Articles | Volume 27, issue 18
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3375-2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3375-2023
Research article
 | 
22 Sep 2023
Research article |  | 22 Sep 2023

On the visual detection of non-natural records in streamflow time series: challenges and impacts

Laurent Strohmenger, Eric Sauquet, Claire Bernard, Jérémie Bonneau, Flora Branger, Amélie Bresson, Pierre Brigode, Rémy Buzier, Olivier Delaigue, Alexandre Devers, Guillaume Evin, Maïté Fournier, Shu-Chen Hsu, Sandra Lanini, Alban de Lavenne, Thibault Lemaitre-Basset, Claire Magand, Guilherme Mendoza Guimarães, Max Mentha, Simon Munier, Charles Perrin, Tristan Podechard, Léo Rouchy, Malak Sadki, Myriam Soutif-Bellenger, François Tilmant, Yves Tramblay, Anne-Lise Véron, Jean-Philippe Vidal, and Guillaume Thirel

Data sets

Result of a visual detection of non-natural records in streamflow time series for the Explore2 project Laurent Strohmenger and Guillaume Thirel https://doi.org/10.57745/SO2WOV

Hub'Eau-Les données sur l'eau à portée de clic A. Mauclerc and T. Vilmus https://hubeau.eaufrance.fr/page/api-hydrometrie

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Short summary
We present the results of a large visual inspection campaign of 674 streamflow time series in France. The objective was to detect non-natural records resulting from instrument failure or anthropogenic influences, such as hydroelectric power generation or reservoir management. We conclude that the identification of flaws in flow time series is highly dependent on the objectives and skills of individual evaluators, and we raise the need for better practices for data cleaning.