Ta. Clair et Jm. Ehrman, VARIATIONS IN DISCHARGE AND DISSOLVED ORGANIC-CARBON AND NITROGEN EXPORT FROM TERRESTRIAL BASINS WITH CHANGES IN CLIMATE - A NEURAL-NETWORKAPPROACH, Limnology and oceanography, 41(5), 1996, pp. 921-927
We use a neural network approach to examine relationships between clim
ate and geography on discharge and dissolved organic C (DOG) and N (DO
N) from 15 river basins in Canada's Atlantic region over a 10-yr perio
d from 1983 to 1992. Model predictions emphasize the importance of the
evapotranspiration-precipitation link in establishing basin discharge
because even large increases in precipitation can lead to decreasing
discharge (Q) when accompanied by higher temperatures. Varying tempera
ture and precipitation inputs to the DOC model revealed that both incr
eases in mean monthly temperature and precipitation will only slightly
increase exports from river basins, matching the pattern for e. Surpr
isingly, lower temperatures and precipitation will, also increase the
exports. Increases in temperature with decreases in precipitation will
lead to large decreases in export. The DON model predictions were not
as accurate as DOC but showed similar tendencies.