Regression equations to estimate seasonal flow duration, n -day high-flow frequency, and n -day low-flow frequency at sites in North Dakota using data through water year 2009

Tara Williams-Sether; Tara A. Gross

doi:10.3133/sir20155184

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Regression equations to estimate seasonal flow duration, n -day high-flow frequency, and n -day low-flow frequency at sites in North Dakota using data through water year 2009

Tara Williams-Sether·Tara A. Gross

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Abstract

Seasonal mean daily flow data from 119 U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in North Dakota; the surrounding states of Montana, Minnesota, and South Dakota; and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan with 10 or more years of unregulated flow record were used to develop regression equations for flow duration, n -day high flow and n -day low flow using ordinary least-squares and Tobit regression techniques. Regression equations were developed for seasonal flow durations at the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percent exceedances; the 1-, 7-, and 30-day seasonal mean high flows for the 10-, 25-, and 50-year recurrence intervals; and the 1-, 7-, and 30-day seasonal mean low flows for the 2-, 5-, and 10-year recurrence intervals. Basin and climatic characteristics determined to be significant explanatory variables in one or more regression equations included drainage area, percentage of basin drainage area that drains to isolated lakes and ponds, ruggedness number, stream length, basin compactness ratio, minimum basin elevation, precipitation, slope ratio, stream slope, and soil permeability. The adjusted coefficient of determination for the n -day high-flow regression equations ranged from 55.87 to 94.53 percent. The Chi 2 values for the duration regression equations ranged from 13.49 to 117.94, whereas the Chi 2 values for the n -day low-flow regression equations ranged from 4.20 to 49.68.

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Tara Williams-Sether, Tara A. Gross. 2016-02-09. Regression equations to estimate seasonal flow duration, n -day high-flow frequency, and n -day low-flow frequency at sites in North Dakota using data through water year 2009. https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20155184

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