Articles | Volume 27, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-673-2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-673-2023
Research article
 | 
02 Feb 2023
Research article |  | 02 Feb 2023

Spatial variability in Alpine reservoir regulation: deriving reservoir operations from streamflow using generalized additive models

Manuela Irene Brunner and Philippe Naveau

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Cited articles

Adam, J. C., Haddeland, I., Su, F., and Lettenmaier, D. P.: Simulation of reservoir influences on annual and seasonal streamflow changes for the Lena, Yenisei, and Ob' rivers, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 112, 1–22, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JD008525, 2007. a
Bard, A., Renard, B., Lang, M., Giuntoli, I., Korck, J., Koboltschnig, G., Janža, M., D'Amico, M., and Volken, D.: Trends in the hydrologic regime of Alpine rivers, J. Hydrol., 529, 1823–1837, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.07.052, 2015. a
Biemans, H., Haddeland, I., Kabat, P., Ludwig, F., Hutjes, R. W. A., Heinke, J., Von Bloh, W., and Gerten, D.: Impact of reservoirs on river discharge and irrigation water supply during the 20th century, Water Resour. Res., 47, 1–15, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009WR008929, 2011. a
Brunner, M.: Hydro-climatic data for 74 Alpine catchments for a period before and after reservoir construction, HydroShare [data set], https://www.hydroshare.org/resource/9007e4a2c68d4df39350af5d1b8b2167/, last access: 31 January 2023. a
Brunner, M. I.: Reservoir regulation affects droughts and floods at local and regional scales, Environ. Res. Lett., 16, 124016, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac36f6, 2021. a
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Short summary
Reservoir regulation affects various streamflow characteristics. Still, information on when water is stored in and released from reservoirs is hardly available. We develop a statistical model to reconstruct reservoir operation signals from observed streamflow time series. By applying this approach to 74 catchments in the Alps, we find that reservoir management varies by catchment elevation and that seasonal redistribution from summer to winter is strongest in high-elevation catchments.
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