Temporal flow variability in Johor river based on wavelet analysis

Abstract

This study focuses on the variability of Johor River discharge using Fourier and Wavelet Analysis. Variability of river discharge refers to the characteristic of river discharge. The main focus in this study is to determine the changes of a river discharge with respect to time and period based on the data obtained. Understanding the temporal patterns of variability in discharge records is essential for the interpretation and explanation of changes to river geology. This study uses a univariate Johor River discharge data obtained from Rantau Panjang station which is taken for a period of 30 years consecutively. The data was obtained from the Department of Irrigation & Drainage Malaysia using a machine called “Automatic Water Level Recorder”. Analysis was done based on the weekly average of the discharge data. The short term variability of Johor River discharge data is between 0.6 years to 2.5 years. However, for long term variability, the answer we obtained for wavelet analysis is considered statistically less reliable because the region falls in the Cone of Influence (COI).