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  • Zero or not? Causes and consequences of zero-flow stream gage readings

    Author(s)
    Zimmer, Margaret A
    Kaiser, Kendra E
    Blaszczak, Joanna R
    Zipper, Samuel C
    Hammond, John C
    Fritz, Ken M
    Costigan, Katie H
    Hosen, Jacob
    Godsey, Sarah E
    Allen, George H
    Kampf, Stephanie
    Burrows, Ryan M
    Krabbenhoft, Corey A
    Dodds, Walter
    et al.
    Griffith University Author(s)
    Burrows, Ryan M.
    Year published
    2020
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Streamflow observations can be used to understand, predict, and contextualize hydrologic, ecological, and biogeochemical processes and conditions in streams. Stream gages are point measurements along rivers where streamflow is measured, and are often used to infer upstream watershed-scale processes. When stream gages read zero, this may indicate that the stream has dried at this location; however, zero-flow readings can also be caused by a wide range of other factors. Our ability to identify whether or not a zero-flow gage reading indicates a dry fluvial system has far reaching environmental implications. Incorrect identification ...
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    Streamflow observations can be used to understand, predict, and contextualize hydrologic, ecological, and biogeochemical processes and conditions in streams. Stream gages are point measurements along rivers where streamflow is measured, and are often used to infer upstream watershed-scale processes. When stream gages read zero, this may indicate that the stream has dried at this location; however, zero-flow readings can also be caused by a wide range of other factors. Our ability to identify whether or not a zero-flow gage reading indicates a dry fluvial system has far reaching environmental implications. Incorrect identification and interpretation by the data user can lead to inaccurate hydrologic, ecological, and/or biogeochemical predictions from models and analyses. Here, we describe several causes of zero-flow gage readings: frozen surface water, flow reversals, instrument error, and natural or human-driven upstream source losses or bypass flow. For these examples, we discuss the implications of zero-flow interpretations. We also highlight additional methods for determining flow presence, including direct observations, statistical methods, and hydrologic models, which can be applied to interpret causes of zero-flow gage readings and implications for reach- and watershed-scale dynamics. Such efforts are necessary to improve our ability to understand and predict surface flow activation, cessation, and connectivity across river networks. Developing this integrated understanding of the wide range of possible meanings of zero-flows will only attain greater importance in a more variable and changing hydrologic climate. This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Methods Science of Water > Hydrological Processes Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness.
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    Journal Title
    WIREs Water
    Volume
    7
    Issue
    3
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1436
    Subject
    Environmental sciences
    Science & Technology
    Life Sciences & Biomedicine
    Physical Sciences
    Water Resources
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/397764
    Collection
    • Journal articles

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