What the hydrograph shows

• Steep rising limb

  • water is flowing into the river at a fast pace
  • Environment = urban area covered in concrete. Many sewers, deforestaton or overgrazed land
  • River Basin = smaller and circular with steep sides and many streams
  • Impremable rocks
  • clay soil
  • Higher temperatures with increased spring snow melt or hard baked ground
• Rising limb is shallow

  • Water is flowing into the river at a slower pace
  • Environment = forested area or farmland with large crop coverage and irrigation. Flood management projects could be in place
  • River basin = larger and elongated with flatter sides and fewer streams
  • permeable, porous rocks
  • sandy soil
  • lower temperatures with water held in storage as snow or ice
• What can the recession limb show?

  • How fast or slow the water is leaving the river channel and the river is getting back to normal base flow
  • A river that has been altered by man through levees will return to base flow quicker
  • Increased vegetation around the banks of the river, and other obstacles, could slow down the flow downstream
• Short lag time

  • Water is flowing into the river at a fast pace
  • Environment = urban area covered in concrete with many sewers, deforested or overgrazed land
  • River basin = smaller and circularwith steep sides and many streams
  • impermable rocks
  • clay soil
  • Higher temperature with increased spring snow melt or hard baked ground
• Long lag time

  • Water is flowing into the river at a slower pace
  • Environment = forested area or farmland with large crop coverage and irrigaton. Flood management projects may be in place
  • River basin = Larger and elongated with flatter sides and fewer streams
  • Permable, porous rocks
  • Sandy soil
  • Lower temperatures with water held in storage as snow or ice
• What can rainfall intensity show?

  • How high or low the discharge will be
  • Heavy rainfall is going to cause more overland flow and is more likely to result in a higher rising limb, higher peak discharge and shorter lag time (Light drizzle is opposit)
• Peak flow is high

  • Water is flowing into the river at a fast pace
  • Environment = urban are covered into concrete with many sewers, deforested or overgrazed land
  • River basin = Smaller and circular with steep sides and many streams
  • Impremable rocks
  • Clay soil
  • Higher temperatures with increased spring snow melt or hard baked ground
• Peak flow is low

  • Water is flowing into the river at a slower pace
  • Environment = Forested area or farmland with large crop coverage and irrigation. Flood management projects could be in place
  • River basin = Larger and elongated with flatter sides and fewer streams
  • Permable, porous rocks
  • Sandy soil
  • Lower temperatures with water held in storage as snow or ice