The hydrologic cycle

Paths of precipitation on land

Paths of precipitation on land Direct channel precipitation

Overland flow

saturation overland flow

Interflow (throughflow)

Groundwater flow

Paths of precipitation on land

Direct channel precipitation
direct interception of precipitation by streams much less than 5% and usually less than 1% of runoff --but it always occurs % reflects the area of surface water as a proportion of basin area, important where there is a large area of wetlands or lakes or during floods

Overland flow
Runoff occurring as water moves down the slope surface High flow velocity (10-500 m/hour) field studies demonstrated that Hortonian overland flow is virtually non-existent in areas w/ dense vegetation and thick soils--more often saturation occurs from below

saturation overland flow

saturation from below During a storm, as the water table gets close to the surface, saturated material above=saturation overland flow water is returned to the surface by exfiltration in hillslope hollows where groundwater flow lines converge at slope concavities (i.e., base of many slopes); with decreasing hydraulic gradient, flow decelerates and therefore the depth of subsurface flow increases in thin soils over an impermeable surface, e.g., rock, frozen ground, heavy soil horizon

Paths of precipitation on land

Interflow (throughflow)
lateral movement of soil water between the ground surface and less permeable layer (soil layers, perched water table) can account for a significant proportion of the runoff in humid regions in sloping landscapes, interflow may exfiltrate at the surface producing saturation overland flow macropore flow (rapid interflow): soil water passing quickly to a stream through root canals, animal tunnels or pipes produced by subsurface erosion

Groundwater flow
in the zone of saturation below a perched or regional water table days, weeks or even years may pass before water that seeps to the water table eventually reaches a stream

HORTONIAN OVERLAND FLOW

OVERLAND FLOWS: where the rainfall intensity exceeds the infiltration capacity, results.

saturation overland flow

overland flow

Diffuse overland flow. Note the raindrop impacts. (Photo: http://www.freefoto.com)

SATURATION OVERLAND FLOW

occurs mainly at the base of slopes and in concavities
These areas become saturated during prolonged rain (by the combination of infiltration, interflow (flow down slope within the soil) and groundwater flow

once the soil is saturated its infiltration capacity is zero any additional rain will not infiltrate - it be will stored on the surface or become overland flow.

Which paths will reach stream first?

hydrographs

Hydrographs: 1996-1997 storm event

Lag to peak Q with different runoff generation modes

Expansion of saturated area after 46 mm rainstorm, Vermont

Dunne and Leopold, 1978

Seasonal change in saturated area, NE Vermont

Dunne and Leopold, 1978

Drainage basins
As basin area increases, discharge increases and lag time increases

Drainage basins
As basin area increases, discharge increases and lag time increases Bigger basins have larger water storage capacity

rapid mobilization of old water paradox

In many small catchments, streamflow responds promptly to rainfall inputs, But fluctuations in passive tracers (such as water isotopes and, in sea-salt dominated catchments, chloride) are often strongly damped. This indicates that storm flow in these catchments is mostly old water

how do these catchments store water for weeks or months, but then release it in minutes or hours in response to rainfall inputs?
Kirchner, J.A., 2003, A double paradox in catchment hydrology and geochemistry, Hydrol. Process. 17, 871874

A double paradox in catchment hydrology and geochemistry

 Perhaps the kindest thing one can say about the current state of knowledge is that the mechanisms by which catchments store water for extended periods, but then release it promptly during storm events, are not well understood.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES INVITED COMMENTARY Hydrol. Process. 17, 871874 (2003)

What changes rates of infiltration? What changes proportion of water that runs off vs. soaks in?

Effects of landuse on hydrograph shape

Infiltration change with time during rainfall

Soil crusting - surface sealing and runoff

Drainage Basins
Drainage basin=watershed Drainage divide=watershed (UK)

http://facweb.bhc.edu

Drainage Basins
Drainage basin=watershed Drainage divide=watershed (UK) An area on a map outlined by a divide is known as a drainage basin All of the water within this basin will drain down to a stream then flow out of the basin No size restrictions on basins can be large or small

http://facweb.bhc.edu

The drainage basins of the Mississippi River

Drainage basin: the area from which a river gets its water supply

The Columbia River Drainage Basin

675,000 km2 219 major dams Discharge of sediment to the ocean has decreased by ~ 2/3 since the late 1800s

Snake River system

Drainage Basins
Drainage basin=watershed Drainage divide=watershed (UK) An area on a map outlined by a divide is known as a drainage basin All of the water within this basin will drain down to a stream then flow out of the basin No size restrictions on basins can be large or small

http://facweb.bhc.edu

Strahler stream ordering

Shreve stream ordering

Strahler stream ordering

What are these systems dependant on?

http://facweb.bhc.edu

Strahler stream ordering

What are thses systems dependant on? Dependant on scalewhat qualifies as a stream?

Characteristics of drainage basin morphometry: drainage density

Drainage density= (total length of streams)/(basin area) What would increase drainage density?

Characteristics of drainage basin morphometry: drainage density

Drainage density= (total length of streams)/(basin area) What would increase drainage density?

Lrainfall, L veg, K runoff K erosion K drainage density K relief K erosion, K drainage density K erodability of parent material, K drainage density

Characteristics of drainage basin morphometry: basin relief and ruggedness

Relief of basin= difference in elevation (highest elevation-elevation of basin mouth) Ruggedness number=drainage density * total relief
Ruggedness is a good flash flood predictor

Basin hypsometry

% of total elevation

Isolated mountains in a flat plain

% of total area

100

Basin hypsometry

Basin hypsometry

% of total elevation

Isolated mountains in a flat plain

% of total area

100

Basin hypsometry

Basin hypsometry
plateau
Area under curve represents area left to be reduced/eroded= hypsometric interval

% of total elevation

Isolated mountains in a flat plain

% of total area

100

Hypsometry of the Earth

http://www.ilstu.edu/~jrcarter/LDEO

The peaks on Earth's curve represent the MEAN ELEVATION OF THE CONTINENTS (~800 m) and the MEAN ELEVATION OF THE OCEAN BASINS (~ 4000 m deep).

1. Basin morphometry and discharge

What is the primary difference between these two basins? Express as an equation. Sketch the flood hydrographs for these two drainage basins. Assume the basins are the same size, and have received equal rainfall amounts. Sketch both curves on the same graph

2. Basin morphometry and discharge

What is ruggedness? Express as an equation. Which basin is more rugged? Which basin would have a flashier hydrograph? Why?
Max elevation: 8,000 ft Min elevation: 6,000 ft

5 km

Max elevation: 6,500 ft Min elevation: 6,000 ft 5 km

3. Influence of geology on basin morphometry

What are possible geologic settings for these cartoon drainage basins? Explain how drainage pattern reflects landforms or bedrock types.

4. Basin characteristics and hydrographs

Sketch and label storm hydrographs for the following. Put both hydrographs in each pair on the same graph
basin pre and post urbanization Storm track moving up the basin vs down the basin

According to Costa, (chapter 5 pg. 155) what are some common characteristics of basins with flashy hydrographs?

6. The water budget

Draw a cartoon to illustrate the hydrologic budget on page 160 of your book. Explain the terms of the equation. What are sources of long-term storage in a basin? Where is water stored during floods?

7. Geomorphic mystery!
What has happened here?
Time 1

Time 2