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FLOW PERSISTENCE AS A MODIFIER OF SEASONAL RUNOFF PATTERNS 1
Author(s) -
Snyder W.M.,
Thomas A.W.,
Dillard A.L.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1989.tb05396.x
Subject(s) - surface runoff , antecedent (behavioral psychology) , hydrology (agriculture) , watershed , environmental science , runoff curve number , dry season , geography , geology , ecology , computer science , cartography , biology , geotechnical engineering , psychology , developmental psychology , machine learning
The effect of flow persistence on seasonal patterns of watershed runoff was modeled by using runoff of the immediate antecedent month as an index. Monthly runoff was expressed as a function of monthly rainfall, season of the year, and runoff of the antecedent month. The three independent variables were expressed functionally as sliding polynomials, thus producing a piece‐wise, form‐free, three‐dimensional causative structure. A model form allowing complete interactivity of the three independent variables could not be optimized because of insufficient data with high values of both antecedent runoff and monthly rainfall. A model with reduced interactivity was successfully optimized. Data sets from five watersheds ranging from 0.14 to 398 square miles were analyzed. Results were presented as a series of contour maps that showed contours of monthly runoff in the data space of season and monthly rain. In the series of maps, the patterns of the runoff contours changed with changing values of antecedent runoff. During the wet season of the year the contours changed significantly with antecedent runoff, but changes in the dry season were minimal. The quantitative change of runoff was more readily portrayed with cross‐sections through the contoured surfaces.