A multi-decadal analysis of river discharge and suspended sediment load in three Texas coastal rivers in relation to hurricanes, seasonal rainfall, and ENSO

Coastal river discharge and sediment load exert major influence on the sustainability of coastal systems. Controlled by various hydroclimatic/hydrometeorological agents, they exhibit distinct trend/variability at different time scales. Texas, while being a target for tropical cyclones over past 6 decades, has been experiencing drought flood cycles associated with ENSO in long term. However, it is still unclear temporal variability delivery this area scales, controlling factors behind it. In study, 58-years (1960–2017) dataset compiled to analyze ENSO, seasonal rainfall distribution hurricanes event suspended three Texas rivers-the San Bernard River, Brazos Trinity annual, respectively. short-term, all rivers attained highest average daily during Hurricane Harvey. On scale, precipitation regime exerts more watersheds than storms hurricanes. Over multi-decadal amplified rainstorms El Niño phases likely play an important role overall transport large along northern Gulf coast. Overall, reasonable conclude that magnitude hurricane impacts regulated duration intensity rainfall, as well coupled drought-flood cycle relation ENSO.