SURFACE WATER LEVELS IN 2021

Abstract

This paper gives a spatial and temporal review of the water levels of the surface waters in Slovenia in 2021. The review consists of summaries of monthly monitoring, event analyses, and quantitative assessments of river and karst field water levels. In particular, the situation of rivers with major hydropower potential is described, and overflows and surface water flooding are also briefly described. The assessments of river water levels are presented by comparing the statistical values of river flow rates in 2021 and over the longer period 1991-2020, in accordance with the recommendations of the World Meteorological Organization. The paper discusses water levels at 17 reference gauging stations across Slovenia, selected to cover the situation in the majority of the country. Some assessments of water levels are also made on the basis of other gauging stations from the entire hydrological network of the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO), which included 189 gauging stations in 2021.