Experimental analyses of river networks(1) have shown clear examples of behavior analogous to critical phenomena characterized by the absence of a single well-defined length scale reflected in a power-law behavior of various quantities. A fundamental question that arises from these observations is whether, in analogy with conventional critical phenomena, one may fruitfully classify this behavio...

[1] The augmented Noah land surface model described in the first part of the two‐part series was evaluated here over global river basins. Across various climate zones, global‐scale tests can reveal a model’s weaknesses and strengths that a local‐scale testing cannot. In addition, global‐scale tests are more challenging than local‐ and catchment‐scale tests. Given constant model parameters (e. g...

Two continuous gas assessment units (AUs) are present in the Late Triassic (Carnian) onshore rift basins of North Carolina and south-central Virginia. The source rocks are freshwater lacustrine shales that were deposited near the paleo-equator after the onset of Pangea rifting. These two rift basins, the Deep River basin wholly contained within North Carolina’s border, and the Dan River-Danvill...

In a water-stressed region, such as the southwestern United States, it is essential to improve current seasonal hydroclimatic predictions. Typically, seasonal hydroclimatic predictions have been conditioned by standard climate indices, for example, Niño-3 and Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO). In this work, the statistically unique relationships between sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and parti...

River basins are key components of water supply grids. River basin operators must handle a complex set of objectives including runoff storage, flood control, supply for consumptive use, hydroelectric power generation, silting management, and maintenance of river basin ecology. At present, operators rely on a combination of simulation and optimization tools to help them make operational decision...

In the Pacific Northwest, warming climate has resulted in a lengthened growing season, declining snowpack, and earlier timing of spring runoff. This study characterizes the impact of climate change in two basins in Idaho, the Spokane River and the Boise River Basins. We simulated the basin scale hydrology by coupling the downscaled precipitation and temperature outputs from a suite of global cl...

Predictions and quality management issues for environmental protection in river basins rely on water-quality models. These models can be used to simulate conditions in or near the range of the calibrated or verified conditions. In this respect, estimation of parameters, which is still practiced by heuristic approaches (i.e. manually), seems to be the point where the attention needs to be focuse...

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires Member States to ensure that all waters meet ‘good status’ and to publish river basin management plans that include programs of cost-effective measures. VITO supported the policy makers in Flanders (Belgium) with the preparation of the first generation of river basin management plans and more specifically with the assessment of the costs and effects ...

The northwest arid region (NAR) of China, located in a cold region, has been experiencing extreme weather and runoff events for years. Summer (from June to August) is the main season for forming runoff in this region. Summer runoff is contributed by glacial runoff in addition to precipitation in glacierized basins. The upper basins of Hei River, Shule River, Kaidu River, and Manas River with di...