Annual streamflow modelling with asymmetric distribution function

Classical autoregressive models (AR) have been used for forecasting streamflow data in spite of restrictive assumptions, such as the normality assumption for innovations. The main reason for making this assumption is the difficulties faced in finding model parameters for non‐normal distribution functions. However, the modified maximum likelihood (MML) procedure used for estimating autoregressive model parameters assumes a non‐normally distributed residual series. The aim in this study is to compare the performance of the AR(1) model with asymmetric innovations with that of the classical autoregressive model for hydrological annual data. The models considered are applied to annual streamflow data obtained from two streamflow gauging stations in K?z?l?rmak Basin, Turkey. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.