Spatiotemporal variability of runoff events in response to rainfall, snowmelt, and rain-on-snow in the Lake Erie Basin
Study Region: The Lake Erie Basin spanning Canada and the United States. Study Focus: Countless studies have performed event-based hyetograph-hydrograph analyses. However, most studies focused on experimental forested catchments and rainfall-runoff analyses, thereby neglecting larger, mid-latitude,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824001228 |
| _version_ | 1827228916301955072 |
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| author | Geneviève Ali Krystal Siebert Steven Mugisha Mizero |
| author_facet | Geneviève Ali Krystal Siebert Steven Mugisha Mizero |
| author_sort | Geneviève Ali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study Region: The Lake Erie Basin spanning Canada and the United States. Study Focus: Countless studies have performed event-based hyetograph-hydrograph analyses. However, most studies focused on experimental forested catchments and rainfall-runoff analyses, thereby neglecting larger, mid-latitude, heterogenous watersheds where snowmelt and rain-on-snow events can generate significant runoff. The goal of the present study was, therefore, to examine runoff generation in contrasted watersheds, by: (1) quantifying the spatiotemporal variability of event-specific runoff response across the Lake Erie Basin; 2) assessing the difference in runoff response characteristics based on precipitation type; and 3) identifying the influence of event precipitation and watershed characteristics on runoff response. Daily gridded climate and gauged streamflow data spanning 2000–2019 were used for 99 watersheds, resulting in the analysis of 28,123 rainfall, snowmelt, rain-on-snow and mixed events and their associated runoff responses. New Hydrological Insights for the Region: Rainfall events were rarely identified as the triggers of the largest runoff responses. Conversely, snowmelt and rain-on-snow events led to high-magnitude and flashy runoff responses for 70 out of 99 watersheds. Watershed characteristics pertaining to topography, soil, and land use were good predictors of the temporal variability of runoff response metrics. Given the link between runoff-driven nutrient mobilization and recurrent algal blooms in Lake Erie, this study offers a comprehensive assessment of the variability of runoff responses and triggering precipitation events across the large transboundary basin. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:38:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7a2b16e177a54b75b3b40c849fd05fc0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-21T18:21:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a2b16e177a54b75b3b40c849fd05fc02024-06-09T05:27:54ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182024-06-0153101774Spatiotemporal variability of runoff events in response to rainfall, snowmelt, and rain-on-snow in the Lake Erie BasinGeneviève Ali0Krystal Siebert1Steven Mugisha Mizero2Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 0E8, Canada; Department of Geography, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B9, Canada; School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; Corresponding author at: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 0E8, Canada.School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaStudy Region: The Lake Erie Basin spanning Canada and the United States. Study Focus: Countless studies have performed event-based hyetograph-hydrograph analyses. However, most studies focused on experimental forested catchments and rainfall-runoff analyses, thereby neglecting larger, mid-latitude, heterogenous watersheds where snowmelt and rain-on-snow events can generate significant runoff. The goal of the present study was, therefore, to examine runoff generation in contrasted watersheds, by: (1) quantifying the spatiotemporal variability of event-specific runoff response across the Lake Erie Basin; 2) assessing the difference in runoff response characteristics based on precipitation type; and 3) identifying the influence of event precipitation and watershed characteristics on runoff response. Daily gridded climate and gauged streamflow data spanning 2000–2019 were used for 99 watersheds, resulting in the analysis of 28,123 rainfall, snowmelt, rain-on-snow and mixed events and their associated runoff responses. New Hydrological Insights for the Region: Rainfall events were rarely identified as the triggers of the largest runoff responses. Conversely, snowmelt and rain-on-snow events led to high-magnitude and flashy runoff responses for 70 out of 99 watersheds. Watershed characteristics pertaining to topography, soil, and land use were good predictors of the temporal variability of runoff response metrics. Given the link between runoff-driven nutrient mobilization and recurrent algal blooms in Lake Erie, this study offers a comprehensive assessment of the variability of runoff responses and triggering precipitation events across the large transboundary basin.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824001228Lake Erie BasinEvent runoff responseRainfallSnowmeltRain-on-snowWatershed physiographic characteristics |
| spellingShingle | Geneviève Ali Krystal Siebert Steven Mugisha Mizero Spatiotemporal variability of runoff events in response to rainfall, snowmelt, and rain-on-snow in the Lake Erie Basin Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Lake Erie Basin Event runoff response Rainfall Snowmelt Rain-on-snow Watershed physiographic characteristics |
| title | Spatiotemporal variability of runoff events in response to rainfall, snowmelt, and rain-on-snow in the Lake Erie Basin |
| title_full | Spatiotemporal variability of runoff events in response to rainfall, snowmelt, and rain-on-snow in the Lake Erie Basin |
| title_fullStr | Spatiotemporal variability of runoff events in response to rainfall, snowmelt, and rain-on-snow in the Lake Erie Basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatiotemporal variability of runoff events in response to rainfall, snowmelt, and rain-on-snow in the Lake Erie Basin |
| title_short | Spatiotemporal variability of runoff events in response to rainfall, snowmelt, and rain-on-snow in the Lake Erie Basin |
| title_sort | spatiotemporal variability of runoff events in response to rainfall snowmelt and rain on snow in the lake erie basin |
| topic | Lake Erie Basin Event runoff response Rainfall Snowmelt Rain-on-snow Watershed physiographic characteristics |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824001228 |
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