Effect of ENSO on annual maximum floods and volume over threshold in the southwestern region of Iran |
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| Authors: | Bahram Saghafian Amin Haghnegahdar Majid Dehghani |
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| Institution: | 1. Technical and Engineering Department, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran;2. Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada;3. Technical and Engineering Department, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran |
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| Abstract: | In this paper, the effects of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the annual maximum flood (AMF) and volume over threshold (VOT) in two major neighbouring river basins in southwest Iran are investigated. The basins are located upstream of the Dez and Karun-I dams and cover over 40?000 km2 in total area. The effects of ENSO on the frequency, magnitude and severity (frequency times magnitude) of flood characteristics over the March–April period were analysed. ENSO indices were also correlated with both AMF and VOT. The results indicate that, in the Dez and Karun basins, the El Niño phenomenon intensifies March–April floods compared with neutral conditions. The opposite is true in La Niña conditions. The degree of the effect is more intense in the El Niño period. |
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| Keywords: | climate signals El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) annual maximum flood volume over threshold |
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