Streamflow timing and magnitude during snow drought depend on snow drought type and regional hydroclimate

Hydrological Sciences Journal
By: , and 

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Abstract

Communities around the world rely on snowmelt to meet water demands, and periods of lower than normal snow accumulation, snow droughts, can decrease water supplies. Leveraging 172 minimally disturbed and seasonally snow-covered watersheds, we developed an approach to examine the effects of cool & dry, warm & dry, and warm & wet snow droughts on streamflow timing and magnitude by hydrologic region. Our results showed all types of snow droughts in all regions correlate with lower annual streamflow, lower maximum and minimum flows, and lower runoff ratios, with more numerous low flow days and earlier streamflow timing. However, departures from non-snow drought conditions differed substantially between drought types and regions. Consecutive snow droughts further reduced runoff ratios and increased low flow days, likely due to additional subsurface storage depletion. With warm snow drought occurrence expected to increase, we discuss impacts for water management systems whose design specifications may not reflect the changing hydroclimate.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Streamflow timing and magnitude during snow drought depend on snow drought type and regional hydroclimate
Series title Hydrological Sciences Journal
DOI 10.1080/02626667.2024.2390919
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher Taylor and Francis
Contributing office(s) Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center
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