PHYSICAL WORLD STREAMFLOW HYDROLOGY ASSIGNMENT

Flow fluctuations are caused by three processes each has a unique signal.

1) Precipitation events will feature a smooth but steep rise followed by a gentle fall off in flow.  Note Figure 2 and 3 below.

2) Operating Dams can cause a sharp drop in flow.  Dams will also cause a sharp rise in flow followed by a sharp drop or plateau in flow.  Dams that are not hydropower tend to reduce the impact of rain events. Figure 2 and 4.

3) Wastewater treatment plants have a daily signal peaking at the same time each day.  Note the signal in Figure 1 below.

Stream links MA-  Stream links RI  Stream links  CT Stream links NH

Your task is to examine the real-time New England streamflow record from your stream for the past three weeks.

The goal is to identify the causes of the streamflow variations for the period, identify the flow per unit area and the percent change from the maximum to minimum values..

You need to print this graph out and interpret it.  Rainfall links are available for some of the locations to aid in interpretation, you can certainly use the rainfall record from a different stream in the same region.   

The hydrograph at left is a good example of a dam altering flow, note the sharp drop on October 15. This is not typical of natural stream.
The hydrograph at right is a good example of a natural precipitation event beginning on October 14 notice the smooth rise and gentler fall off.
This is a hydrograph of a pair of rain events one intense on October 11 and one larger but not as intense on October 14.
This is a hydrograph of stream fluctuations induced by daily changes in waste water treatment plant output.