Abstract
Trends in baseflows based on observed daily streamflow data are evaluated in this study at several sites in the least anthropogenically affected watersheds in the USA. Trends were determined for annual maximum, annual mean, and annual median baseflow. Baseflow values derived at 574 stations in the USA for the 44 years from 1970 through 2013 are analyzed using two nonparametric trend tests (Spearman’s rho (SR) test and Mann-Kendall (MK)). Results from the trend tests are compiled for 18 major regions to understand the spatial variability of changes in baseflows across the USA. Results from SR tests indicate that almost half of the stations show statistically significant trends in annual maximum baseflows. Trends in annual median baseflows show that 32.06% of the gauging stations have downward trends, and a total of 56.45% of sites show significant trends for annual mean baseflows. The Souris-Red-Rainy, Missouri, and California watershed regions have a larger number of sites with higher upward trends compared with those from other regions in the USA. The results from the SR test indicate that 262 sites have statistically significant trends in annual maximum baseflow compared with the 254 sites with similar trends noted from the MK test. Based on limited data, it can be concluded that baseflow and precipitation values accumulated for the same month are correlated in some regions. In general, the number of sites with decreasing trends for annual maximum, mean, and median baseflows is larger than the number of sites with increasing trends. Decreasing trends in baseflows are cause for concern and have serious implications on future planning for low flow management strategies for several streams in the USA.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank the USGeological Survey (USGS) for providing, via their website, the daily streamflow data that were used in the analysis reported in this study.
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Hao Chen: conceptualization, methodology, software, formal analysis, writing of the original draft. Ramesh S.V. Teegavarapu: supervision, writing review and editing.
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Chen, H., Teegavarapu, R.S.V. Spatial and temporal variabilities in baseflow characteristics across the continental USA. Theor Appl Climatol 143, 1615–1629 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-020-03481-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-020-03481-0