Research Article

Multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis of streamflow series of the Yangtze River basin, China

  1. Qiang Zhang1,2,*,
  2. Chong-Yu Xu3,
  3. Yongqin David Chen4,
  4. Zuguo Yu5,6

Article first published online: 26 AUG 2008

DOI: 10.1002/hyp.7119

Issue

Hydrological Processes

Hydrological Processes

Volume 22, Issue 26, pages 4997–5003, 30 December 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Zhang, Q., Xu, C.-Y., Chen, Y. D. and Yu, Z. (2008), Multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis of streamflow series of the Yangtze River basin, China. Hydrol. Process., 22: 4997–5003. doi: 10.1002/hyp.7119

Author Information

  1. 1

    State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China

  2. 2

    Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

  3. 3

    Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Norway

  4. 4

    Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

  5. 5

    School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Q4001, Australia

  6. 6

    School of Mathematics and Computational Science, Xiangtan University, Hunan 411105, China

*Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 DEC 2008
  2. Article first published online: 26 AUG 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 26 JUN 2008
  4. Manuscript Received: 10 FEB 2008

Funded by

  • National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Numbers: 40701015, 30570426
  • Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS (CXNIGLAS200814)
  • Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation of China. Grant Number: 101004

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Keywords:

  • multifractal property;
  • multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis;
  • hydrological processes;
  • the Yangtze River basin

Abstract

Scaling and multifractal properties of the hydrological processes of the Yangtze River basin were explored by using a multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA) technique. Long daily mean streamflow series from Cuntan, Yichang, Hankou and Datong stations were analyzed. Using shuffled streamflow series, the types of multifractality of streamflow series was also studied. The results indicate that the discharge series of the Yangtze River basin are non-stationary. Different correlation properties were identified within streamflow series of the upper, the middle and the lower Yangtze River basin. The discharge series of the upper Yangtze River basin are characterized by short memory or anti-persistence; while the streamflow series of the lower Yangtze River basin is characterized by long memory or persistence. h(q) vs q curves indicate multifractality of the hydrological processes of the Yangtze River basin. h(q) curves of shuffled streamflow series suggest that the multifractality of the streamflow series is mainly due to the correlation properties within the hydrological series. This study may be of practical and scientific importance in regional flood frequency analysis and water resource management in different parts of the Yangtze River basin. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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