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Diagram Q3 Hydrograph for the River Don, Yorkshire, 10-12 November 2019 Study Diagram Q3- - Scottish Highers Geography - Question 3 - 2023
Question 3
Diagram Q3 Hydrograph for the River Don, Yorkshire, 10-12 November 2019 Study Diagram Q3-. For the River Don from 10-12 November: a) describe the changes in disch... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Diagram Q3 Hydrograph for the River Don, Yorkshire, 10-12 November 2019 Study Diagram Q3- - Scottish Highers Geography - Question 3 - 2023
Step 1
describe the changes in discharge level
Answer
From the hydrograph, we can observe a clear increase in discharge levels on 10 November. Discharge began to rise significantly around 1900, reaching its peak around 0600 on 11 November with a maximum discharge of approximately 90 cubic meters per second. Following this peak, the discharge started to decrease steadily, returning to lower levels by the evening of 12 November. This rise is correlated with periods of rainfall as indicated in the diagram, where increased rainfall directly coincides with rising discharge levels.
Step 2
suggest reasons why these changes may have occurred
Answer
Several factors could explain the observed changes:
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Rainfall Intensity: The initial rise in discharge could be attributed to heavy rainfall that occurred during the night of 10 November. The substantial volume of rain resulted in increased runoff into the river.
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Soil Saturation: As the soil becomes saturated, less water can be absorbed, leading to greater amounts of groundwater contributing to river discharge. This is likely as the area experienced prolonged rain.
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** vegetation cover**: Areas with less vegetation can lead to quicker runoff. If there were changes in land use or vegetation cover, it would affect how quickly water enters the river system.
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Storage Effects: The presence of impermeable surfaces (like urban areas) would further amplify runoff into the river, causing rapid increases in discharge levels before slowing down once the rain ceases.
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Time Lag: There is usually a time lag between rainfall and peak discharge, which can explain why there is a delayed response in discharge levels after the initial rainfall recorded.