Snow and climate trends and their impact on seasonal runoff and hydrological drought types in selected mountain catchments in Central Europe |
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| Authors: | Andrea Blahu?iaková Milada Matou?ková Michal Jenicek Ond?ej Ledvinka Zdeněk Kliment Jana Podolinská |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University , Prague, Czechia ablahusiak@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6613-0201;3. Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University , Prague, Czechia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8024-4368;4. Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University , Prague, Czechia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1103-0403;5. Hydrology Database and Water Budget Department, Czech Hydrometeorological Institute , Prague, Czechia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0203-7064;6. Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University , Prague, Czechia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8613-0241;7. Department of Hydrological Service, Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute , Banská Bystrica, Slovakia |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT This study investigates changes in seasonal runoff and low flows related to changes in snow and climate variables in mountainous catchments in Central Europe. The period 1966–2012 was used to assess trends in climate and streamflow characteristics using a modified Mann–Kendall test. Droughts were classified into nine classes according to key snow and climate drivers. The results showed an increase in air temperature, decrease in snowfall fraction and snow depth, and changes in precipitation. This resulted in increased winter runoff and decreased late spring runoff due to earlier snowmelt, especially at elevations from 1000 to 1500 m a.s.l. Most of the hydrological droughts were connected to either low air temperatures and precipitation during winter or high winter air temperatures which caused below-average snow storages. Our findings show that, besides precipitation and air temperature, snow plays an important role in summer streamflow and drought occurrence in selected mountainous catchments. |
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| Keywords: | snow variability snow cover trends climate variability low flows drought types |
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https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6613-0201;3. Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University , Prague, Czechia