Articles | Volume 22, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2285-2018
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2285-2018
Research article
 | 
16 Apr 2018
Research article |  | 16 Apr 2018

Examining controls on peak annual streamflow and floods in the Fraser River Basin of British Columbia

Charles L. Curry and Francis W. Zwiers

Data sets

VIC model gridded output and routed streamflow Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium Data Portal https://www.pacificclimate.org/data

Manual Snow Survey data BC River Forecast Centre https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/drought-flooding-dikes-dams/river-forecast-centre

Daily stream gauge measurements Water Survey of Canada https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/search/historical_e.html

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Short summary
Key predictors of annual peak daily streamflow (APF) in the Fraser River Basin are investigated. While annual maximum snow amount is a robust predictor of APF, the role of other climatic factors in the largest historical floods is less well understood. Using observations and a process-based hydrological model as input to a multivariate regression approach, we show that the snowmelt rate, indices of large-scale climate variability, and spring warming rate also influence APF in the Fraser Basin.