Stacey A Archfield
My current research is focused on identifying, understanding, and synthesizing patterns in hydrologic events, estimating the impacts of hydrologic extremes, and advancing statistical theory for small and ill-behaved datasets.
I also maintain a strong interest in environmental statistics education and serve as the course coordinator for the USGS course, Statistical Methods for Environmental Data Analysis, as well as an author of the 2nd edition of the textbook, Statistical Methods in Water Resources.
Professional Experience
U.S. Geological Survey, Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division. Research Hydrologist, 2017-Present
U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program (Dissolved in 2017). Research Hydrologist, 2013-2017
U.S. Geological Survey, Massachusetts-Rhode Island Water Science Center
- Research Hydrologist, 2008-2013
- Hydrologist (Project Chief), 2004-2008
- Hydrologist, 1998-2004
Tufts University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Research Assistant, 2004-2009
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Earth Resources Laboratory. Research Assistant, 2001
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Space Geodesy Group. Research Associate, 1999
Education and Certifications
Doctor of Philosophy, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, 2009
Master of Science, Geosystems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001
Bachelor of Science, Geology, Northeastern University, 1999 (Minor in Mathematics)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 45
Evaluation of statistical and rainfall-runoff models for predicting historical daily streamflow time series in the Des Moines and Iowa River watersheds Evaluation of statistical and rainfall-runoff models for predicting historical daily streamflow time series in the Des Moines and Iowa River watersheds
Daily records of streamflow are essential to understanding hydrologic systems and managing the interactions between human and natural systems. Many watersheds and locations lack streamgages to provide accurate and reliable records of daily streamflow. In such ungaged watersheds, statistical tools and rainfall-runoff models are used to estimate daily streamflow. Previous work compared 19...
Authors
William H. Farmer, Rodney R. Knight, David A. Eash, Kasey J. Hutchinson, S. Mike Linhart, Daniel E. Christiansen, Stacey A. Archfield, Thomas M. Over, Julie E. Kiang
A comparison of methods to predict historical daily streamflow time series in the southeastern United States A comparison of methods to predict historical daily streamflow time series in the southeastern United States
Effective and responsible management of water resources relies on a thorough understanding of the quantity and quality of available water. Streamgages cannot be installed at every location where streamflow information is needed. As part of its National Water Census, the U.S. Geological Survey is planning to provide streamflow predictions for ungaged locations. In order to predict...
Authors
William H. Farmer, Stacey A. Archfield, Thomas M. Over, Lauren E. Hay, Jacob H. LaFontaine, Julie E. Kiang
Flood trends: Not higher but more often Flood trends: Not higher but more often
Heavy precipitation has increased worldwide, but the effect of this on flood magnitude has been difficult to pinpoint. An alternative approach to analysing records shows that, in the central United States, floods have become more frequent but not larger.
Authors
Robert M. Hirsch, Stacey A. Archfield
An objective and parsimonious approach for classifying natural flow regimes at a continental scale An objective and parsimonious approach for classifying natural flow regimes at a continental scale
Hydro-ecological stream classification-the process of grouping streams by similar hydrologic responses and, by extension, similar aquatic habitat-has been widely accepted and is considered by some to be one of the first steps towards developing ecological flow targets. A new classification of 1543 streamgauges in the contiguous USA is presented by use of a novel and parsimonious approach...
Authors
Stacey A. Archfield, Jonathan G. Kennen, Daren M. Carlisle, David M. Wolock
Identifying dominant controls on hydrologic parameter transfer from gauged to ungauged catchments: a comparative hydrology approach Identifying dominant controls on hydrologic parameter transfer from gauged to ungauged catchments: a comparative hydrology approach
Daily streamflow information is critical for solving various hydrologic problems, though observations of continuous streamflow for model calibration are available at only a small fraction of the world’s rivers. One approach to estimate daily streamflow at an ungauged location is to transfer rainfall–runoff model parameters calibrated at a gauged (donor) catchment to an ungauged (receiver...
Authors
R. Singh, S.A. Archfield, T. Wagener
Comparison between two statistically based methods, and two physically based models developed to compute daily mean streamflow at ungaged locations in the Cedar River Basin, Iowa Comparison between two statistically based methods, and two physically based models developed to compute daily mean streamflow at ungaged locations in the Cedar River Basin, Iowa
A variety of individuals from water resource managers to recreational users need streamflow information for planning and decisionmaking at locations where there are no streamgages. To address this problem, two statistically based methods, the Flow Duration Curve Transfer method and the Flow Anywhere method, were developed for statewide application and the two physically based models, the
Authors
S. Mike Linhart, Jon F. Nania, Daniel E. Christiansen, Kasey J. Hutchinson, Curtis L. Sanders, Stacey A. Archfield
A national streamflow network gap analysis A national streamflow network gap analysis
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a gap analysis to evaluate how well the USGS streamgage network meets a variety of needs, focusing on the ability to calculate various statistics at locations that have streamgages (gaged) and that do not have streamgages (ungaged). This report presents the results of analysis to determine where there are gaps in the network of gaged locations...
Authors
Julie E. Kiang, David W. Stewart, Stacey A. Archfield, Emily B. Osborne, Ken Eng
Towards a publicly available, map-based regional software tool to estimate unregulated daily streamflow at ungauged rivers Towards a publicly available, map-based regional software tool to estimate unregulated daily streamflow at ungauged rivers
Streamflow information is critical for addressing any number of hydrologic problems. Often, streamflow information is needed at locations that are ungauged and, therefore, have no observations on which to base water management decisions. Furthermore, there has been increasing need for daily streamflow time series to manage rivers for both human and ecological functions. To facilitate...
Authors
Stacey A. Archfield, Peter A. Steeves, John D. Guthrie, Kernell G. Ries
Topological and canonical kriging for design flood prediction in ungauged catchments: an improvement over a traditional regional regression approach? Topological and canonical kriging for design flood prediction in ungauged catchments: an improvement over a traditional regional regression approach?
In the United States, estimation of flood frequency quantiles at ungauged locations has been largely based on regional regression techniques that relate measurable catchment descriptors to flood quantiles. More recently, spatial interpolation techniques of point data have been shown to be effective for predicting streamflow statistics (i.e., flood flows and low-flow indices) in ungauged...
Authors
Stacey A. Archfield, Alessio Pugliese, Attilio Castellarin, Jon O. Skoien, Julie E. Kiang
Computing daily mean streamflow at ungaged locations in Iowa by using the Flow Anywhere and Flow Duration Curve Transfer statistical methods Computing daily mean streamflow at ungaged locations in Iowa by using the Flow Anywhere and Flow Duration Curve Transfer statistical methods
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains approximately 148 real-time streamgages in Iowa for which daily mean streamflow information is available, but daily mean streamflow data commonly are needed at locations where no streamgages are present. Therefore, the USGS conducted a study as part of a larger project in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to develop...
Authors
S. Mike Linhart, Jon F. Nania, Curtis L. Sanders, Stacey A. Archfield
Use of flow-normalization to evaluate nutrient concentration and flux changes in Lake Champlain tributaries, 1990-2009 Use of flow-normalization to evaluate nutrient concentration and flux changes in Lake Champlain tributaries, 1990-2009
The U.S. Geological Survey evaluated 20 years of total phosphorus (P) and total nitrogen (N) concentration data for 18 Lake Champlain tributaries using a new statistical method based on weighted regressions to estimate daily concentration and flux histories based on discharge, season, and trend as explanatory variables. The use of all the streamflow discharge values for a given date in...
Authors
Laura Medalie, Robert M. Hirsch, Stacey A. Archfield
Refinement and evaluation of the Massachusetts firm-yield estimator model version 2.0 Refinement and evaluation of the Massachusetts firm-yield estimator model version 2.0
The firm yield is the maximum average daily withdrawal that can be extracted from a reservoir without risk of failure during an extended drought period. Previously developed procedures for determining the firm yield of a reservoir were refined and applied to 38 reservoir systems in Massachusetts, including 25 single- and multiple-reservoir systems that were examined during previous...
Authors
Sara B. Levin, Stacey A. Archfield, Andrew J. Massey
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 45
Evaluation of statistical and rainfall-runoff models for predicting historical daily streamflow time series in the Des Moines and Iowa River watersheds Evaluation of statistical and rainfall-runoff models for predicting historical daily streamflow time series in the Des Moines and Iowa River watersheds
Daily records of streamflow are essential to understanding hydrologic systems and managing the interactions between human and natural systems. Many watersheds and locations lack streamgages to provide accurate and reliable records of daily streamflow. In such ungaged watersheds, statistical tools and rainfall-runoff models are used to estimate daily streamflow. Previous work compared 19...
Authors
William H. Farmer, Rodney R. Knight, David A. Eash, Kasey J. Hutchinson, S. Mike Linhart, Daniel E. Christiansen, Stacey A. Archfield, Thomas M. Over, Julie E. Kiang
A comparison of methods to predict historical daily streamflow time series in the southeastern United States A comparison of methods to predict historical daily streamflow time series in the southeastern United States
Effective and responsible management of water resources relies on a thorough understanding of the quantity and quality of available water. Streamgages cannot be installed at every location where streamflow information is needed. As part of its National Water Census, the U.S. Geological Survey is planning to provide streamflow predictions for ungaged locations. In order to predict...
Authors
William H. Farmer, Stacey A. Archfield, Thomas M. Over, Lauren E. Hay, Jacob H. LaFontaine, Julie E. Kiang
Flood trends: Not higher but more often Flood trends: Not higher but more often
Heavy precipitation has increased worldwide, but the effect of this on flood magnitude has been difficult to pinpoint. An alternative approach to analysing records shows that, in the central United States, floods have become more frequent but not larger.
Authors
Robert M. Hirsch, Stacey A. Archfield
An objective and parsimonious approach for classifying natural flow regimes at a continental scale An objective and parsimonious approach for classifying natural flow regimes at a continental scale
Hydro-ecological stream classification-the process of grouping streams by similar hydrologic responses and, by extension, similar aquatic habitat-has been widely accepted and is considered by some to be one of the first steps towards developing ecological flow targets. A new classification of 1543 streamgauges in the contiguous USA is presented by use of a novel and parsimonious approach...
Authors
Stacey A. Archfield, Jonathan G. Kennen, Daren M. Carlisle, David M. Wolock
Identifying dominant controls on hydrologic parameter transfer from gauged to ungauged catchments: a comparative hydrology approach Identifying dominant controls on hydrologic parameter transfer from gauged to ungauged catchments: a comparative hydrology approach
Daily streamflow information is critical for solving various hydrologic problems, though observations of continuous streamflow for model calibration are available at only a small fraction of the world’s rivers. One approach to estimate daily streamflow at an ungauged location is to transfer rainfall–runoff model parameters calibrated at a gauged (donor) catchment to an ungauged (receiver...
Authors
R. Singh, S.A. Archfield, T. Wagener
Comparison between two statistically based methods, and two physically based models developed to compute daily mean streamflow at ungaged locations in the Cedar River Basin, Iowa Comparison between two statistically based methods, and two physically based models developed to compute daily mean streamflow at ungaged locations in the Cedar River Basin, Iowa
A variety of individuals from water resource managers to recreational users need streamflow information for planning and decisionmaking at locations where there are no streamgages. To address this problem, two statistically based methods, the Flow Duration Curve Transfer method and the Flow Anywhere method, were developed for statewide application and the two physically based models, the
Authors
S. Mike Linhart, Jon F. Nania, Daniel E. Christiansen, Kasey J. Hutchinson, Curtis L. Sanders, Stacey A. Archfield
A national streamflow network gap analysis A national streamflow network gap analysis
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a gap analysis to evaluate how well the USGS streamgage network meets a variety of needs, focusing on the ability to calculate various statistics at locations that have streamgages (gaged) and that do not have streamgages (ungaged). This report presents the results of analysis to determine where there are gaps in the network of gaged locations...
Authors
Julie E. Kiang, David W. Stewart, Stacey A. Archfield, Emily B. Osborne, Ken Eng
Towards a publicly available, map-based regional software tool to estimate unregulated daily streamflow at ungauged rivers Towards a publicly available, map-based regional software tool to estimate unregulated daily streamflow at ungauged rivers
Streamflow information is critical for addressing any number of hydrologic problems. Often, streamflow information is needed at locations that are ungauged and, therefore, have no observations on which to base water management decisions. Furthermore, there has been increasing need for daily streamflow time series to manage rivers for both human and ecological functions. To facilitate...
Authors
Stacey A. Archfield, Peter A. Steeves, John D. Guthrie, Kernell G. Ries
Topological and canonical kriging for design flood prediction in ungauged catchments: an improvement over a traditional regional regression approach? Topological and canonical kriging for design flood prediction in ungauged catchments: an improvement over a traditional regional regression approach?
In the United States, estimation of flood frequency quantiles at ungauged locations has been largely based on regional regression techniques that relate measurable catchment descriptors to flood quantiles. More recently, spatial interpolation techniques of point data have been shown to be effective for predicting streamflow statistics (i.e., flood flows and low-flow indices) in ungauged...
Authors
Stacey A. Archfield, Alessio Pugliese, Attilio Castellarin, Jon O. Skoien, Julie E. Kiang
Computing daily mean streamflow at ungaged locations in Iowa by using the Flow Anywhere and Flow Duration Curve Transfer statistical methods Computing daily mean streamflow at ungaged locations in Iowa by using the Flow Anywhere and Flow Duration Curve Transfer statistical methods
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains approximately 148 real-time streamgages in Iowa for which daily mean streamflow information is available, but daily mean streamflow data commonly are needed at locations where no streamgages are present. Therefore, the USGS conducted a study as part of a larger project in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to develop...
Authors
S. Mike Linhart, Jon F. Nania, Curtis L. Sanders, Stacey A. Archfield
Use of flow-normalization to evaluate nutrient concentration and flux changes in Lake Champlain tributaries, 1990-2009 Use of flow-normalization to evaluate nutrient concentration and flux changes in Lake Champlain tributaries, 1990-2009
The U.S. Geological Survey evaluated 20 years of total phosphorus (P) and total nitrogen (N) concentration data for 18 Lake Champlain tributaries using a new statistical method based on weighted regressions to estimate daily concentration and flux histories based on discharge, season, and trend as explanatory variables. The use of all the streamflow discharge values for a given date in...
Authors
Laura Medalie, Robert M. Hirsch, Stacey A. Archfield
Refinement and evaluation of the Massachusetts firm-yield estimator model version 2.0 Refinement and evaluation of the Massachusetts firm-yield estimator model version 2.0
The firm yield is the maximum average daily withdrawal that can be extracted from a reservoir without risk of failure during an extended drought period. Previously developed procedures for determining the firm yield of a reservoir were refined and applied to 38 reservoir systems in Massachusetts, including 25 single- and multiple-reservoir systems that were examined during previous...
Authors
Sara B. Levin, Stacey A. Archfield, Andrew J. Massey