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| Maine Science Center |
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5021
By Robert W. Dudley and Glenn A. Hodgkins
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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission (ASC), began a study in 2003 to examine the timing, magnitude, and duration of summer (June through October) and fall/early winter (September through January) seasonal streamflows of unregulated coastal river basins in Maine and to correlate them to meteorological variables and winter/spring (January through May) seasonal streamflows. This study overlapped the summer seasonal window with the fall/early winter seasonal window to completely bracket the low-streamflow period during July, August, and September between periods of high streamflows in June and October. The ASC is concerned with the impacts of potentially changing meteorological and hydrologic conditions on Atlantic salmon survival. Because winter/spring high streamflows appear to have trended toward earlier dates over the 20th century in coastal Maine, it was hypothesized that the spring/summer recession to low streamflows could have a similar trend toward earlier, and possibly lower, longer lasting, late summer/early fall low streamflows during the 20th century.
There were few statistically significant trends in the timing, magnitude, or duration of summer low streamflows for coastal river basins in Maine during the 20th century. The hypothesis that earlier winter/spring high streamflows may result in earlier or lower low streamflows is not supported by the data. No statistically significant trends in the magnitude of total runoff volume during the low-streamflow months of August and September were observed. The magnitude and timing of summer low streamflows correlated with the timing of fall/winter high streamflows and the amount of summer precipitation. The magnitude and timing of summer low streamflows did not correlate with the timing of spring snowmelt runoff. There were few correlations between the magnitude and timing of summer low streamflows and monthly mean surface air temperatures.
There were few statistically significant trends in the timing or duration of fall/winter high streamflows for coastal river basins in Maine during the 20th century. The timing of the bulk of fall/winter high streamflows correlated with seasonal precipitation. Earlier fall/winter center-of-volume dates correlated with higher September and October precipitation. In general, little evidence was observed of trends in the magnitude of seasonal runoff volume during fall/winter. The magnitude of fall/winter high streamflows positively correlated with November and December precipitation amounts. There were few correlations between the magnitude and timing of fall/winter high streamflows and monthly mean surface air temperatures.
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Description of the Study Area
Streamflow, Precipitation, and Surface Air Temperature Data
Streamflow Data
Precipitation and Surface Air Temperature Data
Analysis of Streamflow, Precipitation, and Surface Air Temperature Data
Streamflow
Precipitation and Surface Air Temperature
Trends in Timing, Magnitude, and Duration of Summer and Fall/Winter Streamflows for Unregulated Coastal River Basins in Maine During the 20th Century
Trends in Summer Streamflows
Trends in Fall/Winter Streamflows
Correlations Among Seasonal Streamflows
Correlations of Seasonal Streamflow with Precipitation and Surface Air Temperature
Conclusions
Summary
Acknowledgements
References Cited
Copies of this report may be obtained from the authors or
U.S. Geological Survey
Information Center Box 25286, MS 517
Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225
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