River regimes

Question 1

What is a river regime?

Answer 1

variability in its discharge throughout the course of a year in response to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration and drainage basin characteristics

Question 2

How many are there in the UK?

Answer 2

1,500

Question 3

What do river regimes vary on?

Answer 3

sensitive to climatic variation/land use changes/water abstraction

Question 4

What is a storm hydrograph?

Answer 4

the graph of discharge of a river leading up to and following a storm/rainfall event

Question 5

Why are storm hydrographs important?

Answer 5

they predict how a river might respond to a rainstorm

Question 6

Characteristics of a hydrograph?

Answer 6

• base flow
• peak rainfall
• rising limb
• receding limb
• overland/throughflow
• peak discharge
• lag time

Question 7

Flashy hydrograph?

Answer 7

• short lag time
• high peak discharge
• steep rising & falling limbs

Question 8

Drainage basins that are circular?

Answer 8

lead to flashy hydrographs because each point in the drainage basin is roughly equidistant from the measuring point on a river

Question 9

Drainage basins with steep sides?

Answer 9

flashier hydrographs because water flows more quickly on the steep slopes