Climatic aridity modulates the spatial variations in the responses of terrestrial water budget terms to El Niño–Southern Oscillation

Abstract The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) triggers precipitation anomalies, which are not evenly distributed across other terrestrial water budget terms, including runoff, evapotranspiration (ET), and terrestrial water storage change (TWSC). This uneven distribution represents a significant knowledge gap. This study addresses this gap by examining the varied responses of these terms to ENSO events across regions of the continental United States where precipitation is significantly influen