An example of application: The ecological "natural flow regime" paradigm in hydroclimatology

作者：Assani Ali A^*; Quessy Jean Francois; Mesfioui Mhamed; Matteau Martin

来源：Advances in Water Resources, 2010, 33(5): 537-545.

DOI：10.1016/j.advwatres.2010.02.005

• &quot
• Natural flow regime&quot
• paradigm
• Fundamental streamflow characteristic
• Hydrologic variable
• Heavy spring floods
• Climatic indices
• Vermilion River, Quebec

According to the concept of "natural flow regime." introduced and developed in the 1990's in aquatic ecology, streamflow can be described using five basic characteristics magnitude, frequency, duration, period of occurrence and variability A sixth could be added to these, namely, distribution curve Our study, which focused exclusively on the temporal variability of these six characteristics, had these objectives: (1) to compare their stationanty. (2) to determine the links among these characteristics and (3) to analyze, for the first time, their relationship to six climatic indices (Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, Artic Oscillation, North Atlantic Oscillation, Nino3 4, Pacific decadal Oscillation and Southern Oscillation Index) To do this, we used the Vermilion River (2670 km(2)) as an example, analyzing the streamflow of heavy spring floods (equal to or greater than the annual flood streamflow), as measured between 1934 and 2000.
The comparison of the stationarity of these six characteristics by means of linear regression analysis and Mann-Kendall test revealed that flood duration has increased and flood frequency has decreased during the 1934-2000 period As for the link among the six characteristics, magnitude, the primary fundamental characteristic, is correlated to all the other characteristics, except for the coefficient of skewness The AMO (Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation) climatic index is correlated to all the characteristics, except for frequency and coefficient of skewness This last characteristic is correlated to AO (Arctic Oscillation)
This example shows that this concept can serve to link climatology, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology and aquatic ecology for a better understanding of the interactions among the different components of the aquatic ecosystems. The understanding of these interactions is important for better watercourse management and could serve as a potential framework for predicting the evolution of river ecosystems in light of climate change, using a combination of these various disciplines.

• 出版日期2010-5