water budgets and river discharge

• water budgets

  • indicate how much water stored in a drainage basin
  • shows balance between inputs and outputs
  • UK example-temperature zone
• river regimes vary with physical influence

  • seasons and climate- eg meltwater or more evaporation- eg indus river(south and central asia) meltwater from himiliyas in spring
  • geology and soil structure- indus river basin made from impermeable igneous and metamorphic rock- swells quickly- overland saturated flow- highly porous can percolate
• factors affecting storm hydrograph

  • size of drainage basin- larger catch more water but further to travel
  • shape of drainage basin-circular more likely to have flashy
  • permeability of rocks and soil- surface run off
  • vegetation- interception, slow surface run off
  • land use- ploughed arable farm land(flashier) soil more compact and less vegetation, urbanisation, dams