Construction

And
Analysis of Hydrographs
Hydrograph
Record of River Discharge over a period of time

River Discharge
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
Discharge (m3/s) 3

0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
 Rainfall shown
3 in mm, as a
bar graph
Discharge (m3/s)

2
mm
4

1 3

0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
 Discharge in
3 m3/s, as a
line graph
Discharge (m3/s)

2
mm
4

1 3

0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
 The rising
3 flood water in
the river
Discharge (m3/s)

2
mm
4

1 3

0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
 Peak flow
Peak flow Maximum
3 discharge in
the river
Discharge (m3/s)

2
mm
4

1 3

0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
 Peak flow
Falling flood
3 water in the
river
Discharge (m3/s)

2
mm
4

1 3

0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
 Basin lag time
Basin lag time
Peak flow Time
3 difference
between the
peak of the
Discharge (m3/s)

2 rain storm
mm
4
and the peak
1 3
flow of the
2 river

0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
 Base flow
Basin lag time
Peak flow
Normal
3 discharge of
the river
Discharge (m3/s)

2
mm
4

1 3

2
Base flow

0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
 Overland flow
Basin lag time
Peak flow +
3 Through flow

=
Discharge (m3/s)

Overland
2 flow Storm Flow
mm
4 Through flow
1 3

2
Base flow

0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
 Basin lag time
Peak flow

Discharge (m3/s) 3

Overland
2 flow
mm
4 Through flow
1 3

2
Base flow

0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
 Basic terms:
Discharge: the amount of water passing a sampling point. It is a
combination of run off, throughflow and base flow. Measured in
cumecs (cubic metres per second).

Overland flow: the sum of all the rainwater that flows over the
surface of the river basin (surface run off and streams)

Through flow: the downslope movement of water through soil

towards streams and rivers.

Base flow (groundwater flow): groundwater movement, which

often lags behind precipitation by weeks, months or even years.

Stormflow: all discharge that is above base flow.

Bankful discharge: the point at which a river is full. If the level

increases any more, the river floods.
 Basin lag time
Peak flow

Discharge (m3/s) 3

Overland
2 flow
mm
4 Through flow
1 3

2
Base flow

0 12 24 36 48 30 72
Hours from start of rain storm
Why use hydrographs?

 Hydrologists measure water so that

they can predict the discharge of a river.
 Discharge of a river depends on precipitation,
channel shape, speed of river, volume of water.
 River discharge can increase dramatically during
rain storms and during snow melt.
 River flow can be analysed in a storm hydrograph.
 For looking at reservoir storage capacity.
 For flood prediction (rivers are particularly prone to
flooding after rain storms and during snow melt).
 Used to help stabilise river flow throughout the
year.
Analysis

©Microsoft Word clipart

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

©Microsoft Word clipart

 Interpretation of Storm
Hydrographs Basin lag time

Need to refer to: 3

Peak flow

•Rising Limb Overland

Discharge (m3/s)
2
flow
mm

•Recession Limb 1
4
3
Through flow

•Lag time 2
Base flow

•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
 Here are some theoretical
interpretations of influencing
factors

BUT……

When interpreting hydrographs

all factors must be considered
together !
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
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
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
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
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
Land Use

Urbanisation - concrete and tarmac form

impermeable surfaces, creating a steep rising
limb and shortening the time lag

Afforestation - intercepts the precipitation,

creating a shallow rising limb and lengthening the
time lag

Area Rock Type Drainage Density

Shape Soil Precipitation / Temp
Slope Land Use Tidal Conditions
Drainage Density

A higher density will allow rapid overland flow

Area Rock Type Drainage Density

Shape Soil Precipitation / Temp
Slope Land Use Tidal Conditions
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
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
 Remember!
These influencing factors will:
Influence each other
Change throughout the rivers
course
 Hydrograph dominated by quickflow processes
 surface runoff
Relief Steep slopes.
Steep High peak Steep No time to infiltrate = surface runoff.
rising discharge falling Rock Type Impermeable rocks.
limb limb No infiltration = no throughflow.
Soil Very thin.
Less infiltration.
Vegetation Thin grass.
Less interception.
Land use Urban (tarmac and drains)
No infiltration = surface runoff.
River use Limited use.
Drainage High. More streams so water gets into
density channel quicker.
Precipitation Very heavy intense rainfall.
No time to infiltrate = surface runoff.

Short lagtime Amount of Saturated/Very dry = difficult for water

water in soil to infiltrate.
 Hydrograph dominated by slowflow processes
 throughflow
Gentle rising limb Gentle falling limb
Low peak discharge

Long lagtime

Relief Gentle slopes. Time to infiltrate = throughflow

Rock Type Permeable rocks. Infiltration = groundwater flow.
Soil Deep soil. More infiltration = throughflow.
Vegetation Forest. More interception + roots/leaves delay throughflow and
absorb moisture, lost through transpiration.
Land use Rural. Permeable surfaces and many plants = high interception.
River use Water extracted for industry, agricultural and domestic use. Dams.
Drainage density Low. Less streams so water gets to channel slower.
Precipitation Light showers. Infiltration + throughflow.
Amount of water in soil Moist.