Hydrological droughts are important for agriculture and other human activities such as navigation and groundwater pumping, so it is necessary to understand their characteristics at various temporal and spatial scales. This study aims to examine the characteristics of hydrological droughts and their propagation from meteorological droughts across Wisconsin. Hydrological droughts were identified for twenty-four U.S. Geological Survey streamflow monitoring sites using the 20th percentile threshold level for each calendar day. Meteorological droughts were identified in the same way using daily precipitation data. Drought events of both types were identified for the period from 1980 to 2018, and the drought in 2012 was examined in detail. Our results indicate that (1) unlike meteorological droughts, hydrological droughts tend to occur more frequently in recent years; (2) characteristics of hydrological droughts are not correlated with those of meteorological droughts or annual precipitation; (3) there are generally three drought regions in Wisconsin showing different drought trends and propagation characteristics; and (4) groundwater withdrawal from unconfined aquifers has exacerbated hydrological droughts. In conclusion, hydrological droughts have become less synchronous with meteorological droughts, which will make drought early warning more challenging. The study sheds light on drought characteristics and propagation in relation to catchment characteristics and human activities.

水文干旱对农业和其他人类活动如航海和地下水抽取具有重要意义，因此有必要了解其在不同时空尺度上的特征。本研究旨在检查水文干旱的特征及其在威斯康星州的气象干旱中的传播。使用每个日历日的第 20 个百分位阈值水平为 24 个美国地质调查局河流流量监测站点确定了水文干旱。使用每日降水数据以相同的方式识别气象干旱。1980 年至 2018 年期间确定了两种类型的干旱事件，并详细检查了 2012 年的干旱。我们的结果表明 (1) 与气象干旱不同，近年来，水文干旱的发生频率较高；(2) 水文干旱特征与气象干旱或年降水量特征不相关；(3) 威斯康星州普遍存在三个干旱区，表现出不同的干旱趋势和传播特征；(4) 从非承压含水层抽取地下水加剧了水文干旱。总之，水文干旱与气象干旱的同步性下降，这将使干旱预警更具挑战性。该研究阐明了与流域特征和人类活动相关的干旱特征和传播。(3) 威斯康星州普遍存在三个干旱区，表现出不同的干旱趋势和传播特征；(4) 从非承压含水层抽取地下水加剧了水文干旱。总之，水文干旱与气象干旱的同步性下降，这将使干旱预警更具挑战性。该研究阐明了与流域特征和人类活动相关的干旱特征和传播。(3) 威斯康星州普遍存在三个干旱区，表现出不同的干旱趋势和传播特征；(4) 从非承压含水层抽取地下水加剧了水文干旱。总之，水文干旱与气象干旱的同步性下降，这将使干旱预警更具挑战性。该研究阐明了与流域特征和人类活动相关的干旱特征和传播。