The effects of drought on the river systems

1978 ◽  
Vol 363 (1712) ◽  
pp. 69-96 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
River Systems ◽  
River Flows ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Low Flows ◽  
River Thames ◽  
Effects Of Drought

The drought of 1975–76 had a significant effect on the river systems of England and Wales and will be used in water resources design for many years. It is therefore important to recognize that for the river flows it was not uniformly severe. Further, for many purposes, the duration of the low flow is at least as important as its severity. As an example, for the river Thames at Teddington it was only for periods of one and two months that the flow in 1976 was lower than that in 1921. The paper reviews the conditions which give rise to low flows in rivers, compares a representative set of low flow records, comments on criteria which were used to reduce the effect of the drought on the quantity and quality of river flows and suggests methods by which the management of rivers in time of drought might be improved.

Impacts of climate change and socio-economic scenarios on flow and water quality of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna (GBM) river systems: low flow and flood statistics

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1057-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Whitehead ◽  
E. Barbour ◽  
M. N. Futter ◽  
S. Sarkar ◽  
H. Rodda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Economic Change ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
River Systems ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
The Ganges ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

The potential impacts of climate change and socio-economic change on flow and water quality in rivers worldwide is a key area of interest.

ANALYSIS OF LOW-FLOW CONDITIONS IN A HETEROGENEOUS KARST CATCHMENT AS A BASIS FOR FUTURE PLANNING OF WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaudija Sapač ◽  
◽  
Simon Rusjan ◽  
Nejc Bezak ◽  
Mojca Šraj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Discharge Data ◽  
River Catchment ◽  
Low Flows ◽  
Recession Curves

Understanding and prediction of low-flow conditions are fundamental for efficient water resources planning and management as well as for identification of water-related environmental problems. This is problematic especially in view of water use in economic sectors (e.g., tourism) where water-use peaks usually coincide with low-flow conditions in the summer time. In our study, we evaluated various low-flow characteristics at 11 water stations in the non-homogenous Ljubljanica river catchment in Slovenia. Approximately 90% of the catchment is covered by karst with a diverse subsurface, consisting of numerous karst caves. The streams in the remaining part of the catchment have mainly torrential characteristics. Based on daily discharge data we calculated and analyzed values of 5 low-flow indices. In addition, by analyzing hydrograph recession curves, recession constants were determined to assess the catchment’s responsiveness to the absence of precipitation. By using various calculation criteria, we analyzed the influence of individual criteria on the values of low-flow recession constants. Recession curves are widely used in different fields of hydrology, for example in hydrological models, baseflow studies, for low-flow forecasting, and in assessing groundwater storages which are crucial in view of assessing water availability for planning water resources management. Moreover, in the study we also investigated the possible impact of projected climate change (scenario RCP4.5) on low-flow conditions in two sub-catchments of the Ljubljanica river catchment. For the evaluation we used the lumped conceptual hydrological model implemented in the R package airGR. For periods 2011-2040, 2041-2070, and 2071-2100 low-flow conditions were evaluated based on flow duration curves compared with the 1981-2010 period. The lowest discharges at all water stations in the Ljubljanica river catchment occur mostly during the summer months. Our results for the future show that we can expect a decrease of the lowest low-flows in the first two 30-year periods, while in the last one low-flows could increase by approx. 15%. However, the uncertainty/variability of the results is very high and as such should be taken into account when interpreting and using the results. This study demonstrates that evaluation of several low-flow characteristics is needed for a comprehensive and holistic overview of low-flow dynamics. In non-homogeneous catchments with a high karstic influence, the hydrogeological conditions of rivers should also be taken into account in order to adequately interpret the results of low-flow analyses. This proved to be important even in case of neighboring water stations.

scholarly journals Evaluating hydrometric networks for prediction in ungauged basins: a new methodology and its application to England and Wales

2012 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hannaford ◽  
M. G. R. Holmes ◽  
C. L. R. Laizé ◽  
T. J. Marsh ◽  
A. R. Young
Keyword(s):  
Data Transfer ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Ungauged Basins ◽  
Fitness For Purpose ◽  
Ungauged Catchments ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
National Network ◽  
Flow Estimation ◽  
Gauging Station

Flow estimates for ungauged catchments are often derived through regionalisation methods, which enable data transfer from a pool of hydrologically similar catchments with existing gauging stations (i.e., pooling-groups). This paper presents a methodology for indexing the utility of gauged catchments within widely used pooling-group methodologies for high and low flow estimation; this methodology is then used as the basis for a network evaluation strategy. The utility of monitoring stations is assessed using catchment properties and a parallel, but independent, appraisal of the quality of gauging station data, which considers hydrometric performance, anthropogenic disturbances and record length. Results from the application of the method to a national network of over 1,100 gauging stations in England and Wales are presented. First, the method is used to appraise the fitness for purpose of the network for regionalisation. The method is then used to identify gauges which monitor catchments with high potential for regionalisation, but which are deficient in terms of data quality – where upgrades in hydrometric performance would yield the greatest benefits. Finally, gauging stations with limited value for regionalisation, given the pooling-group criteria employed, are identified. Alongside a wider review of other uses of the network, this analysis could inform a judicious approach to network rationalisation.

scholarly journals Assessment of observed and simulated low flow indices for a highly managed river basin

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 1831-1846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hagen Koch ◽  
Stefan Liersch ◽  
José Roberto Gonçalves de Azevedo ◽  
Ana Lígia Chaves Silva ◽  
Fred Fokko Hattermann
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Natural Phenomena ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Natural Processes ◽  
Low Flows

Abstract Droughts and resulting low flows are a threat for society, economy, and ecosystems. Droughts are natural phenomena, but anthropogenic water use can increase the pressure on water resources. To analyze the effects of changing land-use or water management and climate variability/change on water resources, models integrating the most important hydrological processes are needed. These models must account for natural processes and water resources management at different spatial and temporal scales, e.g., reservoir operation, water withdrawals. Low flow indices are analyzed for observed and simulated flows for the highly managed São Francisco river basin in Brazil, showing that during wet, normal, and moderately dry years, the existing reservoir system is able to augment low flows while during strong droughts the system reaches its limits. This effect is also represented in the simulations using the eco-hydrological model SWIM, which was adapted to account for region-specific characteristics of land-use and water management. While good to very good performance was achieved for calibration and validation for most gauges, for some gauges at tributaries only insufficient quantitative criteria are reached. The reasons for the deviation between observations and simulation results are discussed. Overall, the model is able to represent natural discharges and observed, managed discharges.

scholarly journals Lithological and Tectonic Control on Groundwater Contribution to Stream Discharge During Low-Flow Conditions

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Wirth ◽  
Claire Carlier ◽  
Fabien Cochand ◽  
Daniel Hunkeler ◽  
Philip Brunner
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Stream Flow ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Stream Discharge ◽  
Low Flows ◽  
Dry Spells ◽  
Deep Boreholes ◽  
Groundwater Contribution

Knowing how stream discharge in an ungauged catchment reacts to dry spells is a major challenge for managing water resources. The role of geology on these dynamics is poorly understood. For the Swiss Molasse basin, we therefore explored how the geology influences the groundwater contribution to stream flow during low-flow conditions. Using existing data from geological reports and maps as well as from deep boreholes, we constructed a basin-wide overview of the hydrogeological quality of the bedrock and investigated five catchments in 3D. We found that catchments with the most permeable sedimentary bedrock are least sensitive to low flows (marine sandstone, K = 10−4 to 10−5 m/s, Peff = 5–10%). In contrast, if bedrock K is low (K < 10−6 m/s), the presence of a productive Quaternary volume becomes decisive for groundwater contribution to stream flow. Limitations exist due to a restricted database for K and Peff values of the Molasse and limited information on continuation of lithologies with depth. This emphasizes the need for more hydrogeologically relevant data for the future management of water resources. Our results highlighting what lithotypes favor groundwater contribution to stream flow are valid also in other regions for the assessment of a catchment’s sensitivity to low flows.

scholarly journals Towards Intangible Freshwater Cultural Ecosystem Services: Informing Sustainable Water Resources Management

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 535
Author(s):  
Sikhululekile Ncube ◽  
Lindsay Beevers ◽  
Andrea Momblanch
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
River Flows ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources Management ◽  
Aesthetic Values ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources

Rivers provide a range of Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) such as aesthetic values, sense of place and inspiration, which remain insufficiently studied due to challenges associated with the assessment of their subjective and intangible attributes. However, the understanding of CES remains important as they are strongly linked to human wellbeing. This study utilizes a questionnaire-based survey to capture views from two villages along the mainstream of the Beas River in India, to identify the CES it provides, to assess how local communities appreciate their importance and how they relate to river flows. In total, 62 respondents were interviewed. Findings show that the Beas River provides several CES but among these, spiritual/religious ceremonies and rituals, aesthetic values and inspiration benefits were indicated as absolutely essential to the local communities. Results also demonstrate that people’s perception of the quality of CES is sometimes linked to river flows. It can be concluded that the Beas River is crucial in the functioning and livelihoods of local communities as it lies within the core of their cultural, religious and spiritual practices. This study reinforces the need to consider the full suite of ecosystem service categories in sustainable water resources development, planning and decision making.

Fluctuations of Annual Precipitation and Water Resources Quality in Ukraine

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4s) ◽  
pp. 621-629
Author(s):  
Valentina Pidlisnyuk ◽  
◽  
John Harrington JR ◽  
Yulia Melnyk ◽  
Yuliya Vystavna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Precipitation Amount ◽  
Ion Concentration ◽  
Annual Precipitation ◽  
Resource Quality ◽  
Phosphate Ion ◽  
Regional Trends

The article focuses on examining the influence of fluctuations in annual precipitation amount on the quality of surface waters. Water quality was estimated with data on BOD, COD and phosphate–ion concentration within five selected regions of Ukraine. Analysis of the precipitation data (1991 – 2010) showed different regional trends. Using the statistics, determination of the interconnection between precipitation amount and water resources quality were done. The obtained regularities and associated uncertainties can be used for prediction of changes in water resource quality and as a guide for future adaptation to possible climate change.

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