Blending neighbor‐based and climate‐based information to obtain robust low‐flow estimates from short time series. Issue 12 (6th December 2013) - Nicolle, Pierre
Abstract [1] This paper combines two approaches aimed at obtaining robust estimates of low‐flow characteristics from short records and presents results for a low‐flow index, the minimum monthly discharge with a 5 year return period (noted QMNA5). The two adjustment methods are first compared on a large set of catchments in France. The first method bases its adjustment on long‐term climatic information and its sensitivity to the length of the short series is explored. The second method bases its adjustment on long‐term streamflow information from a neighboring index catchment; its sensitivity to the proximity of the index catchment is analyzed. Finally, the climate‐based and neighbor‐based methods are combined, which confers specific robustness to the resulting flow adjustment approach.