Recent trends in rainfall-runoff characteristics in the Alzette River basin, Luxembourg

The effects of rainfall structure and atmospheric circulation variability o n streamflow in the Alzette River basin (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Europe) were investigated. Evidence is presented regarding the local-scale sensiti vity of the Alzette River basin to large-scale changes in atmospheric circu lation. Since the 1950s, there has been a marked increase in the contributi on of the westerly component of atmospheric circulation to rainfall. These changes in atmospheric circulation are on a par with an increase in rainfal l intensity and duration, which has induced a significant increase in the w inter maximum daily storm Row in the Alzette River basin since the 1970s.