Relating hydrograph components to rainfall and streamflow: a case study from northern Taiwan

Abstract

This study investigates the characteristics of hydrograph components from a watershed in Taiwan. Hydrograph components were modelled by using a model of three serial reservoirs with one parallel reservoir. Mean rainfall was calculated by using the block kriging method. The model parameters for 38 events were calibrated by using the shuffled complex evolution optimization algorithm. The model verification was made using 18 events. Based on the study results, the following findings were obtained: (1) for single-peak events, times to peak of hydrograph components are an increasing power function of the peak time of rainfall; (2) peak discharges of hydrograph components are linearly proportional to that of total runoff, and the ratios of quick and slow runoff are approximately 83% and 17% of total runoff, respectively; and (3) the total volume of quick runoff component is 52% of total runoff and that of slow runoff is 27%.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis

Citation Li, Y.-J., Cheng, S.-J. Pao, T.-L. and Bi, Y.-J., 2012. Relating hydrograph components to rainfall and streamflow: a case study from northern Taiwan. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (5), 861–877.     

A modified monthly degree‐day model for evaluating glacier runoff changes in China. Part I: model development

The retreat of mountain glaciers and ice caps has dominated the rise in global sea level and is likely to remain an import component of eustatic sea‐level rise in the 21st century. Mountain glaciers are critical in supplying freshwater to populations inhabiting the valleys downstream who heavily rely on glacier runoff, such as arid and semi‐arid regions of western China. Owing to recent climate warming and the consequent rapid retreat of many glaciers, it is essential to evaluate the long‐term change in glacier melt water production, especially when considering the glacier area change. This paper describes the structure, principles and parameters of a modified monthly degree‐day model considering glacier area variation. Water balances in different elevation bands are calculated with full consideration of the monthly precipitation gradient and air temperature lapse rate. The degree‐day factors for ice and snow are tuned by comparing simulated variables to observation data for the same period, such as mass balance, equilibrium line altitude and glacier runoff depth. The glacier area–volume scaling factor is calibrated with the observed glacier area change monitored by remote sensing data of seven sub‐basins of the Tarim interior basin. Based on meteorological data, the glacier area, mass balance and runoff are estimated. The model can be used to evaluate the long‐term changes of melt water in all glacierized basins of western China, especially for those with limited observation data. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Variable water‐saturated areas and streamflow generation in the small Ringelbach catchment (Vosges Mountains,France): the master recession curve as an equilibrium curve for interactions between atmosphere,surface and ground waters

In the small Ringelbach research catchment, where studies on the water cycle components in a granitic mountainous environment have been conducted since 1976, the water‐saturated areas that are hydraulically connected to the outlet play a major role in the streamflow generation, as it is here that complex interactions between atmosphere, surface and ground waters take place. During baseflow recession periods, which may last several months between two groundwater recharge events, the atmospheric inputs of water and energy on these contributing areas only explain the streamflow fluctuations observed around the master recession curve, which defines the groundwater contribution: fluctuating above it in the case of precipitation input on these areas, below it in the case of evaporation output from these areas. Streamflow may therefore largely deviate from the master recession curve in the case of long, hot, dry spells. Detailed mapping has shown that their variable extent is well related to baseflow by a loglinear curve. On the other hand, a synthetic master recession curve, well fitted by a second‐order hyperbolic function, has been obtained from numerous pure recession periods. Both based on these two curves, a simple procedure and a simple model have been used to (i) validate the hypothesis that the connected saturated areas are the only permanent variable contributing areas and (ii) simulate the daily streamflow volumes over long baseflow recession periods by a water balance of the aquifer below these areas only. The storm runoff ratio for small to moderate rainfall events is indeed corresponding to the catchment saturated fraction at that time. The volume of daily streamflow oscillations is indeed corresponding to the evaporation at the potential rate from the saturated areas only. In both cases, streamflow naturally tends towards the master recession curve after the end of any atmospheric perturbation. Introducing these findings into TOPMODEL led to significantly improved simulation results during baseflow recession periods. The master recession curve may therefore be considered as a dynamic equilibrium curve. Together with the relationship between saturated extent and baseflow, it provides the main characteristics necessary to understand and model the interactions at this complex interface and the resulting daily streamflow variations during baseflow recession periods in this type of catchment. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sedimentology of a debris‐rich,perhumid valley glacier margin in the Rakaia Valley,South Island,New Zealand

The sedimentology and stratigraphy of a multi‐phase glaciation sequence dating to Marine Isotope Stage 6 in the Rakaia Valley, South Island, New Zealand, is presented. This outcrop presents an example of the depositional signature of an end member of temperate valley glaciation, where voluminous sediment supply in a tectonically active setting combines with high annual temperatures and low seasonality to generate significant year‐round glacifluvial activity. Such glacial systems produce geological–climatic units that are dominated by thick sequences of aggradational gravels and proglacial lake sediments trapped behind outwash heads during deglaciation. At Bayfields Cliff, outwash sequences record an oscillating glacier margin marked by a sequence of glacier‐fed, Gilbert‐type deltas. The deltas are cut by numerous small‐scale, syndepositional, normal faults indicating both loss of glacier support and melt‐out of buried ice. A larger‐scale thrust fault system reflects late‐stage ice overrun. Braid plain gravels and chaotic disturbed glacial lake sediments are also recorded. A notable feature of these systems is the virtual absence of till in an environment with much other evidence for proximal ice. Cumulatively we regard these sediment–landform associations as diagnostic of debris‐laden, perhumid, temperate valley glacier systems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulated runoff responses to land use in the middle and upstream reaches of Taoerhe River basin,Northeast China,in wet,average and dry years

Study on runoff variations and responses can lay a foundation for flood control, water allocation and integrated river basin management. This study applied the Soil and Water Assessment Tool model to simulate the effects of land use on annual and monthly runoff in the Middle and Upstream Reaches of Taoerhe River basin, Northeast China, under the wet, average and dry climate conditions through scenario analysis. The results showed that from the early 1970s to 2000, land use change with an increase in farmland (17.0%) and decreases in forest (10.6%), grassland (4.6%) and water body (3.1%) caused increases in annual and monthly runoff. This effect was more distinct in the wet season or in the wet year, suggesting that land use change from the early 1970s to 2000 may increase the flood potential in the wet season. Increases in precipitation and air temperature from the average to wet year led to annual and monthly (March and from June to December) runoff increases, while a decrease in precipitation and an increase in air temperature from the average to dry year induced decreases in annual and monthly (all months except March) runoff, and moreover, these effects were more remarkable in the wet season than those in the dry season. Due to the integrated effects of changing land use and climate conditions, the annual runoff increased (decreased) by 70.1 mm (25.2 mm) or 197.4% (71.0%) from the average to wet (dry) year. In conclusion, climate conditions, especially precipitation, played an important role in runoff variations while land use change was secondary over the study area, and furthermore, the effects of changes in land use and/or climate conditions on monthly runoff were larger in the wet season. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of a conceptual and physically based model in simulating the response of a semi‐urbanized watershed in San Antonio,Texas

The need for accurate hydrologic analysis and rainfall–runoff modelling tools has been rapidly increasing because of the growing complexity of operational hydrologic and hydraulic problems associated with population growth, rapid urbanization and expansion of agricultural activities. Given the recent advances in remote sensing of physiographic features and the availability of near real‐time precipitation products, rainfall–runoff models are expected to predict runoff more accurately. In this study, we compare the performance and implementation requirements of two rainfall–runoff models for a semi‐urbanized watershed. One is a semi‐distributed conceptual model, the Hydrologic Engineering Center‐Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC‐HMS). The other is a physically based, distributed‐parameter hydrologic model, the Gridded Surface Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis (GSSHA). Four flood events that took place on the Leon Creek watershed, a sub‐watershed of the San Antonio River basin in Texas, were used in this study. The two models were driven by the Multisensor Precipitation Estimator radar products. One event (in 2007) was used for HEC‐HMS and GSSHA calibrations. Two events (in 2004 and 2007) were used for further calibration of HEC‐HMS. Three events (in 2002, 2004 and 2010) were used for model validation. In general, the physically based, distributed‐parameter model performed better than the conceptual model and required less calibration. The two models were prepared with the same minimum required input data, and the effort required to build the two models did not differ substantially. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of bedrock flow on catchment rainfall‐runoff characteristics and the water balance in forested catchments in Tanzawa Mountains,Japan

In this paper, we examined the role of bedrock groundwater discharge and recharge on the water balance and runoff characteristics in forested headwater catchments. Using rigorous observations of catchment precipitation, discharge and streamwater chemistry, we quantified net bedrock flow rates and contributions to streamwater runoff and the water balance in three forested catchments (second‐order to third‐order catchments) underlain by uniform bedrock in Japan. We found that annual rainfall in 2010 was 3130 mm. In the same period, annual discharge in the three catchments varied from 1800 to 3900 mm/year. Annual net bedrock flow rates estimated by the chloride mass balance method at each catchment ranged from ?1600 to 700 mm/year. The net bedrock flow rates were substantially different in the second‐order and third‐order catchments. During baseflow, discharge from the three catchments was significantly different; conversely, peak flows during large storm events and direct runoff ratios were not significantly different. These results suggest that differences in baseflow discharge rates, which are affected by bedrock flow and intercatchment groundwater transfer, result in the differences in water balance among the catchments. This study also suggests that in these second‐order to third‐order catchments, the drainage area during baseflow varies because of differences between the bedrock drainage area and surface drainage area, but that the effective drainage area during storm flow approaches the surface drainage area. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

中国第四纪冰川地质遗迹调查方法综述

第四纪冰川和冰川地质遗迹的研究,是研究第四纪全球气候变化的重要课题之一。中国第四纪冰川地质遗迹分布很广,类型多。最北的大兴安岭、南部的广西大明山、东部的长白山和台湾玉山、最西的喀喇昆仑山第四纪冰川地质遗迹均有分布,是世界上低纬度地区山岳冰川发育最广泛的国家。本文在前人研究的基础上,系统阐述我国第四纪冰川地质遗迹分布概况,结合开展的全国重要地质遗迹调查,以地质遗迹调查规范为基础,系统开展第四纪冰川地质遗迹调查方法研究。根据冰川在运动过程中对地面的侵蚀、冰碛物的搬运和堆积等不同的地质作用阶段,总结我国第四纪冰川地质遗迹调查方法体系,为开展同类地质遗迹调查提供方法指导依据。     

基于冰川钻孔温度的古气候重建研究进展北大核心CSCD

冰川内部温度与过去冰面温度变化密切相关,因此可以利用冰川钻孔温度对过去冰面温度变化过程进行重建。耦合的热传导-冰流物理模型与相关反演算法,是基于冰川钻孔温度进行古气候重建研究的理论基础和关键。论文收集了过去三十多年基于冰川钻孔温度进行古气候重建的研究文献,从冰川钻孔温度对气候变化的响应和古气候重建等方面进行了概述,并简要讨论了不同反演算法的优劣性和适用条件。尽管很多因素(如太阳辐射、融水等)都会对冰川钻孔温度造成影响,但两极或高纬地区的冷冰川钻孔温度能较好地反映气候变化历史。目前已通过这些不同地区的冰川钻孔温度,重建了末次冰期冰盛期以来不同时间尺度的气候变化历史,同时可与对应的冰芯记录相互印证。此外,通过冰川钻孔温度可以研究冰川与气温的耦合作用,并进一步预测冰川对未来气候变化的响应。利用中纬度冷冰川钻孔温度开展古气候重建的研究较少,未来加深这一方面的研究将有助于揭示中纬度高海拔地区的气候变化状况。