Interpreting historical streamflow data from a third-order Coastal Plain watershed: runoff response to storm events.
Authors: | Ileana B. La Torre Torres, Devendra M. Amatya, Timothy J. Callahan |
Year: | 2009 |
Type: | Scientific Journal |
Station: | Southern Research Station |
Abstract
Hydrological studies in the Southeastern U.S. have primarily focused on runoff generation processes in
This study describes relationships between seasonal rainfall patterns and stream flow for a third order watershed, Turkey Creek, using ten years of historical rainfall and stream flow data (1964 1973). Storm event runoff-rainfall ratios were used to describe baseline runoff as a function of season and rainfall amount. It was hypothesized that runoff-rainfall ratios are smaller during the summer season and greater in the winter due to generally reduced flows as a result of increased evapotranspiration (ET) from the forests during summer-fall, and saturated soils with sustained flows in winter-spring. Alternatively, runoff-rainfall ratios may be directly proportional to the antecedent soil moisture condition (as estimated by rainfall amount during the 5 and 30 days preceding the storm event). Results showed statistically significantly (p = 0.01) higher runoff rainfall ratios for storms occurring during wet antecedent conditions than for dry antecedent conditions.