GEOG 372 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Flood, Allometry, Sediment Transport
3 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
The maximum height of the water determines the shape of the channel. Average of the max height (annual peak flow) over many years is used. High runoff-generating conditions and flood peaks vary from year to year (ex: hurricane) Median could be a more accurate average value if there is outlying data due to floods increases faster than qav flood as you move downstream. Use a cumulative distribution (how many years had qav higher than x?) Divide total years of the record by the number of years with qav > x. Usually only reliable over shorter time spans, due to changing climates. Mean qav generally has a recurrence of 2-3 years. Specific value does not have much significance for geomorphology. Floods are more dramatic in headwaters (flash floods) Lakes lower flood levels downstream by moderating flow. Downstream, mean flow increases at a faster rate than the mean flood flow. Floods transport faster in steeper narrower channels (upstream)
