Synthesizing the impacts of baseflow contribution on concentration–discharge (C–Q) relationships across Australia using a Bayesian hierarchical model

• Published in: Hydrology and earth system sciences Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 1 - 16
• Main Authors: Guo, Danlu, Minaudo, Camille, Lintern, Anna, Bende-Michl, Ulrike, Liu, Shuci, Zhang, Kefeng, Duvert, Clément
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 03.01.2022; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Analysis; Arid climates; Aridity; Bayesian analysis; Biogeochemistry; Catchment area; Catchments; Chemistry; Climate; Concentration gradient; Discharge; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Exports; Groundwater; Hydrology; Nitrogen compounds; Oxides; Particulates; Phosphorus; Probability theory; Sediments; Slopes; Solid suspensions; Solutes; Storm seepage; Stream discharge; Stream flow; Streamflow; Subsurface flow; Surface water; Suspended particulate matter; Temporal variations; Total suspended solids; Tropical climate; Tropical climates; Water quality; Water quality variables; Water sources; Australia; North America; Europe
• ISSN: 1607-7938; 1027-5606; 1607-7938
• DOI: 10.5194/hess-26-1-2022

Understanding concentration-discharge (C-Q) relationships can inform catchment solute and particulate export processes. Previous studies have shown that the extent to which baseflow contributes to streamflow can affect C-Q relationships in some catchments. However, the current understanding on the effects of baseflow contribution in shaping the C-Q patterns is largely derived from temperate catchments. As such, we still lack quantitative understanding of these effects across a wide range of climates (e.g. arid, tropical and subtropical). The study aims to assess how baseflow contributions, as defined by the median and the range of daily baseflow indices within individual catchments (BFI_m and BFI_range, respectively), influence C-Q slopes across 157 catchments in Australia spanning five climate zones. This study focuses on six water quality variables: electrical conductivity (EC), total phosphorus (TP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), total suspended solids (TSS), the sum of nitrate and nitrite (NO.sub.x) and total nitrogen (TN). The impact of baseflow contributions is explored with a novel Bayesian hierarchical model.