Hydrological response characteristics of Mediterranean catchments at different time scales: a meta-analysis |
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| Authors: | Mohammad Merheb Roger Moussa François Colin Charles Perrin Nicolas Baghdadi |
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| Affiliation: | 1. IRSTEA, UMR TETIS, Montpellier CEDEX 5, France;2. National Council for Scientific Research, Remote Sensing Centre, Beirut, Lebanon;3. INRA, UMR LISAH, Montpellier CEDEX 1, France;4. Montpellier SupAgro, UMR LISAH, Montpellier CEDEX 1, France;5. IRSTEA, Hydrosystems and Bioprocesses Research Unit (HBAN), Antony CEDEX, France |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACTThis work examines 140 hydrological studies conducted in the Mediterranean region. It identifies key characteristics of the hydrological responses of Mediterranean catchments at various time scales and compares different methods and modelling approaches used for individual-catchment studies. The study area is divided into the northwestern (NWM), eastern (EM) and southern (SM) Mediterranean. The analysis indicates regional discrepancies in which the NWM shows the most extreme rainfall regime. A tendency for reduced water resources driven by both anthropogenic and climatic pressures and a more extreme rainfall regime are also noticeable. Catchments show very heterogeneous responses over time and space, resulting in limitations in hydrological modelling and large uncertainties in predictions. However, few models have been developed to address these issues. Additional studies are necessary to improve the knowledge of Mediterranean hydrological features and to account for regional specificities. Editor D. Koutsoyiannis Associate editor A. Efstratiadis |
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| Keywords: | hydrology Mediterranean catchment review annual water balance rainfall–runoff floods droughts modelling |
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