Reply to comment of Legates et al.

• Published in: Advances in Water Resources
• Main Authors: Labat, David, Goddéris, Yves, Probst, Jean-Luc, Guyot, Jean-Loup
• Other Authors: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - IRD (FRANCE), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier - UPS (FRANCE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CNRS (FRANCE)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2005
• Subjects: Sciences de la Terre; Climate; Runoff; Temperature; Iceland
• Online Access: http://oatao.univ-toulouse.fr/3406/; http://oatao.univ-toulouse.fr/3406/1/Labat_3406.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2005.04.007

In the previous comment, Legates et al. express concern about the statistical reliability of the positive runoff–temperature relationship presented by Labat et al. We are grateful for this opportunity to respond to these concerns. As Legates et al. correctly points out, the effect of temperature on runoff is a complex relationship, which involves precipitation, evaporation, anthropomorphic affects, among others. As such, the effect of increased temperature on runoff is strongly dependent on the identity of the watershed of interest. For example, a watershed located in a glaciated region, such as Iceland, exhibits a strong positive correlation between runoff and temperature, whereas a watershed located in a arid climate, such as the Sahara desert, exhibits a negative correlation; often there is no run off at all during the summer months in such watersheds.