The Impact of Climatological Variability on Surface Water Supply in Oklahoma.
Abstract
The frequency and duration of surface water deficits in two river basins in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle are examined for the thirty years, 1951-1980. The studied basins were divided into a total of 10 subbasins. A hydrologic accounting system, using precipitation and temperature as inputs, was used to derive variables such as potential (PET) and actual (ET) evapotranspiration, soil moisture and runoff. These were combined with basic hydrologic variables (stream discharge and lake contents) to calculate long-term weekly mean values and 75 percent empirical ranges for surface water storage and demand. Potential deficit periods were identified and examined using percentage frequency histograms and joint frequency tables. From these it was determined that surface water deficits existed in as many as 47 percent of the thirty years studied. The potential deficit period ranged from 2 weeks to 29 weeks, averaging 17 weeks. Case studies for two of the subbasins for a dry year, a wet year and an 'average' year are presented. Background climatologies for weekly precipitation (30-year means and means for the 5 driest years), weekly stream discharge and weekly lake contents for each of the ten major river basins in Oklahoma are presented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA119723
Entities
People
- Charles Christian Olsen
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology