Facts about the International Association of Hydrological Sciences

ABSTRACT

Despite several studies of spatial and temporal variation in water temperature characteristics, few investigations of longer-term water temperature behaviour in Britain rivers have been undertaken. This paper reports the results from a 10-year study of river water temperatures at three monitoring stations on the River Exe, Devon, UK. Data concerning annual statistics, seasonal regime, diurnal variation, duration characteristics and accumulated temperature are analysed and reveal essentially stable water temperature behaviour over the decade 1974–1983. Contrasts between monitoring stations are also evident and reflect the effects of regional and more local controls as well as the influence of hydrological factors. In spite of these differences, water temperature behaviour is largely synchronous across this river system.