CE122-1 RUNOFF CHARACTERISTICS OF

Hydrology THE STREAM

A study of the annual hydrographs of
Week 10 streams enables one to classify streams into
three classes as
RUN-OFF ▪ Perennial: Always carries some flow

RUNOFF
means the draining or flowing off of
precipitation from a catchment area through a
surface channel.

i. Overland flow
the excess precipitation moves over ▪ Intermittent: Limited contribution
the land surface to reach smaller channels. from the groundwater

ii. Surface runoff

travels all the time over the surface as
overland flow and through the channels as
open-channel flow and reaches the catchment
outlet.

COMPONENTS OF RUN-OFF
▪ INTERFLOW
▪ THROUGH FLOW ▪ Ephemeral: Does not have any base-
▪ STORM SEEPAGE flow contribution.
▪ SUBSURFACE STORM FLOW
▪ QUICK RETURN FLOW

TIME DELAY BETWEENTHE

PRECIPITATION AND THE RUNOFF

Direct runoff - enters the stream

immediately after the rainfall (surface runoff,
prompt interflow and rainfall).
Base flow - delayed flow that reaches a
stream essentially as groundwater flow.
Natural flow - reservoirs or diversion works
on a stream.
RUNOFF CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE STREAM
▪ magnitude intensity, distribution
according to time and space, and its
variability.
▪ Catchment characteristics such assoil,
land use/cover, slope, geology, shape
and drainage density.
▪ Climatic factors which influence
evapotranspiration.

Prepared by: Engr. Lawrence D. Dela Peña

▪ Seasonal variation of rainfall: High
stream discharges occur during the
monsoon months.
▪ Shape of stream: peak flow is
essentially controlled by the storm
and physical characteristics of the
basin.
▪ Annual runoff volume: stream is
mainly controlled by the amount of
rainfall and evapotranspiration.

Prepared by: Engr. Lawrence D. Dela Peña