Régionalisation des débits moyens mensuels en Algérie du nord: Regionalization of the mean regimes of the monthly runoff in northern Algeria

Regionalization of the mean regimes of the monthly runoff in northern Algeria Identification of regions with homogeneous hydrological characteristics in Northern Algeria was the main objective of this study. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Principal Dynamic Components (PDC) were applied to monthly mean discharge data from 51 hydrometric stations. The PCA results showed the existence of three hydrologically homogeneous groups. The implementation of the CPD method highlighted the same three groups. The types of regimes identified with the two methods are single, mixed and complex. The type of climate that characterizes these groups is Mediterranean for the first, transition between Mediterranean and semi-arid for the second, and semi-arid for the third group. Key words: Northern Algeria, Principal components analysis, Principal dynamic components, discharge