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Spatial Variability of Trends in the Rainfall-Runoff Relationship: A Mesoscale Study in the Mosel Basin

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Abstract

The spatial variability of observed trends in rainfall structure over the last 5 decades and its effects on the spatial variability of maximum daily water levels in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (Europe) were investigated in 9 sub-basins of the Mosel river. Over the past 25 years, an increase in westerly atmospheric circulation types during winter months has caused an increase in winter rainfall totals, duration and intensity. More specifically, the spatial variability of trends having affected winter rainfall totals, duration and intensity have led to spatially varying positive trends in maximum daily water levels. Observed trends in rainfall characteristics and maximum daily water levels during winter show closely linked spatial patterns that are strongly related to the topography of the study area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CREBS - Cellule de Recherche en Environnement et Biotechnologies, Centre de Recherche Public, Gabriel Lippmann, 162a, Ave. de la Faïencerie, L-1511, Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg

    Laurent Pfister, Gilles Drogue, Abdelkhalak El Idrissi, Jean-François Iffly & Lucien Hoffmann

  2. ANETAME Ingénierie, 21, chemin du Plateau, F-67500, Haguenau, France

    Christelle Poirier

Authors
  1. Laurent Pfister
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  2. Gilles Drogue
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  3. Abdelkhalak El Idrissi
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  4. Jean-François Iffly
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  5. Christelle Poirier
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  6. Lucien Hoffmann
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Pfister, L., Drogue, G., El Idrissi, A. et al. Spatial Variability of Trends in the Rainfall-Runoff Relationship: A Mesoscale Study in the Mosel Basin. Climatic Change 66, 67–87 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CLIM.0000043160.26398.4c

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CLIM.0000043160.26398.4c

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