Intermittency as an indicator of drought in streamflow and groundwater

Isilsu Yildirim*, Hafzullah Aksoy

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Under normal precipitation conditions, increasing water demand causes groundwater level to deplete and streamflow to decrease. This results in more frequent intermittency. The so-called intermittency cycle hypothesis is examined in this study. It is a vicious circle in hydrology making both surface and groundwater resources less efficient in supplying ever-increasing water demand. To test the hypothesis, a data-based analysis is applied to Gediz, Kucuk Menderes, and Ergene river basins in western Turkey. Results at basin- and station-scale show no change in precipitation while streamflow fluctuates with a tendency to decrease and groundwater steeply declines. Groundwater is used excessively to meet the drastically increased water demand. With the overuse of groundwater, water table descends, streamflow decreases and intermittency increases. Intermittency ratio of a river is found related to the decrease in streamflow and the drop in groundwater level. It can trigger drought in streamflow and groundwater. It is concluded that intermittency can be taken as a quantitative indicator of drought in streamflow and groundwater.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere14615
JournalHydrological Processes
Volume36
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Funding

Hydrometeorological data were provided by state‐owned organizations, the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI), and the General Directorate of Meteorology (MGM). Revision of this study was made when the leading author (I Yildirim) was performing a part of her Ph.D. thesis at the Delft University of Technology, Netherlands with the support of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) through the 2214a Doctoral Research Program. This support is greatly appreciated. I Yildirim thanks The Department of Water Management at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences for the hospitality and support provided during her stay at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. The study is a contribution to the activities of the Working Group within the framework of the decade of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS). Prediction under Change Panta Rhei Hydrometeorological data were provided by state-owned organizations, the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI), and the General Directorate of Meteorology (MGM). Revision of this study was made when the leading author (I Yildirim) was performing a part of her Ph.D. thesis at the Delft University of Technology, Netherlands with the support of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) through the 2214a Doctoral Research Program. This support is greatly appreciated. I Yildirim thanks The Department of Water Management at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences for the hospitality and support provided during her stay at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. The study is a contribution to the activities of the Working Group Prediction under Change within the framework of the Panta Rhei decade of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS).

FundersFunder number
Department of Water Management
General Directorate of Meteorology
MGM
State Hydraulic Works
International Association of Hydrological Sciences
Technische Universiteit Delft
Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu
Defence Science Institute

    Keywords

    • drought
    • groundwater
    • hydrological drought
    • intermittency
    • precipitation
    • streamflow

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