Spatial and temporal characteristics in streamflow-related hydroclimatic variables over western Canada. Part 1: 1950–2010

A large portion of the freshwater in western Canada originates as snowpack from the northern Rocky Mountains. Temperature and precipitation in the region control the amount of snow accumulated and stored throughout the winter, and the intensity and timing of melt during the spring freshet. Therefore, trends in temperature, precipitation, snow accumulation, and snowmelt over western Canada are examined using the Mann-Kendall non-parametric test …