Assessment of temporal dynamics of snow cover and its validation with hydro-meteorological data in parts of Chenab Basin,western Himalayas

The present investigation was conducted to analyze the temporal patterns of snow cover area%(SCA%), air temperature, snowfall and river discharge in parts of Chenab basin, western Himalayas. The relationship of mean SCA% with mean air temperature and river discharge was also tested using Pearson's product-moment correlation at 95% confidence limit and further sensitivity analysis of river discharge to SCA and SCA to air temperature was performed. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) 8-day surface reflectance product MOD09A1 was used to delineate SCA during the period 2000–2013. Moreover, variation in the lowest elevation from where snow cover area starts(LESCA) was also analyzed and its relationship with mean air temperature was also studied. Non-parametric method, Mann-Kendall test was employed to determine the trend in the SCA%, air temperature, snowfall and river discharge. The investigation carried out for three meteorological stations i.e. Batote, Reasi and Tandi revealed significant findings. At Batote and Reasi, statistically significant decreasing trends were observed over the period 2000 to 2012, for maximum, minimum and mean air temperature. Mean minimum SCA% exhibited a significant upward trend during 2000–2013 which is corroborated by the significantly increasing trend of mean annual snowfall(Tandi station) from 2000 to 2010. Further, significant decreasing trend of river discharge for the winter season at Batote station from 2000 to 2011 and decreasing trends in the maximum, minimum and mean air temperature at Batote and Reasi stations are also consistent with the increasing trend of SCA%. At both Batote and Reasi stations, mean SCA% exhibited significant negative relationship with the mean air temperature. On the other hand, LESCA exhibited positive correlation with the mean air temperature except in a few months, where negative relationship was seen. Sensitivity analysis of river discharge to SCA exhibited very low values of sensitivity coefficient in most of the months, indicating less sensitivity of river discharge to SCA. On the other hand, sensitivity coefficient of SCA to air temperature exhibited comparatively higher values which indicate SCA is more sensitive to air temperature.     

Hydro‐climatic variability and trends in Washington State for the last 50 years

Historical records of monthly streamflow and precipitation coupled with mean, minimum, and maximum air temperatures for Washington State were used to study the variation and the trend characteristics that occurred over the last 50 years (1952–2002). Results indicate that the 1967 statewide water resource assessment needs to be updated because all of the stations used in that study exhibited a decreasing trend in annual streamflow ranging from ?0·9% to ?49·3%, with an arithmetic mean of ?11·7% and a median value of ?9·8%. Furthermore, a slightly decreasing trend in annual streamflow, although not statistically significant, was detected. The decreasing streamflow magnitude was about ?1·178 mm year^?2, or 4·88 m³ s^?1 year^?1, which caused a decrease in annual streamflow in the state of about 58·9 mm, or 244 m³ s^?1. This magnitude was about 9·6% of the average annual streamflow for the entire state from 1952 to 2002. Contrastingly, the overall annual precipitation in the entire state increased 1·375 mm year^?2. Overall the annual means of daily mean, maximum, and minimum temperature increased by 0·122, 0·048, and 0·185 °C/10 years, respectively, during the study period. Thus the corresponding annual means of daily mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures increased by 0·61, 0·24, and 0·93 °C, respectively. All of these trends and magnitudes were found to vary considerably from station to station and month to month. The possible reasons resulting in these detected trends include, but are not limited to, human activities, climate variability and changes, and land use and land cover changes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hotspots,mantle convection and plate tectonics: A synthetic calculation

A model is developed that unifies vigorous hotspots with global-scale mantle convection and plate tectonics. The convection dynamics are assumed to generate flow patterns that emerge as closely packed polygonal cells in approaching the asthenosphere, and whose geometry is completely determined by a defining set of vigorous hotspots. Overlying viscously coupled rigid plates are driven with unique velocities (Euler vectors) at which the area integral of the shear forces is zero; these velocities are dynamically stable. The computed plate velocities, resulting from convection based on 15 hotspots, are compared with the velocities of plate motion models AM1-2 (Minster andJordan, 1978) and HS-NUVEL1 (Gripp andGordon, 1990), which combine transform fault geometries, magnetic anomalies and seismic data. The comparison shows a striking agreement for a majority of the plates. Geophysical implications of this numerical exercise are discussed.     

Spatio-temporal variation and abrupt changes for major climate variables in the Taihu Basin, China

Long-term trend and abrupt changes of major climate variables in the Taihu Basin were investigated based on the mean, maximum and minimum air temperature, diurnal temperature range (DTR), precipitation, relative humidity and sunshine duration at six meteorological stations from 1954 to 2006. Results showed that the long-term trend for annual precipitation was not statistically significant during the past 53?years, but a wetter tendency was detected and the increasing centre for annual precipitation was located in the southeast of the study area. Mean air temperature has increased by 1.43°C, similar trends were also identified for maximum and minimum air temperature, which have increased by 1.06 and 1.54°C, respectively, while DTR exhibited a slight decreasing trend with a rate of about ?0.09°C/(10?year). The annual mean relative humidity and sunshine duration exhibited a decreasing trend, with Kendall slope values of ?0.99%/10?year and ?7.797?h/10?year, respectively. Examination of long-range dependence showed that all climate variables exhibited strong persistence at annual scale except minimum air temperature. Detection of abrupt changes using nonparametric Mann–Kendall and Pettitt methods showed different results. Abrupt changes occurred in the 1980s and 2000s for annual precipitation using the nonparametric Mann–Kendall method, while no abrupt changes were detected using the Pettitt method. Abrupt changes of temperature and relative humidity took place in the early 1990s using the nonparametric Mann–Kendall method, which occurred in the late and mid 1980s using the Pettitt method, while abrupt changes of sunshine duration and DTR detected by two methods occurred in the similar period. The result will be helpful for local flood control and drought relief in urban planning and construction under future global climate change.     

SRES B2情景下中国区域最高、最低气温及日较差变化分布特征初步分析

本文利用Hadley气候预测与研究中心的区域气候模式系统PRECIS进行中国区域气候基准时段(1961～1990年)和SRES B2情景下2071～2100年(2080s)最高、最低气温及日较差变化响应的分析.气候基准时段的模拟结果与观测资料的对比分析表明：PRECIS具有对中国区域最高、最低气温及日较差的模拟能力,能够模拟出中国区域最高、最低气温及日较差的局地分布特征.对SRES B2情景下相对于气候基准时段的最高、最低气温及日较差变化响应分析表明：中国区域2080s时段年、冬季和夏季平均最高、最低气温变化均呈一致增加的趋势,北方地区增温幅度普遍大于南方地区.夏季东北地区极端高温事件发生的频率将会增加,而冬季华北地区极端冷害事件发生频率将会减少.未来中国区域年平均日较差将出现北方地区减小而南方地区增加的趋势.冬季长江中下游以南地区日较差呈增加趋势,而夏季华东地区、西北地区及内蒙古中部日较差将呈减小趋势,其中在青藏高原北部地区存在一个较强的低值中心.     

无参考序列条件下地面气温观测资料城市化偏差订正方法：以北京站为例

本文以北京气象站长期地面气温观测资料为例,发展了一种无早期参考序列条件下城镇站城市化偏差评价和订正方法.首先对北京站逐月平均最高、最低气温资料进行质量控制和均一化处理,并借助卫星遥感亮度温度资料遴选附近乡村站;然后利用最近3年逐时地面气温资料,计算观象台和5个乡村站各月平均地面气温的差值,把其作为北京站1915-2012年期间的城市化累积影响;最后假设城市化累积影响在整个研究时期呈匀速增长,采用线性订正法对地面月平均气温序列中的城市化偏差进行订正.分析表明：资料均一化处理后,北京站近百年最高、最低和平均气温多年平均值有所下降,气温日较差则有所提高,但三种年平均气温序列增温趋势和年平均气温日较差序列下降趋势有所增强.北京站年平均最低气温、平均气温和气温日较差序列中均存在较大的城市化累积影响,其中最低气温和平均气温四个季节均为正值,冬季最大,秋季次之,夏季最小,四季和年平均气温日较差均为较大的负值.订正城市化偏差后,最低气温和平均气温增加速率均明显下降,年平均气温日较差下降趋势则明显变弱.     

Several characteristics of contemporary climate change in the Tibetan Plateau

Characteristics of contemporary climate change in the Tibetan Plateau have been investigated based on the observational data of monthly mean air temperature, monthly mean maximum and minimum air temperatures, and precipitation amount at 217 stations in the Plateau and its adjacent areas in 1951–1998, in which the temperature data at Lhasa, Lanzhou, Kunming and Chengdu were extended to a period of 1935–1950. The following conclusions can be drawn. (1) The air temperature in the Tibetan Plateau decreased from the 1950s to the 1960s, afterwards it began warming up to the 1990s. The data at the Lhasa Station beginning from 1935 have indicated that the air temperature at the station was the highest in the 1940s, then it became cooling until the 1960s. After the 1960s, it began warming until the 1990s. However, the air temperature at Lhasa in the 1990s still did not reach as high as in the 1940s. (2) Since the 1960s, there has existed a cooling belt below 3000 m altitude above sea level, which is located in eastern and southeastern Tibetan Plateau, and there has existed a strong warming belt from south to north in 85–95° E. Because there are very nonhomogeneous and positive-negative alternating changes between cooling and warming belts, the air temperature is not linearly increased with increasing height. (3) Since the 1960s, there has existed a precipitation decreasing belt distributed over southwestern to northeastern Plateau as well as over a below 3000 m a.s.l. area in southeastern Plateau. The warming with decreasing precipitation occurs in the central area of the Plateau and the above 3000 m western Plateau; the warming with increasing precipitation occurs in the northern and southern Plateau; and the cooling with decreasing precipitation occurs in the below 3000 m southeastern Plateau.     

2021年云南漾濞MS6.4地震前后主动源观测走时数据的变化

基于2021年5月21日漾濞M_S6.4地震震中附近50 km范围内15个地震观测台站记录的2020年11月1日—2021年5月30日的气枪震源信号,采用互相关时延检测技术提取这15个台站各自稳定震相(Sg震相)的走时变化时间序列,并对漾濞M_S6.4地震前后各台站的走时变化特征进行分析。结果表明:(1)漾濞M_S6.4地震前10天左右,有4个台站走时开始出现异常,其中,Ey211和Ey213台走时呈"V"型变化结构,Ey210和CHT台走时呈上升趋势。(2)漾濞M_S6.4地震后短期内,大部分台站走时出现了明显的趋势性变化,以维西—乔后—巍山断裂为界,断裂带两侧台站走时变化趋势存在明显差异,断裂以东的EYA、HDQ、YSW09台走时呈上升趋势,变化最为显著的为HDQ台,走时差变化量为0.067 s;而断裂带以西的所有台站在漾濞M_S6.4地震当天(或震后1～2天)开始出现明显趋势性下降,走时下降持续时间在4～9天间,走时差变化量在-0.053～-0.201 s间,其中走时差下降量最大为53 285台,最小为CHT台。     

Upper air mean dry-bulb and dew-point temperature profiles over Gauhati airport

Summary The best fit curves for upper air mean dry-bulb and dew-point temperatures over Gauhati airport (26°05N, 91°43E, 49 metres a.m.s.l.), for the month of April, have been calculated with the equation,x=A+By+Cy ²,y being the log value in mb of the isobaric level under consideration andx, the mean dry-bulb or dew-point temperature as the case may be, at the isobaric level under consideration. The values of constantsA, B andC for morning dry-bulb and dew-point curves come to be –29.54559, –93.65766 and +37.35048 and –118.84791, –31.15503 and +25.63585 respectively and values of these constants for evening curves come to be –35.86214, –94.15694 and +38.61870 and –127.55970, –29.97192 and +26.36538 respectively. These best fit curves help in finding out mean desired temperatures at any isobaric level in forecasting of thunderstorms and hailstorms, at a station, by dry-bulb and dew-point temperature anomaly technique propsed earlier by the authors.     

Changes of temperature extremes for 1960–2004 in Far-West China

The spatial and temporal patterns of the temperature extremes defined by 5th and 95th percentiles based on daily maximum/minimum temperature dataset were analyzed using Mann–Kendall test and linear regression method. The research results indicate that: (1) the seasonal minimum temperature is in stronger increasing trend than the seasonal maximum temperature; (2) in comparison with the changes of the maximum temperature, more stations display significantly increasing trends of minimum temperature in frequency and intensity; (3) comparatively, more stations have significantly decreasing trends in the intra-seasonal extreme temperature anomaly in summer and winter than in spring and autumn. The areal mean minimum temperature is in stronger increasing trend than areal mean maximum temperature; (4) the warming process in the Far-West (FW) China is characterized mainly by significantly increasing minimum temperature. The research will be helpful for local human mitigation to alterations in water resource and ecological environment in FW China due to changes of temperature extremes, as the ecologically fragile region of China.     

重庆武隆M5.0地震前地磁异常特征分析

选取恩施台、涪陵江东台、石柱黄水台以及武隆仙女山台2012年1月至2017年11月地磁数据进行异常分析,得到各个台站的地磁谐波振幅比和加卸载响应比计算结果,并结合2017年11月23日重庆武隆M5.0地震震中附近地质构造背景分析地震前后地磁异常现象。分析结果认为大部分地磁谐波振幅比变化特征类似于地电阻率的变化特征,表现为"下降-转折-上升"过程。本次地震大致发生在转折上升的初期阶段,其中震中距较小的台站地磁谐波振幅比变化趋势不同步,但变化幅度大致相同,而震中距较大的台站地磁谐波振幅比变化趋势较为同步,变化幅度较大。此外,研究还表明震前地磁加卸载响应比异常高值在时空分布上与震中位置具有很好的对应关系。     

Simultaneous crystallization and melting at both the roof and floor of crustal magma chambers: Experimental study using NH4Cl–H2O binary eutectic system

Thermal and compositional evolution of magmas after emplacement of basalt into continental crust has been investigated by means of fluid dynamic experiments using a cold solid mixture with eutectic composition and a hot liquid with higher salinity in the NH₄Cl–H₂O binary eutectic system. The experiments were designed to simulate cases where crystallization of a basalt magma is accompanied by melting at both the roof and floor of a crustal magma chamber. The results show that thermal and compositional convection occur simultaneously in the solution; the thermal convection is driven by cooling at the roof and the compositional convection is driven by melting and crystallization at the floor. The roof was rapidly melted by the convective heat flux, which resulted in formation of a separate eutectic melt layer (the upper liquid layer) with negligible mixing of the underlying liquid (the lower liquid layer). On the other hand, a mushy layer formed at the floor. The compositional convection at the floor carried a low heat flux, so that the heat transfer at the floor was basically explained by simple heat conduction. The thermal boundary layer in the lower liquid layer at the interface with the upper liquid layer became thicker with time and subsequently temperature decreased upward throughout the lower liquid layer. Compositional gradient with NH₄Cl content decreasing upward formed by compositional convection in the lower liquid layer. The formation of these gradients resulted in formation of double-diffusive convecting layers in the lower liquid layer. The upward heat transfer was suppressed when compared with the case where the liquid region is homogenized by vigorous convection.These experimental results imply that, when a basalt magma is emplaced in continental crust, floor melting does not always enhance the cooling of the magma, but it may even reduce the total heat loss from the magma to the crusts due to suppression of convection by formation of a stabilizing compositional gradient.     

城市化对四川盆地夏季气温变化影响的观测和模拟研究

城市化引起的气温上升是土地覆盖变化影响区域气候的重要体现.本文采用"观测资料减去再分析"(Observation Minus Reanalysis,OMR)的方法估计四川盆地和周边地区下垫面城市化改变对夏季地面2 m气温变化趋势的影响.设计了不同城市化下垫面扩展变化的WRF模拟试验,对1998—2012年四川盆地及周边区域夏季逐日平均温度和日最高最低气温进行模拟.在检验模式模拟性能的基础上,利用OMR方法类似的思路定量探讨城市化下垫面对地面气温变化趋势的可能影响.结果显示,(1)基于站点观测资料的OMR分布表明成都、重庆地区的城市下垫面对夏季升温的影响可达0.1℃·a^-1;(2) WRF试验模拟的结果与实际观测接近,能较合理刻画出该地区夏季温度的平均分布及时间变化特征,可以用于该地区城市化区域气候效应的研究;(3)不同城市化进程的模式模拟试验中气温变化趋势的差值与基于站点观测的OMR方法计算得到的结果类似,都证明了重庆和成都的城市下垫面对地面2 m温度的升高具有显著影响,其中在日内低温的表现尤为突出.     

Precipitation,temperature and runoff analysis from 1950 to 2002 in the Yangtze basin,China / Analyse des précipitations,températures et débits de 1950 à 2002 dans le bassin du Yangtze,en Chine

Abstract

Abstract Monthly precipitation and temperature trends of 51 stations in the Yangtze basin from 1950–2002 were analysed and interpolated. The Mann-Kendall trend test was applied to examine the monthly precipitation and temperature data. Significant positive and negative trends at the 90, 95 and 99% significance levels were detected. The monthly mean temperature, precipitation, summer precipitation and monthly mean runoff at Yichang, Hankou and Datong stations were analysed. The results indicate that spatial distribution of precipitation and temperature trends is different. The middle and lower Yangtze basin is dominated by upward precipitation trend but by somewhat downward temperature trend; while downward precipitation trend and upward temperature trend occur in the upper Yangtze basin. This is because increasing precipitation leads to increasing cloud coverage and, hence, results in decreasing ground surface temperature. Average monthly precipitation and temperature analysis for the upper, middle and lower Yangtze basin, respectively, further corroborate this viewpoint. Analysis of precipitation trend for these three regions and of runoff trends for the Yichang, Hankou and Datong stations indicated that runoff trends respond well to the precipitation trends. Historical flood trend analysis also shows that floods in the middle and lower Yangtze basin are in upward trend. The above findings indicate that the middle and lower Yangtze basin is likely to face more serious flood disasters. The research results help in further understanding the influence of climatic changes on floods in the Yangtze basin, providing scientific background for the flood control activities in large catchments in Asia.     

Relation between the atmospheric characteristics in the antarctic regions and the space weather factors

Considerable variations in the cloud cover level and air temperature, related to the variations in GCRs and IMF, have been revealed based on an analysis of the meteorological and aerological data obtained at Vostok station from 1974 to 1994. It has been found out that the cloud cover at Vostok decreased, on average, by 35% a day after powerful Forbush decreases in GCRs following a considerable increase in the southward IMF component. In the years of solar activity minimum, when the variations in SCRs and GCRs are insignificant, the cloudiness and surface temperature increase on a day of B _z minimum and decrease on a day of maximum as compared to the average level. On days of B _z minimum, the air temperature rises at altitudes of h = 3.5–7 km, remains almost unchanged at an altitude of h = 8 km, and slightly decreases at higher altitudes. An increase in cloudiness at altitudes below 8 km causes warming, probably due to the greenhouse effect, because the temperature of the Earth’s surface decreases.     

Precipitation and temperature trends for the Southwest China: 1960–2007

Daily temperature and precipitation data from 136 stations of Southwest China (SWC) during the last five decades, from 1960 to 2007, were analysed to determine the spatial and temporal trends by using the Mann–Kendall trend test. Results show that SWC has become warmer over the last five decades, especially in the recent 20–25 years. The increasing trends in winter months are more significant than those in the months of other seasons, and spatially Tibet, Hengduan mountains area and west Sichuan Plateau have larger temperature trend in magnitude than the other regions have. A downward trend was detected in Sichuan Basin also, but the region with cooler temperature was shrinking due to the statistically significant increasing trend of temperature after 1990s. Both annual and seasonal means of daily maximum and minimum temperatures show an increasing trend, but trend magnitude of minimum temperature was larger than that of maximum temperature, resulting in the decrease of diurnal temperature range for SWC in the last 50 years. Annual precipitation showed slightly and statistically insignificant increasing trend, but statistically significant increasing trend has been detected in winter season while autumn witnessed a statistically significant decreasing trend. The results could be a reference for the planning and management of water resources under climate change. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Magnetic studies on Kilauea Iki lava lake,Hawaii

Ground surveys made during August, 1961, show large vertical magnetic intensity anomalies associated with the partly lava filled crater of Kilauea Iki. A vertical magnetic variation of 11,600 gammas occurs along a north-south profile across the crater, the maximum being on the north rim of the crater and the minimum on the south edge of the encrusted lava lake below the south rim. An east-west profile shows less vertical magnetic variation, with lake-surface measurements 1500 to 2500 gammas lower than measurements on the east rim of the crater. Computed anomalies using two-dimensional potential field graticules are in good agreement with the observed anomalies and support the following conclusions: 1) Average measured values of remanent magnetization of 10^?2 cgs units and susceptibilities of 10^?3 cgs units give reasonable magnitudes to the computed anomalies. 2) The remanent magnetization is parallel to the earth’s present magnetic field. 3) The maximum vertical magnetic field value in the north-south profile is the result of reinforcement of the positive terrain effect of the north rim of the crater and the positive edge effect of the north side of the lava lake. 4) The minimum value in the same profile is the result of reinforcement of the negative terrain effect at the base of the south rim of the crater and the negative edge effect of the south side of the lava lake. 5) Variation in the east-west magnetic profile is less because the terrain and edge effects of the horizontal components of the earth’s magnetic field and remanent magnetization approach zero. Changes in vertical magnetic field values as the lake solidifies will be maximum at the north edge of the lava lake, but more consistent changes of the opposite sign will occur on the south side of the lava lake. Total change will be approximately + 2300 gammas between the August 1961 measurement at station S6 and the value at that point when the entire lava lake has cooled below 400° C. The maximum rate of change at station S6 will occur when the 500° C isotherm is 35 to 65 meters below the surface and will be about 28 gammas per meter of lowering of the 500°C surface. Because of the steep magnetic anomalies associated with the lava lake and crater rims, the permanent magnetization presently forming in the cooling lake crust will have inclinations as much as 12° less than the average 37.5° inclination in the Kilauea area.     

Nankai Trough, Japan Trench and Kuril Trench: geochemistry of Fluids sampled by submersible “Nautile”

Deep-water samples collected during the Kaiko project are often associated with biological communities located on geological structures favorable to fluid venting. The evidence of fluid venting are the temperature anomalies, the decrease in sulfate concentrations, the content in methane and the lowC₁(C₂ +C₃) ratio of light hydrocarbons. Because of large dilution by ambiant seawater during sampling it is difficult to compute the composition of the advected end-member pore fluid. Part of this fluid should originate in the “petroleum window”, i.e. at temperature about 60°C. Modeling the upward flow of water, taking into account the anomalies of temperature measured on the seafloor and the geochemical anomalies, leads to non-steady-state advection of the pore fluid. The occurrence of a deep component in the fluid has implications for the geological and tectonic models of the subduction zones off Japan.     

TWO DIMENSIONAL MODEL ON RELATION BETWEEN THERMAL ANOMALY BEFORE WENCHUAN EARTHQUAKE AND TECTONIC STRESS

It has been reported that there is thermal anomaly within a certain time and space preceding an earthquake, and previous research has indicated potential associations between the thermal anomaly and earthquake faults, but it is still controversial whether physical processes associated with seismic faults can produce observable heat.Based on rock experiments, some scholars believe that the convective and stress-induced heat associated with fault stress changes may be the cause of those anomalies. Then, did the thermal anomaly before the Wenchuan earthquake induced by the fault stress change?It remains to be tested by numerical simulations on the distribution and intensity of thermal anomalies. For example, is the area of thermal anomaly caused by the fault stress changes before the earthquake the same as the observation?Is the intensity the same?To clarify the above questions, a two-dimensional thermo-hydro-mechanical(THM)finite element model was conducted in this study to simulate the spatial and temporal variations of thermal anomalies caused by the underground fluid convection and rock stress change due to the tectonic stress release on fault before earthquake. Results showed that the simulated thermal anomalies could be consistent with the observed in magnitude and spatio-temporal distribution. Before the Wenchuan earthquake, deformation-related thermal anomalies occurred mainly in the fault zone and its adjacent hanging wall, which are usually abnormal temperature rise, and occasionally abnormal cooling, occurring in the fault zone after the peak temperature rise. In the fault zone, the thermal anomaly is usually greater than the order of 1K of the equivalent air temperature and is controlled by the combined effect of fluid convection and stress change. The temperature increases first and then decreases before the earthquake. In the hanging wall, it's weaker than that of the fault zone, mainly depending on the convection of the fluid. The temperature gradually increases before the earthquake and is dramatically affected by the permeability. Usually, only when the permeability is larger than 10^-13m², can the air temperature rise higher than 1K occur. The results of this study support the view that fluid convection and stress change caused by fault slip before the earthquake can produce observable air temperature anomalies.     

Comparison of ten notable meteorological drought indices on tracking the effect of drought on streamflow

ABSTRACT

Ten notable meteorological drought indices were compared on tracking the effect of drought on streamflow. A 730-month dataset of precipitation, temperature and evapotranspiration for 88 catchments in Oregon, USA, representing pristine conditions, was used to compute the drought indices. These indices were correlated with the monthly streamflow datasets of the minimum, maximum and mean discharge, and the discharge monthly fluctuation; it was revealed that the 3-month Z-score drought index (Z3) has the best association with the four streamflow variables. The Mann-Kendall trend detection test applied to the latter index time series mainly highlighted a downward trend in the autumn and winter drought magnitude (DM) and an upward trend in the spring and summer DM (p = 0.05). Finally, the Pettitt test indicated an abrupt decline in the annual and autumn DM, which began in 1984 and 1986, respectively.