Meteorological droughts propagate through the hydrological cycle causing hydrological droughts and societal impacts. However, the effects of climate and basin characteristics on hydrologic drought propagation vary regionally and remain largely unclear. In this paper, we characterize meteorological and hydrological droughts in 457 basins in Brazil. Using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI), we investigate hydrologic drought propagation based on differences in drought onset, the center of mass, and time to peak. Additionally, we estimate the recovery time of meteorological and hydrologic drought events. The results indicate that hydrological droughts are usually more long-lasting, severe, and with a slower recovery time compared to meteorological droughts. While the most severe meteorological droughts are observed in humid regions (e.g., Amazon and Southern Brazil), the most severe and long-lasting hydrological droughts are found in the driest region (i.e., Northeast Brazil) or mostly impacted by human activities (i.e., Southeast Brazil). Hydrological droughts in dry regions can take four times longer to recover than meteorological ones. For most regions, the propagation time was slightly different considering the different approaches. Our results highlight the importance of a multi-indicator approach to fully characterize the mechanisms controlling the development and propagation of droughts through the water cycle.

气象干旱通过水文循环传播，造成水文干旱和社会影响。然而，气候和流域特征对水文干旱传播的影响因地区而异，并且在很大程度上仍不清楚。在本文中，我们描述了巴西 457 个流域的气象和水文干旱。使用标准化降水蒸散指数 (SPEI) 和标准化水流指数 (SSI)，我们根据干旱开始、质量中心和达到峰值的时间的差异来研究水文干旱传播。此外，我们估计了气象和水文干旱事件的恢复时间。结果表明，与气象干旱相比，水文干旱通常更持久、更严重，恢复时间更慢。虽然最严重的气象干旱发生在潮湿地区（如亚马逊和巴西南部），但最严重和持续时间最长的水文干旱发生在最干旱的地区（即巴西东北部）或主要受人类活动影响（即，巴西东南部）。干旱地区的水文干旱需要比气象干旱长四倍的时间才能恢复。对于大多数地区，考虑到不同的方法，传播时间略有不同。我们的结果强调了多指标方法的重要性，以充分表征控制干旱在水循环中发展和传播的机制。巴西东北部）或主要受人类活动影响（即巴西东南部）。干旱地区的水文干旱需要比气象干旱长四倍的时间才能恢复。对于大多数地区，考虑到不同的方法，传播时间略有不同。我们的结果强调了多指标方法的重要性，以充分表征控制干旱在水循环中发展和传播的机制。巴西东北部）或主要受人类活动影响（即巴西东南部）。干旱地区的水文干旱需要比气象干旱长四倍的时间才能恢复。对于大多数地区，考虑到不同的方法，传播时间略有不同。我们的结果强调了多指标方法的重要性，以充分表征控制干旱在水循环中发展和传播的机制。