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Water Resources Management III 11

Regionalization of hydrologic information:


establishment of flow series at
ungauged watersheds
M. M. Portela & A. C. Quintela
Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Environment and
Water Resources Division, IST, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract
In previous papers the authors have shown that the mean annual flow expressed
as water depth over the watershed—mean annual flow depth, H —provides an
accurate measure of the temporal variability (within the year and throughout the
years) of the natural flow regime in Portuguese rivers and therefore can be
adopted as a regionalization parameter of hydrologic information. The analysis
then presented focused mainly on the annual and monthly flows, the daily flow
temporal variability having been only briefly mentioned. In this paper the flow
series regionalization subject is more deeply developed, not only at the monthly
level—by including a considerably large number of results—but especially by
presenting new results at the daily level. Additional approaches that confirm the
relationship between the characteristics of the daily flow series and H are
presented and procedures that enable the establishing of mean daily flow series at
ungauged watersheds are included.
Keywords: mean annual flow depth, temporal relative variability of flow series,
hydrologic information regionalization, mean daily flow, ungauged watershed.

1 Introduction: previous works of the authors


Portela and Quintela [1], [2] and [3] showed that the mean annual flow expressed
as water depth over the watershed – mean annual flow depth, H – is closely
related with the relative temporal variability (within the year and among the
years) of the flow regime in Portuguese rivers, providing a powerful parameter
that enables flow regionalization and, therefore, the establishment of flow series
at ungauged watersheds.

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 80, © 2005 WIT Press
www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541 (on-line)
12 Water Resources Management III

The previous mentioned works focused mainly the regionalization of annual


and monthly flows. For that purpose, the monthly flow records at 24 stream
gauging stations, spread over the country and having long data series were
utilized.
The dependency between the relative temporal variability of the annual flows
and the mean annual flow depth was evidenced by the dependency between the
variation coefficient of the annual flow series, CV, and H . The variation
coefficient of a series is the ratio between the standard deviation, s, and the
average of that series, providing a measure of the relative variability. The
equation achieved for the relation between CV and H (mm) is given by:
s
Cv = = 4.895 H − 0.354 . (1)
H

Eqn (1) shows that the inter annual variability of the flow increases as H
decreases, that is to say, the annual flows are more irregular when the watershed
is located in a drier area. In Portugal, this situation occurs mainly in the South
and in the Northeast.
Based on the previous equation the authors established relationships that
allow estimating the annual flow depths with different non-exceedence
probabilities. For that purpose the Pearson type III law was considered.
The characterization of the dependency between the temporal relative
variability of the monthly flows and H utilized the mean quadratic deviation,
MQD, of the monthly flows expressed in a non-dimensional form according to:

12
∑ [( H i, j − H i ) H 2 ]
j =1
MQDi = (2)
12
where the indexes i and j denote the year and the month, respectively, and
MQDi=mean quadratic deviation (non-dimensional form) of the monthly flows
in year i; H i =mean monthly flow depth also in year i; and H i , j = monthly flow
depth in month j of the year i.
The series of MQD then obtained in each of the 24 stream gauging stations,
with as many elements as the number of years of the corresponding recording
period, was characterized by its mean, MEAN MQD, and its standard deviation,
DEVI MQD. Taking into account the results for the 24 stream gauging stations,
the following statistical relationships between MEAN MQD and H (mm) and
between DEVI MQD and also H (mm) were established:

MEAN MQD = 0.428 H −0.2396 , (3)

DEVI MQD = 1.549 H −0.5313 . (4)


As the mean quadratic deviation in each year increases, as the monthly flows
are more irregular, it was concluded that, in average, the relative temporal

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 80, © 2005 WIT Press
www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541 (on-line)
Water Resources Management III 13

variability of the monthly flows increases as H decreases (decreasing of


MEAN MQD with the increasing of H ). The dispersion of the mean quadratic
deviation around the average also decreases with the increase of H (decreasing
of DEVI MQD with the increase of H ).
By this way it was shown that the mean annual flow depth also provides a
measure of the relative temporal variability of the monthly flows, becoming
attenuated as H increases, that is to say, as the region is more humid.
Thus, Portela and Quintela [1], [2] and [3], concluded that the
non-dimensional monthly flow series at a river section having a mean annual
flow depth H can be transposed for an ungauged river section providing this last
section has a mean annual flow depth close enough to H .

2 Daily data
The main goal of the present work is to show that the relative temporal
variability of the daily flows also depends on H . For that purpose the daily
records at the 54 stream gauging stations of Table 1 were utilized. These stations
include some of the stations previously considered by Portela and Quintela [1],
[2] and [3]. As, most of the time, the available monthly flow records and daily
flow records do not coincide, it was decided to redo the regionalization analysis
at the monthly level based on the monthly flows computed from the daily flows
at the recording periods pointed out in Table 1.
Table 1 also includes the mean annual flow depth at each stream gauging
station, as well as the standard deviation of the corresponding annual flow depth
series. The stations are displayed by increasing values of H .

3 Analysis at the monthly level


As mentioned, the analysis at the monthly level utilized the monthly flow series
computed from the daily flow series at the 54 stream gauging stations of Table 1.
By applying eqn (2) to those series the mean quadratic deviations were evaluated
and characterized in terms of their averages and standard deviations. The results
achieved are represented in Figure 1. This figure includes the representation of
the two sets of 54 pairs of values of ( H , MEAN MQD) and of ( H , DEVI MQD)
as well as the representation of the curves that fit to those points. The fitting
curves previously proposed by Portela and Quintela [1], [2] and [3] (eqns (3) and
(4) based on 24 stream gauging stations) are also represented (dashed curves).
Each curve of Figure 1 was obtained by regression analysis applied to the
logarithmic transforms of the corresponding variables. For the 54 stream gauging
stations the correlation coefficients of the regression analysis were –74 and -84%
for the relation between H (mm) and, respectively, MEAN MQD e DEVI MQD.
The proximity between the curve given by eqn (3) or by eqn (4) and the
corresponding curve now obtained (with equation displayed on Figure 1)
strengthen the conclusion presented by the authors in their previous works: the
mean annual flow depth provides an accurate measure of the relative temporal

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 80, © 2005 WIT Press
www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541 (on-line)
14 Water Resources Management III

variability of the monthly flows, that variability increasing as H becomes


smaller, that is to say, as the region is drier.
Table 1: Stream gauging stations: general characteristics.
Stream gauging station Annual flow series
Watershed Recording period Standard
Average, H
Code Name Main watershed/river area (km2) (number of years) deviation
(mm) (mm)
26J/01 Albernoa Guadiana/Terges 177 1970/71 - 1989/90 (20) 105 111
27I/01 Entradas Guadiana/Terges 52 1971/72 - 1989/90 (19) 124 121
24H/01 S. Domingos Sado/Ribª Algalé 59 1934/35 - 1958/59 (25) 131 96
27J/01 Monte da Ponte Guadiana/Cobres 707 1959/60 - 1989/90 (31) 137 124
24H/03 Torrão do Alentejo Sado/Xarrama 465 1961/62 - 1989/90 (29) 148 121
19D/04 Pte.da Ota Tejo/Ribª de Ota 56 1979/80 - 1989/90 (11) 150 119
24L/01 Amieira Guadiana/Degebe 1474 1947/48 - 1964/65 (18) 154 139
18L/01 Couto de Andreiros Tejo/Ribª de Seda 244 1978/79 - 1989/90 (12) 158 144
19C/02 Pte.Barnabé Tejo/Alenquer 114 1979/80 - 1989/90 (11) 165 130
25G/02 Moinho do Bravo Sado/Ribª Corona 218 1977/78 - 1989/90 (13) 175 140
24I/01 Odivelas Sado/Ribª de Odivelas 431 1934/35 - 1966/67 (33) 178 135
12E/01 Pte. Azenha Nova Mondego/Ribª de Foja 51 1975/76 - 1986/87 (12) 201 116
19M/01 Monforte Tejo/Ribª de Avis 136 1961/62 - 1976/77 (16) 222 178
30F/02 Vidigal Algarve/Ribª do Farelo 19 1938/39 - 1963/64 (26) 227 138
31K/03 Bodega Algarve/Ribª de Alportel 132 1975/76 - 1988/89 (14) 235 196
29L/01 Monte dos Fortes Guadiana/Ribª Odeleite 288 1968/69 - 1989/90 (22) 251 188
23I/01 Flor da Rosa Sado/Xarrama 278 1934/35 - 1964/65 (31) 258 193
28L/02 Vascão Guadiana/Ribª Vascão 428 1960/61 - 1982/83 (23) 279 216
06O/03 Q.das Laranjeiras Douro/Sabor 3464 1961/62 - 1981/82 (21) 298 233
13E/04 Pte. Casal Rola Mondego/Pranto 138 1975/76 - 1988/89 (14) 325 222
30G/01 Mte. dos Pachecos Algarve/Ribª de Odelouca 386 1962/63 - 1982/83 (21) 330 295
10P/01 Castelo Bom Douro/Côa 897 1960/61 - 1995/96 (36) 332 205
05M/01 Murça Douro/Tinhela 265 1974/75 - 1996/97 (23) 341 235
18E/01 Pte.Freiria Tejo/Maior 184 1976/77 - 1989/90 (14) 343 239
08O/02 Cidadelhe Douro/Côa 1685 1956/57 - 1973/74 (18) 360 177
13F/02 Pte. Casével Mondego/Ega 146 1977/78 - 1989/90 (13) 362 196
06M/01 Castanheiro Douro/Tua 3718 1958/59 - 1995/96 (38) 366 216
21C/01 Pte.Pinhal Tejo/Ribª de Loures 79 1977/78 - 1988/89 (12) 376 268
11I/06 Pte. Tábua Mondego/Mondego 1550 1937/38 - 1978/79 (42) 421 217
10K/01 Pte. Sta Clara-Dão Mondego/Dão 177 1921/22 - 1972/73 (52) 454 312
10J/01 Caldas S. Gemil Mondego/Dão 617 1956/57 - 1989/90 (34) 480 272
10L/01 Pte. Juncais Mondego/Mondego 606 1918/19 - 1966/67 (49) 504 302
03N/01 Rebordelo Douro/Rabaçal 857 1955/56 - 1995/96 (41) 582 322
08L/01 Quinta do Rape Douro/Távora 170 1976/77 - 1987/88 (12) 601 316
12H/03 Pte. Mucela Mondego/Alva 666 1960/61 - 1989/90 (30) 630 349
10G/02 Pte. Águeda Vouga/Águeda 405 1934/35 - 1953/54 (20) 674 369
06I/02 Pte. Canavezes Douro/Tâmega 3135 1955/56 - 1986/87 (32) 709 339
03K/01 Vale Giestoso Douro/Beça 77 1957/58 - 1996/97 (40) 717 398
10M/03 Videmonte Mondego/Mondego 121 1975/76 - 1996/97 (22) 736 388
08J/01 Castro Daire Douro/Pavia 291 1945/46 - 1987/88 (43) 738 362
03P/01 Vinhais-Qt. Ranca Douro/Tuela 455 156/57 - 1995/96 (40) 784 354
07I/04 Cabriz Douro/Ribª S. Paio 17 1966/67 - 1987/88 (22) 808 353
04J/04 Cunhas Douro/Beça 338 1949/50 - 1995/96 (47) 860 362
11M/01 Pai Diz Mondego/Mondego 50 1973/74 - 1994/95 (22) 876 377
06K/01 Ermida-Corgo Douro/Corgo 291 1956/57 - 2001/02 (46) 908 436
13H/03 Louçainha Mondego/Simonte 4 1960/61 - 1983/84 (24) 959 367
09H/01 Pedre Ribeiradio Vouga/Vouga 928 1962/63 - 1979/80 (18) 972 508
05K/01 S.Marta do Alvão Douro/Louredo 52 1955/56 - 1987/88 (33) 986 394
08H/02 Fragas da Torre Douro/Pavia 660 1946/47 - 1995/96 (50) 997 470
09F/01 Pte. Minhoteira Vouga/Antuã 114 1976/77 - 1989/90 (14) 1105 462
17F/02 Pte.Nova Tejo/Almonda 102 1976/77 - 1985/86 (10) 1122 550
09G/01 Pte. Vale Maior Vouga/Caima 188 1974/75 - 1988/89 (15) 1183 513
11L/01 Manteigas Tejo/Zêzere 28 1978/79 - 1995/96 (18) 1898 724
03H/04 Covas Cávado/Homem 116 1955/56 - 1973/74 (19) 2212 936

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Water Resources Management III 15

Average and standard deviation of MQD (-)


Eqns (3) and (4)
0.15 -0.2411
MEAN MQD = 0.439 H
-0.5067
0.11 DEVI MQD = 1.409 H

0.07

0.03
0 500 1000 1500 2000 H (mm)

Figure 1: Averages and standard deviations of the mean quadratic deviation


series (dimensionless forms) of the monthly flows ( H expressed in
mm).

4 Analysis at the daily level


The analysis at the daily level began with the comparison of the mean annual
flow duration curves represented in Figure 2. In this figure the stations were
considered as a whole (Figure 2a) and grouped into two sets composed, one by
the 26 stations with H > 400 mm (Figure 2b) and the other, by the 28 stations
with H < 400 mm (Figure 2c). In each diagram the yy axis was expressed in a
non-dimensional form by dividing the daily flows at each stream gauging station
by the corresponding modulus (average mean daily flow, Qmod).

Q/Qmod Q/Qmod
a) b) Q/Qmod
c)

4 4 4

2 2 2

0 0 0
0 100 200 300 0 100 200 300 0 100 200 300
Duration (day) Duration (day) Duration (day)

Figure 2: Mean annual flow duration curves a) at the 54 stream gauging


stations of Table 1; at the b) 26 and c) 28 stations of that table with
mean annual flow depths respectively higher and smaller than 400
mm.
Figure 2 shows two daily flow regimes with different characteristics: with a
notorious regularity for H > 400 mm (in connection with the proximity of the
corresponding 26 flow duration curves – Figure 2b) and very irregular for
smaller flow depths (as denoted by the dispersion of the corresponding 28 flow
duration curves – Figure 2c).
Taking into account that the mean annual duration of the modulus, D,
provides a measure of the daily flow regularity, Figure 3 contains the

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 80, © 2005 WIT Press
www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541 (on-line)
16 Water Resources Management III

representation of that duration as a function of H . This figure does not include


the results at the stream gauging stations of Manteigas and Covas as those results
were some how spurious. The figure also comprehends the representation of the
two straight lines obtained by linear regression analysis applied to the pair of
values ( H , D) at the stations with H higher and smaller than 400 mm.

Mean annual duration of the modulus, D (day)

100

60

20
0 400 800 1200
H (mm)

Figure 3: Mean annual duration of the modulus as a function of H .

Figure 3 shows that for mean annual flow depth smaller than 400 mm the
duration of the modulus, D, increases with H depending statistically on this
depth (in fact, despite the dispersion of the points of Figure 3, the correlation
coefficient of the linear regression analysis is of about 72%). For higher values
of H the duration, D, is more or less independent of H , varying only between
90 and 100 days. The estimates of the mean annual duration of Qmod given by
the two regression analysis equations for H = 400 mm are quite similar.
As the mean annual duration of the modulus is, itself, a measure of the flow
regime relative irregularity – being smaller as this regime becomes more
irregular – the conclusions presented about Figure 2 result reinforced.
To quantify the dependency between the relative temporal variability of the
daily flow depths and H , the concept of mean square deviation was generalized
to the daily level, according to the following equation:

∑ [ ( H i*, j − H i* ) ]
365
2
H
j =1
MQDi* = (5)
365

where the indexes i and j denote the year and the day, respectively, and
MQD*i =mean quadratic deviation (non-dimensional form) of the daily flows in
year i; H *i =mean daily flow depth also in year i; and H *i, j = daily flow depth in
day j of the year i.
Similarly to the procedure adopted at the monthly flow level analysis, the
mean quadratic deviation series of the daily flows obtained by eqn (5) for the 54
gauging stations of Table 1 were characterized by their averages
( MEAN MQD*i ) and standard deviations ( DEVI MQD*i ) these parameters
being represented as a function of H in Figure 4. This figure also includes the

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 80, © 2005 WIT Press
www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541 (on-line)
Water Resources Management III 17

representation of the curve (obtained by linear regression analysis applied to the


logarithmic transforms of the variables) that fit each set of 54 points as well as
the corresponding equation. Despite the dispersion of the points the correlation
coefficients of the linear regression analysis were of –74 and of –80% for the
relation between H and, respectively, MEAN MQD* e DEVI MQD*.

Average and standard deviation of MQD* (-)

0.013
-0.4153
MEAN MQD* = 0.0715 H
0.009
-0.6692
DEVI MQD* = 0.2083 H
0.005

0.001
0 500 1000 1500 2000 H (mm)

Figure 4: Averages and standard deviations of the mean quadratic deviation


series (dimensionless forms) of the daily flows ( H expressed in
mm).

The previous results show that there is also a dependency between the
relative variability of the daily flows and the mean annual flow depth, that
variability being expressed by the non-dimensional mean quadratic deviations of
the daily flow series. Taking into account that the MQD* in a given year is as
higher as the daily flow are more irregular, it can be concluded that, in average,
the relative temporal variability of the daily flows decreases as H increases.

5 Application examples
In this item the dependency between the relative temporal variability of the
annual, monthly and daily flow series and the mean annual flow depth, H , is
exemplified based on the six sets of two stream gauging stations each presented
in Table 2. The two stations that compose each set were chosen among the
stations of Table 1 in order to ensure mean annual flow depths close enough.
For each stream gauging station Table 2 shows the watershed area, the total
recording period and the mean annual flow depth in that period (as previously
presented in Table 1). The flowing additional information was also included: the
common recording period and, based on that period, the mean annual flow
depths at the two stations and three correlation coefficients. These coefficients
were computed separately for the annual, monthly and daily flows based on the
corresponding non-dimensional flow series. These series were obtained by
division of each of its terms (flow in a given year, a given month or a given day)
by the mean annual flow depth ( H in the common recording period) at the
stream gauging station under consideration.
Table 2 shows that the correlation coefficients between the non-dimensional
series of annual, of monthly or of daily flows at each pair of stations are

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 80, © 2005 WIT Press
www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541 (on-line)
18 Water Resources Management III

considerable high, even at the daily level, denoting in fact a temporal


dependency between such series.
Table 2: Sets of stream gauging stations considered in the application
examples.
Total recording period Common recording period
Stream gauging station Watershed Correlation coefficient between
Period (number of Mean annual Period (number of Mean annual non-dimensional flows
area
years) flow depth years) flow depth
Code Name Annual Monthly Daily
(km2) (mm) (mm) flows flows flows
27J/01 M. da Ponte 707 1959/60 - 1989/90 (31) 137 1971/72 - 116
0.989 0.986 0.893
27I/01 Entradas 52 1971/72 - 1989/90 (19) 124 1989/90 (19) 124
24H/03 T. do Alentejo 465 1961/62 - 1989/90 (29) 148 1977/78 - 131
0.970 0.969 0.887
25G/02 M. do Bravo 218 1977/78 - 1989/90 (13) 175 1989/90 (13) 175
24L/01 Amieira 1474 1947/48 - 1964/65 (18) 154 1947/48 - 154
0.925 0.854 0.611
24I/01 Odivelas 431 1934/35 - 1966/67 (33) 178 1964/65 (18) 175
29L/01 M. dos Fortes 288 1968/69 - 1989/90 (22) 251 1968/69 - 215
0.949 0.908 0.817
28L/02 Vascão 428 1960/61 - 1982/83 (23) 279 1982/83 (15) 254
08O/02 Cidadelhe 1685 1956/57 - 1973/74 (18) 360 1958/59 - 382
0.953 0.937 0.865
06M/01 Castanheiro 3718 1958/59 - 1995/96 (38) 366 1973/74 (16) 417
08J/01 Castro Daire 291 1945/46 - 1987/88 (43) 738 1956/57 - 772
0.963 0.957 0.865
03P/01 V.-Qt. Ranca 455 156/57 - 1995/96 (40) 784 1987/88 (32) 804

6 3
Annual flow (10 m ) Monte da Ponte (27J/01) Annual flow (-) Monte da Ponte (27J/01)
Entradas (27I/01) Entradas (27I/01)
3.0
200
2.0

100
1.0

0 0.0
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 1 4 7 10 13 16 19
Year (from 1971/72 to 1989/90) Year (from 1971/72 to 1989/90)

6 3 Annual flow (-)


Annual flow (10 m ) Cidadelhe (08O/02) Cidadelhe (08O/02)
Castanheiro (06M/01) Castanheiro (06M/01)
3000 2.0

2000
1.0
1000

0 0.0
1 4 7 10 13 16 1 4 7 10 13 16
Year (from 1958/59 to 1973/74) Year (from 1958/59 to 1973/74)

6 3
Annual flow (10 m ) Castro Daire (08J/01) Annual flow (-) Castro Daire (08J/01)
Vinhais-Qt. Ranca (03P/01) Vinhais-Qt. Ranca (03P/01)
2.0
600

400
1.0
200

0 0.0
1 6 11 16 21 26 31 1 6 11 16 21 26 31
Year (from 1956/57 to 1987/88) Year (from 1956/57 to 1987/88)

Figure 5: Annual flows in volume and non-dinensional.

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Water Resources Management III 19

Figures 5 and 6 reinforce the results of Table 2 – the former for the annual
level and the latter for the monthly level – based only on three of the six sets of
stations of Table 2.
6 3
Monthly flowl (10 m ) Monte da Ponte (27J/01) Monthly flow (-) Monte da Ponte (27J/01)
30 Entradas (27I/01) Entradas (27I/01)
0.4

20

0.2
10

0 0.0
0 12 24 36 48 60 0 12 24 36 48 60
Month (years from 1971/72 to 1975/76) Month (years from 1971/72 to 1975/76)

Monthly flow (10 m )


6 3 Cidadelhe (08O/02) Monthly flow (-) Cidadelhe (08O/02)
Castanheiro (06M/01) Castanheiro (06M/01)
600 0.4

400
0.2
200

0 0.0
0 12 24 36 48 60 0 12 24 36 48 60
Month (years from 1958/59 to 1962/63) Month (years from 1958/59 to 1962/63)

6 3 Monthly flow (-)


Monthly flow (10 m )

150 Castro Daire (08J/01) 0.4 Castro Daire (08J/01)


Vinhais-Qt. Ranca (03P/01) Vinhais-Qt. Ranca (03P/01)

100
0.2
50

0 0.0
0 12 24 36 48 60 0 12 24 36 48 60
Month (years from 1956/57 to 1960/61) Month (years from 1956/57 to 1960/61)

Figure 6: Monthly flows in volume and non-dinensional.


For each pair of stream gauging stations two representations were included in
Figures 5 and 6: one with the flows expressed in volume (left hand diagrams)
and the other with non-dimensional flows obtained by dividing each flow by the
corresponding mean annual flow (right hand diagrams). In order to allow the
perception of the results, the monthly flows were represented only for the first
five years of the corresponding common recording period.
The previous figures clearly show that despite the two stations of a same set
may have annual flow volumes quite different (due to the differences between
the corresponding watershed areas), the non-dimensional annual flow series are
always very close, that is to say, they exhibit similar relative temporal variability,
as expected in accordance with the analysis included in items 1, 3 and 4.

6 Conclusions: flow series transposition


The present paper reinforces the analysis presented by Portela and Quintela [1],
[2] and [3] for annual and monthly flows and amplifies it for daily flows,

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 80, © 2005 WIT Press
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20 Water Resources Management III

allowing to conclude that the mean annual flow depth over the watershed is a
powerful hydrological parameter that enables to assess in an easy and enough
reliable way the relative temporal variability of the flows at each of those levels.
Therefore the non-dimensional annual, monthly or daily flow series at a
given river section with a mean annual flow depth H1 can be transposed for an
ungauged river section providing the annual flow depth H 2 at this last section is
close enough to H1 . For that purpose, any of the following relationships can be
applied at the monthly and daily levels:
2 1 H 2
H i, j = H i, j , (6)
H 1

∀2
Q i2, j = Q 1i , j , (7)
∀1
Q mod 2
Q i2, j = Q 1i , j , (8)
Q mod 1
∀2
∀ i2, j = ∀ 1i , j , (9)
∀1
Q mod 2
∀ i2, j = ∀ 1i , j . (10)
Q mod 1
In the previous equations the river sections are identify by the indexes 1 and
2; j represents a month or a day of year i and H =flow depth; Q = mean
discharge; ∀ = flow volume; ∀ = mean annual volume; and Q mod = modulus.
The previous equations can be applied to the annual level by replacing the
two indexes i,j by un unique year index.
The application of the previous equations requires that the mean annual flow
at section 2 is known which does not represent an obstacule as there are several
procedures that enable to estimte that flow at an ungauged watershed.

References
[1] Portela, M.M. & Quintela, A.C., A altura do escoamento anual médio
numa bacia hidrográfica como parâmetro de regionalização de informação
hidrométrica. 1º Congresso sobre Aproveitamentos e Gestão de Recursos
Hídricos em Países de Idioma Português. Rio de Janeiro, Brasil,
pp. 218-227, 2000.
[2] Portela, M.M. & Quintela, A.C., Assessment of the streamflow
characteristics under unavailability of discharge data: the mean annual
flow depth over the watershed as a regionalization parameter. The
Portuguese case. 2002 EGS Conference. Nice, France, 2002a.
[3] Portela, M.M. & Quintela, A.C., Evaluation of the water resources in
Portuguese watersheds without streamflow data. International Conference
of Basin Organizations. Madrid, Spain, 2002b.

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