Abstract

A characterization of the low-flow regimes of 175 eastern Canadian rivers based on multivariate analysis of hydrological indices (HIs) is presented. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify eight highly informative and low-correlated HIs amongst 67 low-flow HIs reported in the literature, and to test their ability to describe regional characteristics and differences among low-flow regimes at the 175 stations. It was found that eight HIs can provide a regional description of the main low-flow characteristics almost equivalent to using all HIs related to low flows. The PCA also identified regional similarities and differences among the geographical and hydrological regions within the Province of Quebec, as well as between the Atlantic provinces of Canada. Multivariate analysis proved to be an efficient tool that can complement expert knowledge in the selection of criteria for instream flow assessments in eastern Canada, by quantitatively indicating indices carrying high information, and by ensuring low redundancy in the selected subset of variables (HIs). Citation Daigle, A.,St-Hilaire, A., Beveridge, D., Caissie, D. & Benyahya, L. (2011) Multivariate analysis of the low-flow regimes in eastern Canadian rivers. Hydrol. Sci. J. 56(1), 51–67.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.