Comparative statistical hydroclimatology of glacial and nival rivers in southwest Yukon and northwest British Columbia ...

• Main Author: Fleming, Sean William
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2009
• Subjects: Subarctic; Yukon
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0052752; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0052752

A diverse suite of nonparametric statistical and time series analysis techniques was applied to historical streamflow data from five glacier-fed and four snowmelt-fed rivers in the southwest Canadian subarctic, in order to determine whether, and if so, how the two fluvial regimes respond differently to variability in climatic forcing. Four types of streamflow variability dynamics, corresponding to four timescales of climatic forcing, were considered. Methodological development was also performed as appropriate. Results were as follows. At the seasonal level, the annual hydrographs of glacial and nival rivers differed in virtually every aspect of their flow magnitude and timing. Glacial rivers exhibited higher water resource productivity throughout the year and an extended freshet, and glacial cover was of similar importance to basin scale in determining annual hydrologic cycle amplitude, probably reflecting negative mass balance trends. High-frequency interannual streamflow fluctuations were then corifirmed ...