An Assessment of the Recent Evolution of the Streamflow in a Near-Natural System: A Case Study in the Headwaters of the Mero Basin (Galicia, Spain)

Observational trend analysis is fundamental for documenting changes in river flows and placing extreme events in their longer-term historical context. Observations from near-natural catchments, i.e., with little or no alteration by humans, are of great importance in detecting and attributing streamf...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrology 2020-12, Vol.7 (4), p.97
Main Authors: Rodríguez-Blanco, M. L., Taboada-Castro, M. M., Taboada-Castro, M. T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air temperature
Annual
Autumn
Case studies
Catchment area
Catchments
Creeks & streams
Dams
Discharge
Evapotranspiration
Headwaters
High flow
Hydrology
Low flow
near-natural catchment
NW Spain
Rain
Rainfall
River flow
Rivers
Stream discharge
Stream flow
Trend analysis
Trends
Water shortages
Weather
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Summary:Observational trend analysis is fundamental for documenting changes in river flows and placing extreme events in their longer-term historical context. Observations from near-natural catchments, i.e., with little or no alteration by humans, are of great importance in detecting and attributing streamflow trends. The purpose of this study is to analyze the annual and seasonal trends of stream discharge (mean, low and high flows) in a headwater catchment in NW Spain, i.e., in the wettest corner of the Iberian Peninsula. The results showed no significant decrease in the mean annual stream discharge. However, significantly lower summer and autumn mean stream discharge and an increase in low flow period were detected, in addition to lesser autumn high flow. The rainfall pattern followed an upward trend, but was not significant. This different pattern shown by rainfall and discharge indicates that is not sufficient to explain the observed trend in stream discharge. Air temperature, most notably by enhancing evapotranspiration, may explain the altered patterns of stream discharge.
ISSN:2306-5338
2306-5338
DOI:10.3390/hydrology7040097