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HERO ID
3348829
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
The variation of drainage density within a catchment
Author(s)
Gregory, KJ; Walling, DE
Year
1968
Volume
13
Issue
2
Page Numbers
61-68
DOI
10.1080/02626666809493583
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02626666809493583
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Abstract
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.
Keywords
drainage density; channel expansion; stream network expansion; variable source area; United Kingdom; stormflow; streamflow; baseflow; key article
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