Streamflow drought indicators across conterminous United States

This dataset contains indicators for characterizing observed streamflow droughts in 603 stations through the major watershed regions of the conterminous U.S. The dataset is based on observed streamflow  data  from  Hydro-Climatic  Data  Network  2009,  developed by  the  U.S.  Geological Survey.  Due  to  multi-attributable  aspect  of  this  natural  hazard, analyzing  the  various  feature of droughts  is  necessary.  This  dataset  is  useful  to  help  advance  water  resources  decision-making and will allow researchers to identify trends as well as potential drivers (e.g., land use or climate) associated with streamflow droughts.


The   dataset   is   organized   in   three   different   categories:   low   flow   characteristics,   deficit characteristics, and  independent drought event characteristics  for 603 stations through the major watershed regions of the conterminous US from 1900 to 2012. Low flow characteristics include minimum 1-day , 7-day, and 30-day  mean  flow as well as 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th percentiles from the flow duration curve, which examined over annual, Northern summer, Northern winter, and 12 calendar month time scales. Deficit characteristics are examined for the 1-day, 7-day and 30-day  mean  flow  with  10  years  return  period,  as  well  as  50th, 75th,  90th  and  95th  percentiles threshold  levels  over  annual,  Northern  summer,  Northern  winter,  and  12  calendar  month  time scales,  and  include  cumulative  streamflow  deficit  occurrence,  cumulative  streamflow  deficit volume,  minimum  streamflow  deficit  volume,  and  deficit  intensity.  Independent  drought  event characteristics are examined over annual time scale and include number of droughts, first day of drought, drought duration, and drought deficit volume.


Data are available in two- and three-dimensional files over the conterminous U.S. for the periods 1900 to 2012.