Hydrologic and climatic zonation of georgia basin, british columbia

Abstract

Water plays a primary role in determining the nature of ecosystems. In this study we consider inputs and outputs of water within the Georgia Basin from an analysis of climate and hydrologic time series records. Individual climate stations were assessed to determine summer and winter temperature ranges, and rainfall and snowfall amounts. Stream discharge and watershed runoff from hydrologic stations throughout the Basin were examined to determine the dominant form or forms of runoff that contributed to the stream discharge of a given drainage area. The hydrological and meteorological stations have a tendency to be located where it is convenient, near settlements and in valley bottoms. Therefore, away from cities and at higher elevation there are fewer data and thus spatial interpretation is needed. Derived climate and hydrologic information was extrapolated or interpolated to the spatial extent of the study area using knowledge of the geography of the basin and the physiography of the particular stations and their drainage areas. The results are maps of delineated regions within the Basin. From a climate perspective, a particular form of precipitation dominates in the winter, either snow or rain. The complexity of the landscape results in a broad transition zone where either snow or rain can be expected during winter. The relative roles of rainfall and the melting of the snowpack in the generation of the hydrograph at a particular point are assessed from a hydrologic perspective. Frequently the snowmelt signal persists downstream into regions where rainfall dominates the climate. Maps of the three delineated zones are presented with example hydrographs. © 2001 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.