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. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

  Radarweg 29
  Amsterdam,   Netherlands  1043 NX
• Authors:
  • Nutbrown, D A
  • Downing, R A
• Publication Date: 1976-8

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 327-340
• Serial:
  • Journal of Hydrology
  • Volume: 30
  • Issue Number: 4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aquifers; Curves (Geometry); Exponential functions; Flow; Groundwater; Logarithms; Recession; Streams
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00157745
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM