Investigation of the Discharge and Sediment Load Trend in Mordaghchai Using Non-Parametric Tests

This article aims to analyze the trend of monthly, seasonal and annual changes in the flow and sediment of the Mordaghchai. located in East-Azerbaijan province. In this regard, using non-parametric methods, discharge and sediment data of Gheshlagh-Amir hydrometric station have been analyzed in three time scales: annual, seasonal and monthly. The modified Mann-Kendall test was used to analyze the trend of gradual changes in discharge and sediment data. Also, the Sen's slope estimator was used to estimate the slope of the trend line and the non-parametric Pettitt test was used to investigate the abrupt changes in the discharge and sediment time series. The modified Mann-Kendall test was used to analyze the trend of gradual changes in discharge and sediment, and the Sen' slope estimator test was used to estimate the slope of trend line. Also, Pettit test was used to investigate abrupt changes in the river discharge and sediment time series. The results show that annual, monthly and spring, summer and winter discharges significantly decrease at the level of 5%. The annual and all-season sediment load data significantly decreased by 5%. There is a significant decrease in sediment load in all months except March, April and October. The results of the Pettitt test show that the average annual discharge in the period after the breaking point (1998) has decreased by 45% compared to the period before the breaking point. Also, the average annual sediment load after the breaking point (1996) has decreased by about 52% compared to the previous period.