The Yield of Streams as a Measure of Climatic Fluctuations

Abstract

The many records of stream flow now available not only provide information on water supplies but also a register of the related climatic factors. To those interested in climatic fluctuations or in defining relations between climatic elements and dependent geographic factors, analysis of the stream-flow records may furnish a valuable side light. To meet such interests, the results of analyses of < 4,000 station-year records at selected gaging sta tions are here presented in a series of maps showing for the U.S. and Canada the % of normal stream flow year by year for 1911-42 and in tables the wet and dry indexes on an areal basis for the 5 wettest and 5 driest yrs.