Hidden Complexity in Reservoir Flow Regulation Revealed by Spectral Analysis

This dataset contains spectral regulation signatures and identified operational modes for 205 large reservoirs across the contiguous United States (CONUS). Derived from daily inflow and outflow observations, the data includes: (1) identified operational modes (Modes 1-4) reflecting distinct filtering philosophies; (2) regulation intensity (I); and (3) log10 power ratios across four temporal scales: synoptic (3-5 days), weekly (6-8 days), seasonal (300-420 days), and inter-annual (2-5 years). These metrics provide a novel frequency-domain perspective on how reservoirs modify streamflow variability.