Arctic Discharge Observations

1. Arctic Discharge Observations The Arctic RIMS and the R-Arctic Net datasets • Åsa Rennermalm • Princeton University

2. Arctic Discharge Observations • Arctic-RIMS : Arctic – Regional, Integrated Hydrological Monitoring System • R-Arctic Net : Regional, Hydrometeorological Data Network for the pan-Arctic Region • Made available by the Water Systems Analysis Group at University of New Hampshire

3. Arctic Discharge Observations • What characterize the discharge data provided by Arctic-RIMS and R-Arctic Net? • Spatial distribution of runoff measuring stations • Temporal distribution of runoff measuring stations

4. Arctic Discharge Observations • What are the differences between Arctic-RIMS and R-Arctic Net? 57 runoff measuring stations Runoff data continuously updated? More data variables than just runoff Data exploration tool URL: rims.unh.edu 5091 runoff measuring stations Historical dataset? (1871-2001) URL: www.r-arcticnet.sr.unh.edu

5. Arctic Discharge Observations • Arctic RIMS data exploration tool Data types: Permafrost, Precipitation, Temperature, Runoff (modeled and measured) and more.. Visualization: Gridded data Time series of point data Animations of gridded data over time Temporal resolution: Daily, monthly, annual, climatology Spatial coverage: Pan Arctic Major basins Watersheds URL: rims.unh.edu

6. Arctic Discharge Observations • Data set characteristics • Spatial distribution (all geo-referenced stations)

7. Arctic Discharge Observations • Data set characteristics • Time series length

8. Arctic Discharge Observations • Long time series - important for studying change • Long runoff time series • Longer than 24 years • No more than 25% missing data in any season • Last measurement between 1985-2001

9. Arctic Discharge Observations • Long time series - temporal distribution

10. Arctic Discharge Observations • Long time series – 1960-1985 1198 stations Time period: 1960 1980 2000

11. Arctic Discharge Observations • Long time series – 1965-1990 902 stations Time period: 1960 1980 2000

12. Arctic Discharge Observations • Long time series – 1970-1995 610 stations Time period: 1960 1980 2000

13. Arctic Discharge Observations • Long time series – 1975-2000 280 stations Time period: 1960 1980 2000

14. Arctic Discharge Observations Conclusions • Arctic RIMS extends until present day • R-Arctic Net greater spatial and temporal distribution Questions • Are there more recent data from the R-Arctic Net stations? • What is the cause of the late 20th century drop in number of stations? • Station closure? • Unreported data?

15. Arctic Discharge Observations • Geo-referencing and calculation of unit discharge require information about: • Latitude • Longitude • Discharge area • 802 of the 5091 R-Arctic Net stations has no information about either latitude, longitude or discharge area • How valuable are these stations? • What characterize them?

16. Stations with no information about latitude, longitude or discharge area Arctic Discharge Observations • Data set characteristics

17. Stations with no information about latitude, longitude or discharge area Arctic Discharge Observations • Data set characteristics

18. Stations with no information about latitude, longitude or discharge area Arctic Discharge Observations • Data set characteristics

19. Arctic Discharge Observations Summary • The stations with no information about latitude, longitude or discharge area have runoff time series characterized by being short. • About 50 of the stations with long time series have less than 25% missing data.

20. Arctic Discharge Observations • Drainage area size