Construction And Analysis Of Hydrographs

1. Construction And Analysis Of Hydrographs

2. Basin lag time Peak flow Flood Hydrograph 3 Rising limb Overland flow Recession limb 2 mm Discharge (m3/s) 4 Through flow 1 3 2 Base flow 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 Hours from start of rain storm

3. rivers mean (average) velocity = cross sectional area X (at a particular point in its course) Hydrograph Record of River Discharge over a period of time RiverDischarge Storm Hydrographs Show the change in discharge caused by a period of rainfall

4. Why Construct & Analyse Hydrographs ? • To find out discharge patterns of • a particular drainage basin • Help predict flooding events, • therefore influence implementation of flood prevention measures

5. Construction Of Storm (flood) Hydrographs

6. Basin lag time Peak flow Flood Hydrograph 3 Rising limb Overland flow Recession limb 2 mm Discharge (m3/s) 4 Through flow 1 3 2 Base flow 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 Hours from start of rain storm

7. 3 2 Discharge (m3/s) 1 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 Hours from start of rain storm

8. Rainfall shown in mm, as a bar graph 3 2 mm Discharge (m3/s) 4 1 3 2 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 Hours from start of rain storm

9. Discharge in m3/s, as a line graph 3 2 mm Discharge (m3/s) 4 1 3 2 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 Hours from start of rain storm

10. Rising limb The rising flood water in the river 3 Rising limb 2 mm Discharge (m3/s) 4 1 3 2 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 Hours from start of rain storm

11. Peak flow Peak flow Maximum discharge in the river 3 Rising limb 2 mm Discharge (m3/s) 4 1 3 2 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 Hours from start of rain storm

12. Recession limb Peak flow Falling flood water in the river 3 Rising limb Recession limb 2 mm Discharge (m3/s) 4 1 3 2 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 Hours from start of rain storm

13. Basin lag time Basin lag time Peak flow Time difference between the peak of the rain storm and the peak flow of the river 3 Rising limb Recession limb 2 mm Discharge (m3/s) 4 1 3 2 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 Hours from start of rain storm

14. Base flow Basin lag time Peak flow Normal discharge of the river 3 Rising limb Recession limb 2 mm Discharge (m3/s) 4 1 3 2 Base flow 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 Hours from start of rain storm

15. Overland flow Basin lag time + Peak flow Through flow 3 = Rising limb Overland flow Recession limb 2 Storm Flow mm Discharge (m3/s) 4 Through flow 1 3 2 Base flow 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 Hours from start of rain storm

16. Overland flow Through flow Volume of water reaching the river through the soil and underlying rock layers Volume of water reaching the river from surface run off

17. Basin lag time Peak flow 3 Rising limb Overland flow Recession limb 2 mm Discharge (m3/s) 4 Through flow 1 3 2 Base flow 0 12 24 36 48 30 72 Hours from start of rain storm

18. Analysis

19. Factors influencing Storm Hydrographs • Area • Shape • Slope • Rock Type • Soil • Land Use • Drainage Density • Precipitation / Temp • Tidal Conditions

20. Overland flow Through flow Base flow Interpretation of Storm Hydrographs Basin lag time You need to refer to: Peak flow 3 • Rising Limb Rising limb 2 Recession limb mm • Recession Limb Discharge (m3/s) 4 1 3 • Lag time 2 • Rainfall Intensity 0 12 24 36 48 30 72 Hours from start of rain storm • Peak flow compared to Base flow • Recovery rate, back to Base flow

21. Following, are some theoretical interpretations of influencing factors BUT………… When interpreting hydrographs all factors must be considered together !

22. Area Large basins receive more precipitation than small therefore have larger runoff Larger size means longer lag time as water has a longer distance to travel to reach the trunk river Area Rock Type Drainage Density Shape Soil Precipitation / Temp Slope Land Use Tidal Conditions

23. Shape Elongated basin will produce a lower peak flow and longer lag time than a circular one of the same size Area Rock Type Drainage Density Shape Soil Precipitation / Temp Slope Land Use Tidal Conditions

24. Slope Channel flow can be faster down a steep slope therefore steeper rising limb and shorter lag time Area Rock Type Drainage Density Shape Soil Precipitation / Temp Slope Land Use Tidal Conditions

25. Rock Type Permeable rocks mean rapid infiltration and little overland flow therefore shallow rising limb Area Rock Type Drainage Density Shape Soil Precipitation / Temp Slope Land Use Tidal Conditions

26. Soil Infiltration is generally greater on thick soil, although less porous soils eg. clay act as impermeable layers The more infiltration occurs the longer the lag time and shallower the rising limb Area Rock Type Drainage Density Shape Soil Precipitation / Temp Slope Land Use Tidal Conditions

27. Land Use Urbanisation - concrete and tarmac form impermeable surfaces, creating a steep rising limb and shortening the time lag. Steeper recession limb. WHY? • RISING LIMB / LAG TIME: • Shallower in rural areas – increased interception • Vegetation intercepts and stores water slowing it’s passage into the river system • In Urban areas concrete, tarmac etc. channels water quickly into drains and straight into river / sewage system

28. Land Use Urbanisation - concrete and tarmac form impermeable surfaces, creating a steep rising limb and shortening the time lag. Steeper recession limb. WHY? • STORAGE: • Falling limb will be steeper on an urban hydrograph due to lack of infiltration, storage • In rural areas water will continue to flow into the river for many hours from underground flow and through flow • The return to base flow is much slower in rural areas

29. Land Use Urbanisation - concrete and tarmac form impermeable surfaces, creating a steep rising limb and shortening the time lag. Steeper recession limb. WHY? Afforestation - intercepts the precipitation, creating a shallow rising limb and lengthening the time lag. Shallower recession limb. WHY? Area Rock Type Drainage Density Shape Soil Precipitation / Temp Slope Land Use Tidal Conditions

30. Drainage Density A higher density will allow rapid overland flow Area Rock Type Drainage Density Shape Soil Precipitation / Temp Slope Land Use Tidal Conditions

31. Precipitation & Temperature Short intense rainstorms can produce rapid overland flow and steep rising limb If there have been extreme temperatures, the ground can be hard (either baked or frozen) causing rapid surface run off Snow on the ground can act as a store producing a long lag time and shallow rising limb. Once a thaw sets in the rising limb will become steep Area Rock Type Drainage Density Shape Soil Precipitation / Temp Slope Land Use Tidal Conditions

32. Tidal Conditions High spring tides can block the normal exit for the water, therefore extending the length of time the river basin takes to return to base flow Area Rock Type Drainage Density Shape Soil Precipitation / Temp Slope Land Use Tidal Conditions

33. Remember these influencing factors will: Influence each other Change throughout the rivers course

34. ANALYSING HYDROGRAPHS • Discharge does not increase immediately (only a small amount of precipitation falls directly into the river) • Water reaches the river from overland flow / surface run-off • This is then supplemented with water from throughflow • Rising limb shows overland flow • Recession limb indicates there is still water in the system – e.g. throughflow • Rivers with a short lag time and high discharge are most likely to flood • Two basins which receive the same amount of rain can have very different flood hydrographs

35. ANALYSING HYDROGRAPHS • ____ ____ will be higher in larger basins • 2. If slopes are steep, ______ will be lower, therefore peak flow will be greater • If basin is flatter, there will be more infiltration resulting in • peaks • The _______ the slope – the shorter the lag time • A combined atmosphere / hydrosphere question can appear: • ITCZ • Hydrographs Peak Flow infiltration lower steeper

36. FLOOD HYDROGRAPHS TASK: Using pages 43  55 Answer questions 1  5 on page 68-69 under the heading ‘Flows and Flood Hydrographs’

37. PAST PAPER QUESTIONS 2006 – Hydrosphere Remember to double marks when looking pre-2008