Total water storage range of the Mississippi River basin

Land surface water storage controls the partitioning of precipitation into evaporation and runoff, the partitioning of net radiation energy into latent and sensible heat fluxes and the occurrence of base streamflow. Water storage properties are important at both short and long time scales, and have important effects on weather and climate. This study uses a diagnostic approach to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of total water storage properties of the Mississippi River basin. The study utilizes a simple water balance equation based on the physical law of mass conservation. Up to 50 years of monthly hydrometeorological observations of precipitation and streamflow discharge were collected from more than 200 unregulated catchments in the Mississippi River basin. Also collected are climatic monthly potential evaporation for the catchments. Different assumptions were made to estimate evapotranspiration and soil water storage changes. Results will be presented to show the spatial and time variability of the total water storage ranges. Relationships between water storage properties and land surface physical and climatic characteristics will be examined. Where possible, atmospheric water budgets will be used to evaluate the results.