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Changes in the timing of winter–spring streamflows in eastern North America, 1913–2002
Author(s) -
Hodgkins Glenn A.,
Dudley Robert W.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2005gl025593
Subject(s) - surface runoff , environmental science , spring (device) , latitude , period (music) , climatology , hydrology (agriculture) , geography , geology , mechanical engineering , engineering , ecology , physics , geotechnical engineering , geodesy , acoustics , biology
Changes in the timing and magnitude of winter‐spring streamflows were analyzed for gaging stations in eastern North America north of 41° north latitude during various periods through 2002. Approximately 32 percent of stations north of 44° have significantly earlier flows over the 50, 60, 70, and 90 year periods; 64 percent have significantly earlier flows over the 80 year period; there are no stations significantly later flows for any time period examined. Flows for the average of all stations north of 44° became earlier by 6.1, 4.4, 4.8, 8.6, and 6.5 days for the 50 through 90 year periods, respectively. Changes over time in monthly mean runoff support the flow timing results—January, February, and particularly March runoff show much higher percentages of stations with increases than with decreases over all time periods and May runoff shows relatively high percentages of stations with decreases.