Understanding the occurrence of zero-flow stream gauge observations in Slovakia

The case study in Slovakia was based on mean daily discharge records in catchments smaller than 50 km². The objective was to quantify the occurrence, duration, and temporal patterns of zero-flow conditions and to assess their relevance for water management and ecological resilience. An analysis of temporal clustering showed, that zero-flow events often occurred in multi-day episodes. Seasonal analysis indicated that August, September, and October were the months with the highest occurrence of zero-flows. The occurrence of zero-flow events across multiple years implies, that they may become more frequent in the future, as a result of climate change. The study underscores the importance of maintaining long-term hydrological monitoring networks, as such datasets are essential for understanding hydrological processes, evaluating their impacts and development of adaptation strategies.