DETECTING TRENDS IN ANNUAL DISCHARGE AND PRECIPITATION IN THE CHOTT MELGHIR BASIN IN SOUTHEASTERN ALGERIA

Abstract

In this study data from 30 catchments in the Chott Melghir basin in the semiarid

region of southern East Algeria were analyzed to investigate changes in
annual discharge annual precipitation over the 1965-1994 periods. These data
were analyzed with the aid of Kendall test trend and regression analysis. The
results indicate that (1) the major variations in all catchments discharge in Chott
Melghir correspond well to the precipitation. (2) Changes in total annual
discharge of Chott Melghir were lower than changes in annual precipitation.
Annual precipitation decreased by 66 percent and annual discharge decreased
by 4 percent. (3) No significant trend is detected for annual discharge and
precipitation at major catchments up to 95% confidence level. The decreasing
trend in Chott Melghir discharge is mainly attributed to the decrease of
precipitation.