Causes of interannual to decadal variability of Gila River streamflow over the past century
Study region: The Gila River, New Mexico, is characterized by two peaks in streamflow: one in the winter–spring (December–May), and summer (August–September). The region is influenced both by Pacific SST variability as well as the North American Monsoon. Study focus: The mechanisms responsible for t...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2015-03-01
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Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581815000178 |
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author | M.A. Pascolini-Campbell Richard Seager David S. Gutzler Benjamin I. Cook Daniel Griffin |
author_facet | M.A. Pascolini-Campbell Richard Seager David S. Gutzler Benjamin I. Cook Daniel Griffin |
author_sort | M.A. Pascolini-Campbell |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Study region: The Gila River, New Mexico, is characterized by two peaks in streamflow: one in the winter–spring (December–May), and summer (August–September). The region is influenced both by Pacific SST variability as well as the North American Monsoon. Study focus: The mechanisms responsible for the variability of the winter–spring and summer streamflow peaks are investigated by correlation of streamflow with precipitation and sea surface temperature for 1928–2012. Decadal variability in the flow record is examined for a longer term perspective on Gila River streamflow using tree ring-based reconstructions of the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). New hydrological insights for the region: Results indicate a strong influence of winter–spring precipitation and Pacific SST anomalies on the winter–spring streamflow, with El Niño conditions in the Pacific causing increased precipitation and streamflow. Decadal Pacific variability helps explain the transition from high winter flow in the late 20th century to lower flows in the most recent decade. The summer streamflow has a somewhat weaker correlation with precipitation and Pacific SST than the winter–spring streamflow. Its variability is more likely influenced by local North American Monsoon precipitation variability. PDSI and SPI reconstructions indicate much more severe and extended periods of droughts and pluvials in past centuries as well as periods of concurrent winter and summer drought. Keywords: Streamflow decadal variability, Drought, Pluvials, Treering, Teleconnections, North American Monsoon |
first_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:24:36Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-0b32ea5dff9d44e2ab73666759668876 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2214-5818 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:24:36Z |
publishDate | 2015-03-01 |
publisher | Elsevier |
record_format | Article |
series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
spelling | doaj.art-0b32ea5dff9d44e2ab736667596688762022-12-22T03:17:53ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182015-03-013494508Causes of interannual to decadal variability of Gila River streamflow over the past centuryM.A. Pascolini-Campbell0Richard Seager1David S. Gutzler2Benjamin I. Cook3Daniel Griffin4Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA; Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 347346009.Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY, USAUniversity of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USANASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, USAWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, USA; University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USAStudy region: The Gila River, New Mexico, is characterized by two peaks in streamflow: one in the winter–spring (December–May), and summer (August–September). The region is influenced both by Pacific SST variability as well as the North American Monsoon. Study focus: The mechanisms responsible for the variability of the winter–spring and summer streamflow peaks are investigated by correlation of streamflow with precipitation and sea surface temperature for 1928–2012. Decadal variability in the flow record is examined for a longer term perspective on Gila River streamflow using tree ring-based reconstructions of the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). New hydrological insights for the region: Results indicate a strong influence of winter–spring precipitation and Pacific SST anomalies on the winter–spring streamflow, with El Niño conditions in the Pacific causing increased precipitation and streamflow. Decadal Pacific variability helps explain the transition from high winter flow in the late 20th century to lower flows in the most recent decade. The summer streamflow has a somewhat weaker correlation with precipitation and Pacific SST than the winter–spring streamflow. Its variability is more likely influenced by local North American Monsoon precipitation variability. PDSI and SPI reconstructions indicate much more severe and extended periods of droughts and pluvials in past centuries as well as periods of concurrent winter and summer drought. Keywords: Streamflow decadal variability, Drought, Pluvials, Treering, Teleconnections, North American Monsoonhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581815000178 |
spellingShingle | M.A. Pascolini-Campbell Richard Seager David S. Gutzler Benjamin I. Cook Daniel Griffin Causes of interannual to decadal variability of Gila River streamflow over the past century Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
title | Causes of interannual to decadal variability of Gila River streamflow over the past century |
title_full | Causes of interannual to decadal variability of Gila River streamflow over the past century |
title_fullStr | Causes of interannual to decadal variability of Gila River streamflow over the past century |
title_full_unstemmed | Causes of interannual to decadal variability of Gila River streamflow over the past century |
title_short | Causes of interannual to decadal variability of Gila River streamflow over the past century |
title_sort | causes of interannual to decadal variability of gila river streamflow over the past century |
url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581815000178 |
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