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This study deals with incomplete bivariate data in hydrology, where information contained in a hydrological series of relatively long length ( X, the auxiliary variable) is utilized to enhance the quality of the quantile estimates for a series of shorter length ( Y, the variable of main interest), when there is an association between X and Y. It is suggested that bivariate models for representing ( X, Y) be constructed by means of copulas, which allows for flexibility in choosing both the marginals and the bivariate distributions. Parameter estimation is done by maximum likelihood (ML), where all the unknown parameters of the bivariate model are estimated simultaneously. A case study using flow records at three gauging stations on the St. John River (New Brunswick, Canada) is used to demonstrate the interest of using bivariate distributions for modeling incomplete data. By using ( X, Y) bivariate data observed on the St. John River, the probability density function (pdf) obtained from a univariate frequency analysis of Y (Model A), is compared to the pdf constructed using a bivariate model relating X to Y (Model B). It is shown that Model B reduces the variability in the Y pdf as compared to the pdf obtained from Model A, and also corrects the quantile estimates for Y through a location shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change models predict a 2 to 6° C increase in air temperature within the next 100 years in the Maritime Provinces of eastern Canada. Higher air temperatures are expected to contribute to increased water temperatures, alterations in stream flow conditions, and ultimately reductions in fish growth. Mean annual size-at-age of juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar decreased in the Northwest Miramichi and Southwest Miramichi Rivers between 1971–1999. Lengths-at-age of juveniles were significantly correlated between the two rivers. For Atlantic salmon parr, stronger associations between inter-cohort fork length (LF) than intra-cohortLF were observed, suggesting that environmental conditions in the current year of growth have the more significant effects on size of age 2 year parr than conditions encountered the previous year by age 1 year parr of the same cohort. Fork lengths of parr were significantly and negatively associated with spring air and water temperatures. In the Miramichi River, increases in air and water temperature as predicted from climate change models may adversely affect growth of juvenile Atlantic salmon parr, reducing the overall productivity of the Atlantic salmon populations in this region. Copyright 2002 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]