected population by province in mainland China during the period from 2006 to 2023. Overall, the nonstationary intensity loss functions are shown to be a useful tool for drought management.
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