Base Flow Recession Curves Research Articles

Land use change and baseflow recession modelling in Wuryantoro Watershed, Wonogiri Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia

Hydrological phenomena on the scale of a watershed are complex and may never be understood holistically. One of the innovations in baseflow hydrological modelling is the analysis of the baseflow recession curve, generally expressed as the natural storage of river flows and containing valuable information about the properties and characteristics of natural aquifer storage. This study aims to model land use change and baseflow recession in the Wuryantoro watershed, Wonogiri Regency, Central Java Province. The research method uses an exponential model in which changes in the characteristics of a baseflow recession are a function of land use changes over a certain period. The calibration of the seven graphical models of land use change against the characteristics of the baseflow recession shows that the seven curves of the land use change graphic model have model coefficients and curve slopes that vary from gentle to steep. The slope of the gentle and steep curve describes the bottom flow deposits' condition over time. The state of water storage in the seven better graphical models is that the change of forest remains forest followed by the change of agriculture into the forest, forest into the settlement, change of agricultural land into the settlement, change of forest to agricultural land, settlement remains settlement and change of agricultural land remains agrarian land.

Determination of recharge, storage and flow characteristics of a karst aquifer using multi-method approaches (Kocaeli, Turkey)

Recharge, storage and flow characteristics of a karst aquifer were identified by correlating the results acquired from hydrogeological and speleological studies, stream/spring hydrographs, dye tracer tests, and hydrogeochemical analyses. Drinking water needs of the city of Kocaeli (Turkey) are partly supplied by karst springs (discharge 20–843 L/s) and the karst aquifer provides baseflow to streams that flow into Yuvacik Reservoir. A multi-variate dataset for characterization of the hydrological behavior of the karst aquifer was created. Stream hydrographs indicated that the aquifer comprises interconnected multipartite reservoirs, exhibiting groundwater residence times of 11–125 days. Recession coefficients of these reservoirs, obtained from master baseflow-recession curves, were 0.008–0.092 day−1. Dye tracer tests showed that groundwater velocities between recharge and discharge points were 483–1,328 m/day. Conduit flow characteristics were generally dominant in the upper reservoirs of the karst aquifer, characterized with high recession coefficients (0.017–0.092 day−1). Deeper reservoirs had a small baseflow recession coefficient (0.008 day−1). Autogenic point infiltration mechanisms were important in the recharge of many karst springs that discharged at high elevations (603–830 m amsl). However, autogenic diffusive infiltration regions (e.g. karst plateaus at high elevations) contributed to the recharge. Dye tracer tests and cave mapping revealed that depression points, allowing fast recharge, require special attention for protection and sustainable management of the karst aquifer. The results obtained from multiple methods and their correlation help to characterize the complex hydrodynamics of karst systems, and they can guide local authorities when assigning protection zones to locally important karst aquifers.

Variations in Baseflow Recession Curves as a Function of Land-Use Change in the Keduang Watershed, Wonogiri Regency, Jawa Tengah Province, Indonesia

Land-use change and its effects on hydrological processes in a watershed strongly determine the adopted land and water resource management. Human activities that lead to the conversion of forest to non-forest land can continue to modify hydrological systems. This study was intended to analyze the variation in baseflow recession curves as a function of land-use change in the Keduang Watershed, Wonogiri Regency, Jawa Tengah Province. The results showed that the types of land-use conversions had the same model of recession: Qmodel= 0.9747*Exp(-0.2357*ts) for preserved forests, Qmodel= 0.1266*Exp(-0.1238*ts), to represent the conversion of forests to agricultural areas, Qmodel= 0.1108*Exp(-0.1008*ts) for forests to settlements, Qmodel= 0.7628*Exp(-0.2015*ts) for unchanged agricultural areas, Qmodel= 0.0465*Exp(-0.1141*ts) for the conversion of agricultural areas back to forests, Qmodel= 0.1072*Exp(-0.0952*ts) for agricultural areas to settlements, and Qmodel= 0.3359*Exp(-0.1542*ts) for settlements. Overall, the equations indicate that forests can store water better and longer than converted to agricultural fields and settlements.

Development of a quantitative transport-time-based groundwater vulnerability model for non-point-source pollution in karst aquifers: a conceptual approach and example from the Tanour and Rasoun spring catchment, north-western Jordan

A quantitative transport-time-based vulnerability assessment approach for non-point-source pollution using a spatially distributed geographic information system (GIS)-generated topographic model was developed for the karst aquifer system feeding the Tanour and Rasoun springs in NW Jordan. The approach implies the assessment of the groundwater residence times in different compartments of the karst system, i.e. the epikarst, the vadose zone and the phreatic system. Groundwater transport times within the epikarst zone were determined by employing two main variables: (1) the length of the flow path, and (2) the transport velocity between the assumed point of subsurface infiltration into the soil and the location for the actual groundwater recharge at the ephemeral streams. Sub-horizontal lateral flow is assumed for the epikarst. The base-flow recession curve method was employed to estimate the effective, average and catchment-wide transmissivity of the epikarst. Based on the calculated transmissivity, three different hydraulic conductivity values were assumed to assess the effect of the unknown average saturated thickness of the epikarst. The developed method was validated by independent measurements of the transport-time-based on the δ18O breakthrough signal in the spring catchment discharge, following a recharge event. The transport-time distribution map, calculated based on flow-path length towards the streams and average solute transport velocity, shows high correlation with the catchment-averaged stable isotopes’ breakthrough curves. Because of the intensive karstification below the stream bed, residence times in the vadose and the phreatic zones can be assumed to be negligible compared to the transport times in the epikarst.

ANALISIS KURVA RESESI ALIRAN DASAR MENGGUNAKAN MODEL RESERVOIR LINIER RECESSION CURVE HYDROOFFICE PADA DAS WURYANTORO KABUPATEN WONOGIRI PROPINSI JAWA TENGAH

The hydrograph recession curve expresses the theoretical relationship between the aquifer structure and the flow of groundwater flowing into the river basin channel. These theoretical relationships are often empirically depicted using the base flow recession curve. The hydrograph recession curve is commonly used to estimate the recessionary parameters, aquifer properties and to evaluate alternative hydrological hypotheses. The river basin hydrograph recession curve records the behavior of the relationship between the aquifer structure and its association with groundwater outflow to the river channel. This research was conducted with the aim: to analyze the characteristics of the baseflow recession based on the parameters and coefficients of the recession, and the shape of the individual recession curve and the master recession curve. The characteristics of the baseflow recession to research sub-watershed have the recession curves tend to sloped, describing the water storage well enough. The parameter Q0 (recession early), α and the recession constant Krb ranging from 0,80 – 0,90 for the individual and master recession curve in all three research sub-watershed. This calculation result indicates that the recession characteristics in three research sub-watershed have the condition of water storage is excellent, because they are supported by the aquifer characteristics dominated by the geological structures are more permeable (porous).

Watershed model calibration to the base flow recession curve with and without evapotranspiration effects

AbstractCalibration of watershed models to the shape of the base flow recession curve is a way to capture the important relationship between groundwater discharge and subsurface water storage in a catchment. In some montane Mediterranean regions, such as the midelevation Providence Creek catchment in the southern Sierra Nevada of California (USA), nearly all base flow recession occurs after snowmelt, and during this time evapotranspiration (ET) usually exceeds base flow. We assess the accuracy to which watershed models can be calibrated to ET‐dominated base flow recession in Providence Creek, both in terms of fitting a discharge time‐series and realistically capturing the observed discharge‐storage relationship for the catchment. Model parameters estimated from calibrations to ET‐dominated recession are compared to parameters estimated from reference calibrations to base flow recession with ET‐effects removed (“potential recession”). We employ the Penn State Integrated Hydrologic Model (PIHM) for simulations of base flow and ET, and methods that are otherwise general in nature. In models calibrated to ET‐dominated recession, simulation errors in ET and the targeted relationship for recession (−dQ/dt versus Q) contribute substantially (up to 57% and 46%, respectively) to overestimates in the discharge‐storage differential, defined as d(lnQ)/dS, relative to that derived from water flux observations. These errors result in overestimates of deep‐subsurface hydraulic conductivity in models calibrated to ET‐dominated recession, by up to an order of magnitude, relative to reference calibrations to potential recession. These results illustrate a potential opportunity for improving model representation of discharge‐storage dynamics by calibrating to the shape of base flow recession after removing the complicating effects of ET.

Combination of two evolutionary methods for groundwater recharges estimation in semi-arid regions, Northeastern Algeria

Hydrograph recession analysis is widely used in hydrologic research and water resources planning and management. The most common applications are in the forecasting of low flows, rainfall runoff models, hydrograph analysis, and estimation of groundwater resources in a catchment. In this study, two different methods were used to estimate groundwater recharge in a catchment. The methods are based on different recession analysis techniques, and vary in their formulation. The first is an automated technique that was developed to calculate slope of the baseflow recession curve from streamflow records, which is commonly used as an indicator of groundwater reserves. This technique is an adaptation of the master recession curve (MRC) procedure. A second is the Meyboom method, which uses regression equations to calculate the recharge volume that occurs between two recessions. These methods were applied to a 30-year time series of daily discharge measured in the Seybouse Basin (6,450 km2) of Algeria. The results make clear that the recession constant provides reliable information about water availability in the study area.

감수곡선을 이용한 산림소유역 유출특성의 시계열 변화 평가

감수곡선을 이용한 산림소유역 유출특성의 시계열 변화 평가

Baseflow prediction in a data-scarce catchment with Inselberg topography, Central Mozambique

This study aimed to improve the understanding of hydrological processes in a humid (sub)tropical area in Africa with Inselberg topography. Additionally, the study intended to develop an approach for selective discharge data acquisition to determine water availability for smallholder irrigation in similar data-scarce catchments. During the December 2012–August 2013 field campaign meteorological and river stage data were collected at the Messica catchment in Central Mozambique. The 220km2 catchment has an estimated 1000ha of irrigated land, developed by smallholder farmers. Baseflow in the perennial tributary streams on the slopes of a meta-sedimentary Inselberg is the source of irrigation water. The baseflow recession curve of one of these tributaries is analysed and the water balance of an average year was determined. Precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, actual evapotranspiration and discharge were estimated to be 1224, 1462, 949 and 266mm/year respectively. Differential gauging showed that the perennial tributaries gain water; the groundwater contribution increased with approximately 50% over two and a half month relative to the downstream discharge from March to May. In the downstream parts the groundwater contribution per metre stream length is between 30% and 100% higher compared to the upstream parts for two of the tributaries. Nevertheless, due to natural streambed infiltration and irrigation canals, discharge varies over the length of these tributaries. A rainfall–runoff model (HBV) was calibrated using the field data to examine the relation between precipitation characteristics and discharge at the start of the dry season. For precipitation scenarios with low and high intensity precipitation, discharges from June onwards were approximately similar in size according to the calibrated model. This suggest that discharge at the start of the dry season is mainly determined by total precipitation and the timing of precipitation (i.e. early or late in the wet season), not by individual rainfall events or rainfall intensity. It is concluded that the use of selective discharge measurements and low frequency precipitation measurements can effectively be used for water availability assessments in Inselberg catchments. Further research should be conducted to verify the validity of the used techniques in other humid sub-tropical Inselberg areas.

Geomorphic signatures on Brutsaert base flow recession analysis

] This paper addresses the signatures of catchment geomorphology on base flow recessioncurves. Its relevance relates to the implied predictability of base flow features, which arecentral to catchment-scale transport processes and to ecohydrological function. Movingfrom the classical recession curve analysis method, originally applied in the Finger LakesRegion of New York, a large set of recession curves has been analyzed from Swissstreamflow data. For these catchments, digital elevation models have been preciselyanalyzed and a method aimed at the geomorphic origins of recession curves has beenapplied to the Swiss data set. The method links river network morphology, epitomized bytime-varying distribution of contributing channel sites, with the classic parameterization ofrecession events. This is done by assimilating two scaling exponents, and b

Effects of irrigation withdrawals on streamflows in a karst environment: lower Flint River Basin, Georgia, USA

AbstractExtensive implementation of centre pivot irrigation systems occurred between 1970 and 1980 in the lower Flint River Basin (FRB) of southwestern Georgia, USA. Groundwater within this karstic system is in direct hydraulic connection with regional streams, many of which are incised through the overburden into underlying limestone. We used long‐term U.S. Geological Survey gaging station data to evaluate multiple flow metrics of two tributaries (Ichawaynochaway Creek and Spring Creek) in the lower FRB to determine the extent of changes in stream behaviour since irrigation practices intensified. We compared pre‐ and post‐irrigation flow duration curves, 1‐, 7‐, and 14‐day minimum flows, and 8‐day (seasonal) and annual baseflow recession slopes, in addition to evaluating regional climate data to determine whether significant differences existed between the pre‐ and post‐irrigation periods. Our results showed significant changes in low‐flow durations in the post‐irrigation record for both gages, including a decrease by an order of magnitude for 98% exceedance flows at Spring Creek. Both gages indicated significant reductions in 1‐, 7‐, and 14‐day low flows. Eight‐day baseflow recession curves (within early summer months) and annual baseflow recession curves became significantly steeper during the post‐irrigation period for Ichawaynochaway Creek. We also found that a significant relationship existed between winter and summer minimum flows in both streams in the pre‐irrigation period which was disrupted in post‐irrigation years. Regional climate data for the study period revealed no significant changes in rainfall totals or frequency of drought; however, there was evidence for a shift in seasonal rainfall patterns. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Modelo para a Quantificação da Disponibilidade Hídrica: Parte 1 ? Obtenção da Equação de Recessão

Hydrologic modeling is a t ool used to better under- stand and represent the hydrologic behavior of a hydro- graphic basin as the use of hydrologic model shows great potential to characterize the water availability under cli- mate or land use condition changes. The objective of the present work was to develop a model to estimate the mini- mum streamflow of the Paracatu river and its tributaries based on precipitation data. For this study data from 21 stream and 30 rain gages were analyzed. The development of the model to estimate the minimum streamflow from precipitation data was base d on the baseflow recession curve, identifying the parameters that define the 21 stream gages, and these were the recession coefficient of the baseflow ( α ) and the groundwater flow into the main channel at the beginning of the recession (Q0). The results obtained al- lowed to conclude that: the total precipitation in the months that preceded the Q0 occurrence allowed a good estimation of the behavior of this groundwater flow; and the greatest deviations obtained for the values of α occurred in the stream gages located in headwater regions where the topo- graphic, climatic and land use conditions tend to show greater discrepancies in relation to the average conditions of the basin

NUMERICAL EXPERIMENT ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOIL PERMEABILITY AND LONG-TERM BEHAVIOR OF BASE-FLOW

Numerical experiments were carried out to investigate the relationship between the reduction curves of base-flow and the permeability of soil layer at hill-sloped forest. Variable parameters of the experiments were only saturated hydraulic conductivities in the direction of the hill slope and the normal direction.In the results, the peaks of the base-flow were controlled by the magnitude of hydraulic conductivities in the both directions and arrival times in the peak base-flow were governed by the magnitude of hydraulic conductivity in the normal direction to the soil surface. The results also showed that the shapes of the base-flow recession curves could be controlled by the magnitude of hydraulic conductivities in the direction of hill-slope.

Application of a Generalized TOPMODEL to the Small Ringelbach Catchment, Vosges, France

This paper describes the application of the revised parabolic transmissivity profile form of TOPMODEL, leading to a second‐order hyperbolic base flow recession curve, to four years of 18 minute data from the 36 ha Ringelbach research catchment in the Vosges, France. The model is completed by evapotranspiration, snowmelt and runoff routing components. As far as possible the parameters of this form of the model, or their ranges, are estimated a priori. Results are given that compare the original and revised forms of TOPMODEL, with and without optimization. One particular feature of this catchment is the availability of measurements of saturated areas. These are taken into account by using a modified distribution of the soil‐topographic index, in a first attempt to relax the assumption of uniform transmissivity in the catchment. It is shown that the reasonably good results obtained with the original model are improved with the revised model, particularly in the simulation of dry weather flows, and that further improvements are obtained with the modified soil‐topographic index distribution.

Toward a Generalization of the TOPMODEL Concepts: Topographic Indices of Hydrological Similarity

Preliminary studies of the application of TOPMODEL to the 36‐ha Ringelbach catchment suggested that the original form of exponential transmissivity function leading to the In (a/tan β) topographic index and first‐order hyperbolic base flow recession curve is not appropriate to this catchment. Two alternative forms of topographic index and soil‐topographic index are developed based on parabolic and linear transmissivity functions, leading to the more frequently observed second‐order hyperbolic and exponential recession curves, respectively. It is shown how these can be used in the same way as the original to relate catchment average water table depths to local water table depths so that patterns of saturation can be evaluated. Two companion [Ambroise et al., this issue; Freer et al., this issue] papers show how the new parabolic index is used in the prediction of Ringelbach discharges, and how the limitations of the model are reflected in the estimated predictive uncertainties using the Generalised Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) approach.

Automated Base Flow Separation and Recession Analysis Techniques

AbstractAn automated base flow separation technique has been developed and tested. Base flow is considered to be the ground‐water contribution to stream flow. Estimates of the amount of base flow can be derived from stream flow records. Such estimates are critical in the assessment of low flow characteristics of streams for use in water supply, water management, and pollution assessment. An automated base flow separation technique using a digital filter has been tested against three other automated techniques and manual separation methods. The filter appears to be comparable to other automated techniques in its ability to reproduce the results produced from graphical separation techiques. The filter technique is easy to use and has the added advantage in that it can be adjusted by the user to take into account personnel preferences in separation of stream flow into surface flow and base flow.The slope of the base flow recession has been used to estimate the volume of water in storage in the basin above the level of the stream channel, the amount of recharge to the shallow aquifer, and as an input into water budget models. A second automated technique was developed to calculate the slope of the base flow recession curve from stream flow record. This technique is an adaptation of the Master Recession Curve procedure. The results of this method were compared to manual estimates with an efficiency of 74 percent.

Baseflow Recession Curve of Small Mountain River and Its Physical Significances

Baseflow Recession Curve of Small Mountain River and Its Physical Significances

Normal-mode analysis of the structure of baseflow-recession curves

It has been observed for several years that semi-logarithmic plots of the baseflow recession for many streams which partially penetrate aquifers in the United Kingdom are not single straight-line plots. Simple modelling studies indicate that this behaviour, for typical values of aquifer parameters, occurs for even the simplest of groundwater systems. In general such studies show that the baseflow component arising from even a structurally uncomplicated aquifer should be viewed as a superposition of many, distinct exponential terms. The origin of these terms does not necessarily lie in a varied hydrogeological structure, but can arise purely from the dynamics of groundwater flow. Such a form for the baseflow recession can be used to perform empirical fits to observed data. Moreover, where more than one exponential term is contributing to the total baseflow, great care must be taken in the interpretation of associated data.

The hypsometric integral and low streamflow in two Pennsylvania provinces

Summer streamflow duration and base flow recession curves for eight watersheds draining sandstone‐siltstone‐shale terranes in the Appalachian Plateau and Folded Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania reflect variations in areal distribution and state of structural deformation of shallower lithologic units. The hypsometric integral (HI) has been used as a rapid reconnaissance technique to evaluate hydrology characteristics and to quantify the effects of lithology and structural deformation on low streamflow. The HI provides a measure of the areal extent of sandstone in each watershed, and the magnitude of summer streamflow (ft3/s/mi2) increases as the value of the integral increases, to indicate a higher percent of sandstone. Streamflow duration data from the two provinces show that siltstone‐shale areas in the mountain province can produce as much low streamflow per unit area as sandstone areas in the plateau province.

Derivation of Base Flow Recession Curves and Parameters

The Boussinesq equation is used to show that base flow recession is an exponential decay function. For a single peaked hydrograph, the storage delay factor Kb, the time for base flow to decrease by a factor of 10, is estimated. The parameter Kb is adjusted by trial so that surface flow, or the observed total flow minus base flow, is also an exponential decay function after the point of inflection on the hydrograph recession. Surface flow Ks is so determined. For 22 basins in Illinois, dormant season Kb ranges from 15–100 days and is associated with physiography. Ks varies from 1.8–6.0 days.