3.2.1 Single variable regression analysis
The relationships between the 350-year water level (estimated using a
GEV distributions fitted to gauged level data at 23 stations and a set
of individual predictor variables were initially tested using single
variable regressions. Note that these 23 stations are a subset of the 31
stations with at least 25 years of water level data, as for this
analysis we also needed LiDAR data as well as HYDROTEL discharge data to
be available. The first step consisted of identifying significant
correlations between water level and any single variable such as lake
area, upstream drainage area, peak discharge or outflow channel width.
The results showed no statistically significant relationship existed
between water levels and any single variable; performing standard
transformations to the variables, such as applying a logarithm or square
root, did not yield any improvements.