Rivers 2

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River discharge

River discharge is the volume of water in a river at any given time.
It is measured in cumecs.
The discharge depends on the relationship between precipitation, evapotranspiration, and storage factors.

Discharge is shown on hydrographs, they show annual patterns of flow (river regime) in response to climate. Short term variations are shown using a flood or storm hydrograph.

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Storm hydrograph

Shows a rivers discharge over a short period of time usually during a rainstorm.

The starting and finishing level is called base flow. As storm water enters the drainage basin the discharge rises shown by the rising limb to reach the peak discharge- indicates highest flow in channel.

The receding limb shows the fall in the discharge back to the base level. The time delay between maximum rainfall and peak discharge is lag time.

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