Articles | Volume 28, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-545-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-545-2024
Research article
 | 
08 Feb 2024
Research article |  | 08 Feb 2024

Leveraging gauge networks and strategic discharge measurements to aid the development of continuous streamflow records

Michael J. Vlah, Matthew R. V. Ross, Spencer Rhea, and Emily S. Bernhardt

Data sets

Composite discharge series for all NEON river/stream sites, plus figures and all input/output data associated with Vlah, Ross, Rhea, Bernhardt. 2023. "Virtual gauges: the surprising potential to reconstruct continuous streamflow from strategic measurements" Michael J. Vlah et al. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6488065.v1

Model code and software

vlahm/neon_q_sim: HESS submission Michael J. Vlah https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10067683

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Short summary
Virtual stream gauging enables continuous streamflow estimation where a gauge might be difficult or impractical to install. We reconstructed flow at 27 gauges of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), informing ~199 site-months of missing data in the official record and improving that accuracy of official estimates at 11 sites. This study shows that machine learning, but also routine regression methods, can be used to supplement existing gauge networks and reduce monitoring costs.