Influence of atmospheric rivers on extreme rainfall and high streamflow events in northwestern Europe: Rur (Roer) River basin
Study region: Limburg, the Netherlands; west Germany; Rur / Roer River basin. Study focus: Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are long (≥ 2000 kilometers) tropospheric bands of water vapor responsible for 90% of poleward atmospheric water transport linked to extreme rainfall events (EREs). The meteorological...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581823003312 |
| _version_ | 1827370898332581888 |
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| author | Noah N. van der Breggen Paul F. Hudson |
| author_facet | Noah N. van der Breggen Paul F. Hudson |
| author_sort | Noah N. van der Breggen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study region: Limburg, the Netherlands; west Germany; Rur / Roer River basin. Study focus: Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are long (≥ 2000 kilometers) tropospheric bands of water vapor responsible for 90% of poleward atmospheric water transport linked to extreme rainfall events (EREs). The meteorological impacts of ARs have been well-studied in high-relief regions with the implication being that rainfall generated by such events is exacerbated by the orographic influence of mountainous topography. While prior research has examined linkages between ARs and precipitation with ad-hoc flood events, few studies have systematically examined the influence of ARs to streamflow variability in regions low-to-moderate relief. We assess the effects of ARs on high precipitation and high streamflow events in northwestern Europe, and specifically for the Rur (Roer) River basin, a region characterized by low to moderate relief that has received little hydrologic research attention related to atmospheric rivers. New hydrological insights for the region: The study is novel in that it reveals that daily precipitation and streamflow are significantly increased, by 2.84 mm and 1.91 m3/s, respectively, during AR conditions. Moreover, 47.7% of EREs and 23.2% of high streamflow events were found to be associated with ARs. An AR occurrence also increases the likelihood of a rain day occurring by 36.6%. Lastly, AR presence was significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with precipitation (ρ = 0.33). Study results illustrate that ARs are important to understanding EREs and high streamflow events, which is relevant considering a predicted increase in AR occurrence due to climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:29:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3a8f398af4324e77b9a14ed0e7b7c1bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:29:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-3a8f398af4324e77b9a14ed0e7b7c1bb2024-01-27T06:55:05ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182024-02-0151101644Influence of atmospheric rivers on extreme rainfall and high streamflow events in northwestern Europe: Rur (Roer) River basinNoah N. van der Breggen0Paul F. Hudson1Institute of Media Studies, Leiden University, the Netherlands; Program in Earth, Energy and Sustainability, LUC The Hague, Leiden University, the NetherlandsProgram in Earth, Energy and Sustainability, LUC The Hague, Leiden University, the Netherlands; Correspondence to: Anna van Buerenplein 301, 2595 DG The Hague, the Netherlands.Study region: Limburg, the Netherlands; west Germany; Rur / Roer River basin. Study focus: Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are long (≥ 2000 kilometers) tropospheric bands of water vapor responsible for 90% of poleward atmospheric water transport linked to extreme rainfall events (EREs). The meteorological impacts of ARs have been well-studied in high-relief regions with the implication being that rainfall generated by such events is exacerbated by the orographic influence of mountainous topography. While prior research has examined linkages between ARs and precipitation with ad-hoc flood events, few studies have systematically examined the influence of ARs to streamflow variability in regions low-to-moderate relief. We assess the effects of ARs on high precipitation and high streamflow events in northwestern Europe, and specifically for the Rur (Roer) River basin, a region characterized by low to moderate relief that has received little hydrologic research attention related to atmospheric rivers. New hydrological insights for the region: The study is novel in that it reveals that daily precipitation and streamflow are significantly increased, by 2.84 mm and 1.91 m3/s, respectively, during AR conditions. Moreover, 47.7% of EREs and 23.2% of high streamflow events were found to be associated with ARs. An AR occurrence also increases the likelihood of a rain day occurring by 36.6%. Lastly, AR presence was significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with precipitation (ρ = 0.33). Study results illustrate that ARs are important to understanding EREs and high streamflow events, which is relevant considering a predicted increase in AR occurrence due to climate change.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581823003312Atmospheric riversStreamflow variabilityRur RiverRoer RiverExtreme rainfall eventsPrecipitation variability |
| spellingShingle | Noah N. van der Breggen Paul F. Hudson Influence of atmospheric rivers on extreme rainfall and high streamflow events in northwestern Europe: Rur (Roer) River basin Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Atmospheric rivers Streamflow variability Rur River Roer River Extreme rainfall events Precipitation variability |
| title | Influence of atmospheric rivers on extreme rainfall and high streamflow events in northwestern Europe: Rur (Roer) River basin |
| title_full | Influence of atmospheric rivers on extreme rainfall and high streamflow events in northwestern Europe: Rur (Roer) River basin |
| title_fullStr | Influence of atmospheric rivers on extreme rainfall and high streamflow events in northwestern Europe: Rur (Roer) River basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of atmospheric rivers on extreme rainfall and high streamflow events in northwestern Europe: Rur (Roer) River basin |
| title_short | Influence of atmospheric rivers on extreme rainfall and high streamflow events in northwestern Europe: Rur (Roer) River basin |
| title_sort | influence of atmospheric rivers on extreme rainfall and high streamflow events in northwestern europe rur roer river basin |
| topic | Atmospheric rivers Streamflow variability Rur River Roer River Extreme rainfall events Precipitation variability |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581823003312 |
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