Flood hydrographs

Katie Strong

1a) Hydrographs are graphs which show river discharge over a

specified period of time and show the response of a drainage
basin and its river to a period of rainfall. This is measured in
cumecs (cubic meters per second). This can be calculated by
multiplying river velocity by channel volume at a given point and
time.

1b)
Peak Rainfall - Maximum rainfall (mm)

Peak Discharge - Maximum discharge (cumecs)

Lag time - The time taken between peak rainfall and peak discharge.

Rising Limb - Shows the increase in discharge on a hydrograph.

Falling Limb- Shows the return of discharge to normal / base flow on a

hydrograph.
1c)

1d) Peak rainfalls occur at 15:30 hours in a rainstorm which lasted for
17:00 hours. Discharge in the river increased to a maximum at
23:00hours. This is called the peak discharge. The lag time was 8
hours.

1e) It is trying to get the discharge of the rain out as quick as it can.

1f) It takes a longer time than the rising limb.

2) I did not understand.