This study investigated the correlation between western US streamflow and two of the most important oceanic–atmospheric indices having significant effects in this region, namely, El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Data from 61 streamflow stations across six different hydrologic regions of the western USA were analyzed, using a study period of 60 years from 1951 to 2010. Continuous wavelet transformation along with cross wavelet transformation and wavelet coherence were used to analyze the interaction between streamflow and climate indices. The results showed that streamflows have changed coincidentally with both ENSO and PDO over the study period at different time-scale bands and at various time intervals. Both ENSO and PDO showed correlation with streamflow change behavior from 1980 to 2005. ENSO showed a strong correlation with streamflow across the entire study period in the 10–12 year band. PDO showed a strong correlation in bands of 8–10 years and bands beyond 16 years. The phase relationship showed that both ENSO and PDO preceded streamflow change behavior; in some instances, the variables were found to be moving in opposite directions even though they changed simultaneously. The results can be helpful in understanding the relationship between the climate indices and streamflow.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
August 17 2016
Wavelet analyses of western US streamflow with ENSO and PDO Available to Purchase
Kazi Ali Tamaddun;
Kazi Ali Tamaddun
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4015, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Ajay Kalra;
Ajay Kalra
2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Southern Illinois University, 1230 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901-6603, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Sajjad Ahmad
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4015, USA
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Journal of Water and Climate Change (2017) 8 (1): 26–39.
Article history
Received:
December 15 2015
Accepted:
July 15 2016
Citation
Kazi Ali Tamaddun, Ajay Kalra, Sajjad Ahmad; Wavelet analyses of western US streamflow with ENSO and PDO. Journal of Water and Climate Change 1 March 2017; 8 (1): 26–39. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2016.162
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
eBook
Pay-Per-View Access
$38.00