Construction

And
Analysis of Hydrographs

Microsoft Word clipart

Microsoft Word clipart

Hydrograph

Record of River Discharge (the level of water flowing

down a river channel) over a period of time, they show
how certain rivers respond to a rainstorm.

River Discharge

(the level of water

flowing down a river) (is calculated)
rivers mean
= cross sectional area
X
(average) velocity
(at a particular point in its course)

Storm Hydrographs

Show the change in discharge caused by a period

of rainfall

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

Microsoft Word clipart

Construction

Microsoft Word clipart

Of
Storm (flood)
Hydrographs

h
p
a Basin lag time
r
g
l i mb
Rising

Discharge (m3/s)

Through flow

Overland
flow

lim
ion
ss

mm

ce

Peak flow

Re

l
F

d
o
o

o
r
yd 3

3
2

Base flow

12

24

36

48

30

72

Hours from start of rain storm

Discharge (m3/s)

The
discharge of
the river is
measured in
cumecs - this
stands for
cubic metres
per second

3
2
1

12

24

36

48

30

72

Hours from start of rain storm

Rainfall shown
in mm, as a
bar graph

Discharge (m3/s)

3
2
mm
4

3
2

12

24

36

48

30

72

Hours from start of rain storm

Discharge in
m3/s, as a
line graph

Discharge (m3/s)

3
2
mm
4

3
2

12

24

36

48

30

72

Hours from start of rain storm

Rising limb

li m b
Rising

Discharge (m3/s)

The normal
(base) flow of
the river
starts to rise
when run-off,
ground and
soil water
reaches the
river.

mm
4

3
2

12

24

36

48

30

72

Hours from start of rain storm

Peak flow
Peak flow
l i mb
Rising

Discharge (m3/s)

3
2

mm
4

Maximum
discharge in
the river, the
time when the
river reaches
its highest
flow

12

24

36

48

30

72

Hours from start of rain storm

Recession limb
Peak flow
l i mb

c
Re

l im

Rising

n
si o
es

mm

Discharge (m3/s)

shows that
water is still
reaching the
river but in
decreasing
amounts

3
2

12

24

36

48

30

72

Hours from start of rain storm

Basin lag time

l i mb

lim
ion
ss

Rising

ce

Peak flow

Re

mm

The time it
takes for the
water to find
its way to the
river

Discharge (m3/s)

Basin lag time

3
2

12

24

36

48

30

72

Hours from start of rain storm

Basin lag time

l i mb

Normal
discharge of
the river

lim
ion
ss

Rising

ce

Peak flow

Re

mm

Discharge (m3/s)

Base flow

3
2

Base flow

12

24

36

48

30

72

Hours from start of rain storm

Basin lag time

l i mb
Rising

Overland
flow

lim
ion
ss

Storm Flow

mm

Through flow

Through flow
ce

Peak flow

Re

Discharge (m3/s)

Overland flow

3
2

Base flow

12

24

36

48

30

72

Hours from start of rain storm

Overland flow
Volume of
water reaching
the river from
surface run off

Through flow
Volume of water
reaching the river
through the soil and
underlying rock
layers

Analysis

Microsoft Word clipart

Interpretation of Storm
Hydrographs
Basin lag time

You need to refer to:

Re

limb

Peak flow

Discharge (m3/s)

Rising

4
3
2

im
nl

mm

Overland
flow

s io

s
ce

Rising Limb
Recession Limb
Lag time
Rainfall Intensity
Peak flow compared to Base flow
Recovery rate, back to Base flow

Through flow
Base flow

12

24

36

48

30

Hours from start of rain storm

72

Some Factors influencing

Storm Hydrographs
Area

Land Use

Slope

Rock Type

Soil
Precipitation / Temp

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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

Soil

Slope

Land Use Precipitation / Temp

Slope
Channel flow can be faster down a steep slope
therefore steeper rising limb and shorter lag
time

Area

Rock Type

Soil

Slope

Land Use Precipitation / Temp

Rock Type
Permeable rocks mean rapid infiltration and
little overland flow therefore shallow rising limb

Area

Rock Type

Soil

Slope

Land Use Precipitation / Temp

Soil
Infiltration is generally greater on thick soil

The more infiltration occurs the longer the lag

time and shallower the rising limb

Area

Rock Type

Slope

Land Use

Soil
Precipitation / Temp

Land Use
Urbanisation - concrete and tarmac form
impermeable surfaces, creating a steep rising
limb and shortening the time lag
In wooded areas, trees intercept/absorb the
precipitation, creating a shallow rising limb and
lengthening the time lag
Area

Rock Type

Slope

Land Use

Soil
Precipitation / Temp

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

Precipitation / Temp

Soil

Slope

Land Use

Remember!
These influencing factors will:
Influence each other
Change throughout the
rivers course