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Vegetation characteristics and the prediction of runoff: Analysis of an experiment in the New Forest, Hampshire
Author(s) -
Gurnell A. M.,
Gregory K. J.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.3360010202
Subject(s) - surface runoff , baseflow , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , hydrograph , vegetation (pathology) , woodland , drainage basin , flood myth , storm , streamflow , ecology , geography , geology , meteorology , medicine , cartography , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , pathology , biology
Vegetation characteristics have not been sufficiently utilized in catchment runoff models. An analysis of storm hydrograph data from nested subareas of the Highland Water catchment, New Forest, U.K., indicates that depth of runoff and peak discharge from areas under heathland cover is substantially greater than from areas under woodland cover at several spatial scales. The significance of heath vegetation composition in the identification of runoff contributing areas is illustrated by an analysis of vegetation composition, water table depth, baseflow discharge and storm runoff from areas predominantly covered by heathland. Methods are proposed to employ the hydrological characteristics of heathland to refine and develop the Flood Studies Approach to discharge estimation in ungauged heathland catchments. Such an approach is greatly facilitated by the use of remotely‐sensed data.