Assessing watershed hydrological response to climate change based on signature indices

Abstract Due to the fact that one of important ways describing performance basins is use hydrological signatures, present study investigates effects climate change using signatures in Azarshahr Chay basin, Iran. To this end, Canadian Earth system model (CanESM2) first used predict future (2030–2059) under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5). Six signature indices were extracted from flow duration curve (FDC) as follows: runoff ratio (RR), high-segment volume (FHV), low-segment (FLV), mid-segment slope (FMS), mid-range (FMM), maximum peak discharge (DiffMaxPeak). These act sorts fingerprints representing differences behavior basin. The results indicate most significant changes response are related FHV FLV FMS indices. BiasFHV index indicates an increase high rates RCP8.5 scenario, compared baseline period, also RCP2.6 scenario. mean annual rate, however, lower than rate Generally, for both discharges low significant.