Abstract Streamflow recession analysis provides valuable insights into catchment functioning that can be related to runoff generation, storage retention and baseflow dynamics. As an integrated characteristic, recession analysis is particularly useful in catchment comparison studies to help explain drivers of spatial and temporal variability in hydrological behavior. Here, five years of hourly streamflow data from 14, partly nested, catchments within a 68 km2 boreal forest landscape in Northern Sweden were used to explore spatiotemporal variation in hydrological processes through recession analysis. The aim of this study was to better understand spatial variation in runoff generation and storage-discharge dynamics across the landscape, as well as the relation to landscape properties. Due to high collinearity between variables, partial least square regression was used to quantify the associations between recession characteristics and catchment properties, as well as to identify key variables controlling recession behavior. We analyzed recession characteristics using both an aggregated approach including all recession data and individual recession events. The analyses based on individual recession events, indicated that catchment topography, quantified by indices such as mean slope or elevation above the stream network, is a primary control on the recession behavior during relatively high flows, whereas catchment area gains importance when flows are relatively low. The proportion of sediment and deep soils also controlled recession behavior. Furthermore, we found that recession characteristics are influenced by both evapotranspiration (ET) and proxies of antecedent catchment storage, but that the patterns were different depending on catchment properties. ET was less influential in catchments with deeper soils and larger catchment area. Shifts in recession rates were primarily related to variation in storage, with faster streamflow recessions occurring during periods with low storage. The results demonstrate the influence of catchment properties on recession behavior, and we found great value in analyzing individual recession events for an increased understanding of spatial and temporal recession characteristics. When recession properties were lumped together, the relationships to catchment characteristics were obscured. This indicates the value of more detailed analyses, at least under the strongly seasonal hydroclimatic conditions of this site.

中文翻译：

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景观特性、储存和蒸散对北方集水区水流衰退变异性的作用

摘要 径流衰退分析为流域功能提供了宝贵的见解，这些功能可能与径流生成、蓄水保持和基流动态相关。作为一个综合特征，衰退分析在流域比较研究中特别有用，有助于解释水文行为的空间和时间变化的驱动因素。在这里，瑞典北部 68 平方公里的北方森林景观中的 14 个部分嵌套集水区的五年每小时流量数据用于通过衰退分析探索水文过程的时空变化。本研究的目的是更好地了解整个景观中径流产生和储存-排放动态的空间变化，以及与景观特性的关系。由于变量之间的高度共线性，偏最小二乘回归被用来量化衰退特征和流域特性之间的关联，以及确定控制衰退行为的关键变量。我们使用包括所有衰退数据和个别衰退事件的汇总方法分析了衰退特征。基于个别衰退事件的分析表明，流域地形，由河流网络上方的平均坡度或高程等指标量化，是相对高流量期间衰退行为的主要控制，而当流量相对较低时，流域面积变得重要. 沉积物和深层土壤的比例也控制了衰退行为。此外，我们发现衰退特征受蒸散量 (ET) 和先前流域蓄水代理的影响，但模式因流域特性而异。ET 在土壤较深和流域面积较大的流域中影响较小。衰退率的变化主要与储存量的变化有关，在低储存量期间发生更快的流量衰退。结果证明了流域特性对衰退行为的影响，我们发现分析单个衰退事件对于加深对时空衰退特征的理解具有重要价值。当衰退属性被混为一谈时，与流域特征的关系就变得模糊了。这表明更详细分析的价值，