ABSTRACT: Streamflow anomaly patterns in the U.S.A. and Southern Canada -

CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Abstract

The monthly streamflow anomaly patterns in the U.S. and southern Canada (1950-1970) are examined by principal components analysis of data for 102 stream gaging stations, located in a reasonably uniform spacing over the area. The basic anomaly patterns are of large spatial scale and vary slowly through time, reflecting the temporal and spatial scale of controlling climatic anomalies. The prolonged, widespread drought of the 1950's is clearly indicated by a predominance of negative scores of the first component. The second component shows the tendency for streamflows in the northwest part of the network to vary inversely with streamflows in the southeast part. The third component describes above normal streamflow in the Midwest and Northeast and below normal streamflow in the West, Great Plains, and Southeast. The fourth component shows below normal flows in the upper Midwest and Great Plains and above normal flows in the West and East. About 75% of the total variance of monthly mean streamflow is accounted for by 24 basic anomaly patterns of large spatial scale. The gaging stations were assigned to 18 groups of highly intercorrelated streams, each essential independent of the others. The hydrological regions defined in this study had weak correlation with the frequency used hydrological regions (except for the Appalachian Crest and Continental Divide) and stronger relationships with climatic regions.

Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology