Trends in low flows in Spain in the period 1949–2009. Issue 3 (17th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coch, Antonio; Mediero, Luis
• Is Part Of: Hydrological sciences journal. Volume 61:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 568
• Page End: 584
• Publication Date: 2016-02-17
• Subjects: low flow -- environmental flow -- trend analysis -- field significance -- Spain; Hydrology -- Periodicals; 551.4805
• DOI: 10.1080/02626667.2015.1081202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0262-6667

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study analyses trends in low flows in Spain in the period 1949–2009, based on daily flow data collected at 60 gauging stations located in near-natural catchments. Two low-flow indicators were considered: (i) the seven-day annual minimum streamflow and (ii) the 10th percentile of the yearly flow duration curve. Catchments were clustered into three regions in terms of monthly mean flows. The Mann-Kendall test was used considering four periods between 1949 and 2009. A multi-temporal trend analysis was also applied to the longest series to identify wet and dry periods that could influence the results. Lastly, a field significance test provided a regional assessment of the at-site detected trends at each region. The results for each indicator reveal a clearly decreasing trend in low flows throughout the northern half of Spain that was found to be field-significant over the (Atlantic and Mediterranean) regions.Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz;Associate editor not assigned