On the changes in long-term streamflow regimes in the North American Prairies |
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| Authors: | Eghbal Ehsanzadeh Garth van der Kamp Christopher Spence |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture University of Ilam, Ilam, Iran;2. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iraneehsanzadeh@gmail.com;4. National Hydrology Research Centre (NHRC), Environment Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACTClimate change/variability accompanied by anthropogenic activities can alter the runoff response of landscapes. In this study we investigate the integrated impacts of precipitation change/variability and landscape changes, specifically wetland drainage practices, on streamflow regimes in wetland-dominated landscapes in the Assiniboine and Saskatchewan River basins of the North American Prairies. Precipitation and streamflow metrics were examined for gradual (trend type) and abrupt (shift type) changes using the modified Mann-Kendall trend test and a Bayesian change point detection methodology. Results of statistical analyses indicate that precipitation metrics did not experience statistically significant increasing or decreasing changes and there was no statistical evidence of streamflow regime change over the study area except for one of the smaller watersheds. The absence of widespread streamflow and precipitation changes suggests that wetland drainage did not lead to detectable changes in streamflow metrics over most of the Canadian portion of the Prairies between 1967 and 2007. Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz Associate editor None assigned |
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| Keywords: | Prairies wetland drainage streamflow trend shift climate change |
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