Streamflow trends and climate linkages in the Zagros Mountains, Iran

This paper examines trends in streamflow and their links with local climate in the Karkheh River and its major tributaries, which originate from the Zagros Mountains, Iran. Streamflow records from five mainstream stations for the period 1961-2001 were used to examine trends in a number of streamflow...

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Main Authors: Masih, Ilyas, Uhlenbrock, Silke, Maskey, S., Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40444
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author Masih, Ilyas
Uhlenbrock, Silke
Maskey, S.
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
author_browse Masih, Ilyas
Maskey, S.
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Uhlenbrock, Silke
author_facet Masih, Ilyas
Uhlenbrock, Silke
Maskey, S.
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
author_sort Masih, Ilyas
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper examines trends in streamflow and their links with local climate in the Karkheh River and its major tributaries, which originate from the Zagros Mountains, Iran. Streamflow records from five mainstream stations for the period 1961-2001 were used to examine trends in a number of streamflow variables. The studied variables were mean annual and monthly flows, 1 and 7 days maximum and minimum flows, timing of the 1-day maxima and minima, and the number and duration of high and low flow pulses. Similarly, the precipitation and temperature data from seven climate stations for the period from 1950s to 2003 were used to examine trends in climatic variables and their correlation with the streamflow. The Spearman Rank test was used for the detection of trends and the correlation analysis was based on the Pearson method. The results reveal a number of significant trends in streamflow variables both increasing (e.g. December flows) and decreasing (e.g. May flows) for all stations. However, some trends were not spatially uniform. For example, decline in low flow characteristics were more significant in the upper parts of the basin, whereas increasing trends in floods and winter flows were noteworthy in themiddle parts of the basin.Most of these trends could be attributed to precipitation changes. The results show that the decline in April and May precipitation causes the decline in the low flows while the increase in winter (particularly March) precipitation coupled with temperature changes lead to increase in the flood regime. The observed trends at the Jelogir station on the Karkheh River reflect the combined effect of the upstream catchments. The significant trends observed in a number of streamflow variables at Jelogir, 1-day maximum, December flow and low pulse count and duration, point to the changes in hydrological regime of the entire Karkheh River system and are attributed to the changes in climatic variables.
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spelling CGSpace404442025-06-17T08:24:02Z Streamflow trends and climate linkages in the Zagros Mountains, Iran Masih, Ilyas Uhlenbrock, Silke Maskey, S. Smakhtin, Vladimir U. river basins stream flow analysis precipitation hydrology climate This paper examines trends in streamflow and their links with local climate in the Karkheh River and its major tributaries, which originate from the Zagros Mountains, Iran. Streamflow records from five mainstream stations for the period 1961-2001 were used to examine trends in a number of streamflow variables. The studied variables were mean annual and monthly flows, 1 and 7 days maximum and minimum flows, timing of the 1-day maxima and minima, and the number and duration of high and low flow pulses. Similarly, the precipitation and temperature data from seven climate stations for the period from 1950s to 2003 were used to examine trends in climatic variables and their correlation with the streamflow. The Spearman Rank test was used for the detection of trends and the correlation analysis was based on the Pearson method. The results reveal a number of significant trends in streamflow variables both increasing (e.g. December flows) and decreasing (e.g. May flows) for all stations. However, some trends were not spatially uniform. For example, decline in low flow characteristics were more significant in the upper parts of the basin, whereas increasing trends in floods and winter flows were noteworthy in themiddle parts of the basin.Most of these trends could be attributed to precipitation changes. The results show that the decline in April and May precipitation causes the decline in the low flows while the increase in winter (particularly March) precipitation coupled with temperature changes lead to increase in the flood regime. The observed trends at the Jelogir station on the Karkheh River reflect the combined effect of the upstream catchments. The significant trends observed in a number of streamflow variables at Jelogir, 1-day maximum, December flow and low pulse count and duration, point to the changes in hydrological regime of the entire Karkheh River system and are attributed to the changes in climatic variables. 2011-01 2014-06-13T14:47:41Z 2014-06-13T14:47:41Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40444 en Limited Access Springer Masih, Ilyas; Uhlenbrook, S.; Maskey, S.; Smakhtin, Vladimir. 2011. Streamflow trends and climate linkages in the Zagros Mountains, Iran. Climatic Change, 104(2):317-338. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-009-9793-x
spellingShingle river basins
stream flow
analysis
precipitation
hydrology
climate
Masih, Ilyas
Uhlenbrock, Silke
Maskey, S.
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Streamflow trends and climate linkages in the Zagros Mountains, Iran
title Streamflow trends and climate linkages in the Zagros Mountains, Iran
title_full Streamflow trends and climate linkages in the Zagros Mountains, Iran
title_fullStr Streamflow trends and climate linkages in the Zagros Mountains, Iran
title_full_unstemmed Streamflow trends and climate linkages in the Zagros Mountains, Iran
title_short Streamflow trends and climate linkages in the Zagros Mountains, Iran
title_sort streamflow trends and climate linkages in the zagros mountains iran
topic river basins
stream flow
analysis
precipitation
hydrology
climate
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40444
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