Drainage Basin and Their Features

 Each drainage basin has a unique combination of different features such as size,
rock types, relief and land use.
 The different features of a drainage basin affect how quickly or slowly water moves
through the drainage basin.
Hydrographs and River Regime
River Regime: the variation in a river’s discharge throughout the year in response to
precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration and drainage basin characteristics.
River regime is closely connected to local climatic conditions, especially the rainfall
regime.

Hydrograph: a graph showing a river’s rate of discharge over time past a specific point.
Hydrograph display data on a river regime. They show what happens a river’s discharge
over the course of the year.
A storm hydrograph covers a much shorter time period. It records river
discharge as the drainage basin reacts to a rainstorm. A storm hydrograph is a very
useful tool for comparing the characteristics of different drainage basins.
  The bars in the left-hand corner show the input of rain.
 The hour or time of maximum rainfall is called Peak rainfall.
 The time of maximum discharge is called Peak discharge.
 The period of time when the river discharge is falling is called recession or falling limb.
 The normal discharge of river is called base flow.
 The additional discharge of the river as a result of the rainstorm is called storm flow.

Lag Time
 The period of time or delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge is called lag time.
 The shorter the lag time, the greater the chances of flooding.
 The shorter the lag time, the quicker the water reaches the river channel.
 A short lag time causes the river discharge to rise steeply.
 The steeper the rise in discharge, the greater the chances of flooding.

Why do we construct and analyse storm hydrograph?

 To find out discharge patterns of a particular drainage basin
 To compare the characteristics of different basins
 Help to predict flooding and plan flood prevention
The Use of Storm Hydrograph
 The data allows people to work out the risk of flooding and over
what area.
 People need to know how rivers will behave during heavy rainfall
because:
 The majority of the world’s drainage basins are home to many
people.
 These areas are with fertile soils and the ability to grow food.
 Much money is invested in drainage basins. (farmland, homes,

business transport)

Factors Affecting Lag Time

 The amount and intensity of the rain
 Temperature
 Land use and vegetaton
 Channel density
 Relief
 Rock type or soil type
 Human intervention such as dams and reservoirs – these hold back discharge
and so reduce the risk of flooding downstream
 Abstraction - taking water out of a river, for example for irrigation