Development of Exceedance Probability Streamflow Forecast

Authors

Thomas C. Piechota, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Francis H.S. Chiew, University of MelbourneFollow
John A. Dracup, University of California - BerkeleyFollow
Thomas A. McMahon, University of MelbourneFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2001

Publication Title

Journal of Hydrologic Engineering

Volume

6

Issue

1

First page number:

20

Last page number:

28

Abstract

This paper presents a methodology for forecasting seasonal streamflow and is an extension of a previously developed categorical streamflow forecast model that used persistence (i.e., the previous season's streamflow) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indicators. This newly developed methodology takes persistence, an ENSO indicator, and several Pacific/Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) series as the main predictor variables. Using linear discriminant analysis, the forecast is expressed as probability of exceedance of continuous stream flow amounts. An exceedance probability forecast is continuous and is useful for the design and operation of water resource systems, which require a high degree of system reliability. Application of the forecast model to five Australian catchments shows that persistence is the most important predictor of stream flow for the next season. The other predictors, SSTs and the Southern Oscillation Index, may be more useful for forecasts with longer lead times when the degree of persistence is less noticeable. Finally, it is noteworthy that this generic approach to making an exceedance probability forecast can be used on any predictors and predictands.

Keywords

Streamflow; Streamflow—Forecasting; Water temperature

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Civil Engineering | Environmental Engineering | Environmental Sciences | Water Resource Management

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

Repository Citation

Piechota, T. C., Chiew, F. H., Dracup, J. A., McMahon, T. A. (2001). Development of Exceedance Probability Streamflow Forecast. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 6(1), 20-28.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0699(2001)6:1(20)