Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
3348829 
Journal Article 
The variation of drainage density within a catchment 
Gregory, KJ; Walling, DE 
1968 
13 
61-68 
Actual discharges from two experimental catchments are related to the corresponding measurements
of the length of channel flow; within a single catchment this is equivalent to drainage density. Drainage
densities ranging from less than 1.0 to nearly 10.0 are associated with discharges ranging from 0.15
to nearly 20.0 c.f.s. per square mile. In each catchment all discharge values (Q) and drainage density values (Dd) are related by a function approximately ofthe form Qoc Dd,2, which is then discussed in relation
to studies made of the variation of streamflow and drainage density between catchments. It is suggested that both peak flow and base flow are related to drainage density in the same way. Studies which include
drainage density as a basin characteristic and which relate it to water yield should acknowledge that its
value varies within anyone catchment, and therefore that the drainage density values derived by a particular method can be related only to one type of flow. In Great Britain the watercourses shown on the 1:10,560 maps relate to specific low flow discharges. 
drainage density; channel expansion; stream network expansion; variable source area; United Kingdom; stormflow; streamflow; baseflow; key article