<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The aim of the paper is to describe spatial differences in the uncertainty of features of the flow regimes of rivers in Europe on the basis of measures whose methodological assumptions derive from Shannon’s information entropy theory (1948). They included: the entropy of monthly flow volumes, the entropy of the flow distribution over time, and the entropy of maximum and minimum monthly flows. An analysis was made of monthly flow series for the years 1951-1990 from 510 gauging stations located on 369 rivers in Europe. It allowed a quantitative determination of the degree of uncertainty of the four regime characteristics, indirectly establishing the predictability, regularity and stability of their appearance and their spatial variability. In the procedure of identification of spatial differences among rivers concerning the uncertainty of their flow regime features, use was made of local indices of spatial dependence. On application of LISA (Local Indicators of Spatial Association) based on Moran’s local <italic>Ii </italic>statistic, a typology of rivers was obtained in terms of the kind and statistical significance of spatial associations involving the uncertainty of the flow regime variables in question.</p></abstract>

The aim of the paper is to describe spatial differences in the uncertainty of features of the flow regimes of rivers in Europe on the basis of measures whose methodological assumptions derive from Shannon’s information entropy theory (1948). They included: the entropy of monthly flow volumes, the entropy of the flow distribution over time, and the entropy of maximum and minimum monthly flows. An analysis was made of monthly flow series for the years 1951-1990 from 510 gauging stations located on 369 rivers in Europe. It allowed a quantitative determination of the degree of uncertainty of the four regime characteristics, indirectly establishing the predictability, regularity and stability of their appearance and their spatial variability. In the procedure of identification of spatial differences among rivers concerning the uncertainty of their flow regime features, use was made of local indices of spatial dependence. On application of LISA (Local Indicators of Spatial Association) based on Moran’s local Ii statistic, a typology of rivers was obtained in terms of the kind and statistical significance of spatial associations involving the uncertainty of the flow regime variables in question.

Uncertainty of Flow Regime Characteristics of Rivers in Europe

Institute of Physical Geography and Environmental Planning, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland

Quaestiones Geographicae

{"article-title":"Uncertainty of Flow Regime Characteristics of Rivers in Europe"}

The aim of the paper is to describe spatial differences in the uncertainty of features of the flow regimes of rivers in Europe on the basis of measures whose...

Uncertainty of Flow Regime Characteristics of Rivers in Europe

Published Online: Feb 23, 2013

Page range: 43 - 53

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2013-0006

Keywords
river regime, Europe, entropy, local spatial association

This content is open access.

Uncertainty of Flow Regime Characteristics of Rivers in Europe

Published Online: Feb 23, 2013

Page range: 43 - 53

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2013-0006

Keywordsriver regime, Europe, entropy, local spatial association

This content is open access.

Keywords
river regime, Europe, entropy, local spatial association