Rivers

Question 1

What is discharge?

Answer 1

The combined result of the many climatological and geographical factors which interact within a drainage basin

Question 2

Why is the knowledge of discharge important?

Answer 2

-it is important in the assessment & management of water resources (eg irrigation provision), the design of water-related structures (eg reservoirs) and flood warning and alleviation schemes
-the development of hydroelectric power
-protecting the ecological health of watercourses and wetlands

Question 3

How many gauging stations are in the uks network?

Answer 3

1,500

Question 4

How many river systems are in the uk?

Answer 4

1,500

Question 5

What is the distribution of rain fall like in the uk?

Answer 5

-fairly evenly distributed
-a slight autumn/winter maximum, particularly concentrated in the west
-seasonal variations in temp mean that evapotranspiration loses are heavily concentrated in summer

Question 6

How does discharge in the uk variate between seasons?

Answer 6

-late summer/autumn minimum

Question 7

What is the discharge pattern like in the Mohawk river?

Answer 7

-extremely snowy,cold and long winters
-drier hot summers

Question 8

What is the water balance?

Answer 8

The balance between inputs (precipitation) and outputs (run-off, evapotranspiration,soil and groundwater storage)

Question 9

What is the formula for water balance?

Answer 9

Precipitation (p)= discharge (q) + evapotranspiration (e)+ changes in storage (s)