AN EVALUATION OF TWO HYDROGRAPH SEPARATION METHODS OF POTENTIAL USE IN REGIONAL WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT

摘要

Streamflow data are more useful for evaluating hydrologic model results and studying water quality once baseflow and storm runoff have been separated. However, it is important to select an appropriate hydrograph separation method. We examined two methods and evaluated their conceptual basis, ease of application, cost of data processing, and acceptability of results. We chose the quick flow hydrograph separation method, which is in use at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, because it gives acceptable results and is easy and inexpensive to use. For regional assessment, we anticipate that the Coweeta program will be useful as an aid in developing general quantitative relationships between changes in land use and the associated changes in surface runoff yield and water quality degradation.