Statistical and probability analysis of surface water and groundwater time series in theLake Tuscaloosa Watershed, Alabama

Interconnected components of water cycle can exhibit complex hydrologic dynamics. This study investigates the dynamics embedded in surface water, groundwater, and precipitation time series data in the Lake Tuscaloosa watershed, Alabama, using statistical/probability approaches. Non-stationarity analysis based on time scale-local Hurst exponents calculated using the multifractal detrended fluctuation approach shows that the stream system exhibits non-stationarity properties influenced by precipitation, while groundwater and lake stage non-stationarity is found to be influenced by the seasonal variation in rainfall and long-term anthropogenic factors. Therefore, sustainability of surface water and aquifer may be affected by natural input and/or anthropogenic activity, both of which can evolve non-stationary in different time scales.