Understanding the impact of drought on Topľa River discharge seasonality

Abstract

This study examines the effect of drought on the discharge seasonality of the Topľa River from 1988 to 2020. Each year is classified into dry, normal, or wet years using the water-bearing coefficient as a drought index. The Seasonal and Trend decomposition using the Loess time series decomposition method was used to compare discharge patterns between these groups. The results demonstrate a significant impact of drought on the seasonal discharge of the Topľa River, with substantially lower discharge and affected seasonality during dry years. The study findings demonstrate that the impact of the drought is altering the seasonal discharge pattern of the river. This highlights the importance of considering the effects of drought in water management and resource planning, particularly in the face of climate change and increasing water scarcity. These findings provide valuable insights for informing water management policies and practices in the region and can guide future research on the impact of drought on river systems.