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Streamflow analysis and modelling

Streamflow analysis

Analysis of streamflow data is important aspect of hydrology

describes flow regime
enables comparison between rivers
predicts possible future river flow

The most important methods of streamflow analysis are:

hydrograph analysis
flow duration curves
frequency analysis

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Stream Hydrograph

Hydrograph a plot of stream discharge at a point over time

Records fluctuations in discharge or stream height over time
Useful tool to monitor stream behavior remotely
Creating the Hydrograph - plot discharge or stage on the vertical axis;
plot time on the horizontal axis

Stream Hydrograph

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Stream Hydrograph

Stream Hydrograph
Fraser River at Steveston

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Stream Hydrograph

Stream Hydrograph

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Stream Hydrograph

Hydrograph

a plot of stream
discharge at a
point over time

watershed

Q = stream discharge

Q
Q = volume of water passing a plane in a unit of time

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Stream Discharge (Q)

Five important
conditions:

Q=vxA
Hydrograph

(depth x width)

Channel width
Stream discharge is influenced by five important components
Channel
depth
Channel
width
30 m3/s
180 m3 /s
Channel depth
Velocity
Velocity
Gradient
Gradient
Bed roughness
Bed roughness

Q = v x A (depth x width)
water cross section x

velocity

Discharge (m33/s) = width (m) depth (m) velocity (m/s)

Discharge (m /s) = width (m) x depth (m) x velocity (m/s)

Stream Flow Continuity

Given constant discharge
Hydrograph

Reduction
in area ==> faster flow
Base flow occurs during times with no significant precip
Changes in slope and roughness influence velocity and must
be compensated by change in area

A balance of driving
and resisting forces
determines the nature
of river flow :

Q=vA

Driving force = water weight x sin(bed slope)

Resisting force = river-bed area x river-bed shear stress

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Hydrograph

Base Flow is sustained streamflow in between rain events

Base flow occurs during times with no significant precip

Hydrograph

Q
Q (cfs)
base flow

Q = stream discharge

Time

Hydrograph
In lowland streams,
baseflow is primarily
sustained by groundwater

Austin Creek

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Hydrograph

Deming Glacier and the Middle fork of the Nooksack River

In mountain streams, baseflow is

primarily sustained by snowmelt,
glacier melt, and groundwater

Photo by John Scurlock

Hydrograph

Storm flow occurs during and immediately after significant rainfall events

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Hydrograph

Rising limb represents increase in discharge due to gradual build-up of

storage in catchment

Hydrograph

Rising limb represents increase in discharge due to gradual build-up of

storage in catchment
rain

Hydrograph

Q
Q (cfs)

Q = stream discharge

rising flow

Time

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Hydrograph

Receding limb represents withdrawal of water from storage build-up

during early phase

Hydrograph

Receding limb represents withdrawal of water from storage build-up

during early phase
rain stops

Hydrograph

receding flow
Q (cfs)

Q = stream discharge

Time

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Hydrograph

Base Flow is sustained streamflow in between rain events

Base flow occurs during times with no significant precip

Hydrograph

Q
Q (cfs)
base flow

Q = stream discharge

Time

Hydrograph

Most often the recessional limb is broader than rising limb thus most
flood hydrographs are skewed

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Hydrograph

Lag period between peak rainfall and peak discharge

Hydrograph

Peak flood discharge is highest point on hydrograph when greatest

amount of water is in river

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Hydrograph

Bankfull discharge occurs when river is just contained within its banks

Hydrograph

Basin lag refers to the time needed for water to discharge through the basin
The larger the basin the slower the discharge will be, the lower the peak will
be
Floods are more frequent in small basins, but also dissipate faster; in large
basins floods are less frequent, but when they occur it can take a long time
to discharge all the water

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Hydrograph

Flood Hydrograph

Flood hydrographs show reaction of streams to excess inflow often due

to access rainfall

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Stream Hydrograph

Hydrographs allow easy comparison between rivers, but also between

years or extended periods for the same river

Stream Hydrograph

Hydrographs allow easy comparison of river behaviour due to

changes in its catchment

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Stream Hydrograph

Stream Hydrograph

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