Friday 18th March 2022

Rivers

Why are rivers important

Transport, Drinking water, HEP, Sport, Animals

Key Terms
Rising limb - This is the part of the graph up to peak discharge. The river
discharge increases as rainwater flows into the water.

Bankfull discharge - When the river channel is completely full. If the river rises
further there will be a flood.

Approach segment - That part of a hydrograph curve before onset of

precipitation

Peak discharge - The highest point on the graph, when the river discharge is at
its greatest.

Lag time - This is the delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge. This
delay happens because it takes time for the rainwater to flow into the river. A
shorter lag time can increase peak discharge because more water reaches the
river during a shorter period of time.

Peak rainfall - The time of highest rainfall.

Falling limb - The part of the graph after peak discharge. Discharge is
decreasing because less water is flowing into the river. A shallow falling limb
shows water is flowing in from stores long after its stopped raining.

River discharge - This is the volume of water passing any given point in the
river per second.

Groundwater flow/baseflow - Stream discharge produced by water seeping

from the bedrock. This is a very slow process.