So far there is not a globally known system for catchment classification that will aid in improved models and communication amongst hydrologists. This paper combines two common methods used to analyze the hydrologic response of watersheds, one being storm-flow hydrograph separation and the other being the store and release of water as baseflow, to improve our ability to develop such a classification. The two distinctions are combined using a catchment sensitivity function that was developed by James Kirchner (2009) and an event flow response model that is derived under the assumptions following the US Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS- CN) method. The model is applied to 671 small-to-medium sized watersheds with minimal human impact across the United States to extract parameters representing the relationship between catchment storage and event runoff. Parameters from the model that are comparable across watersheds are mapped spatially to locate trends to better understand how basins act based off of location. The results show particular trends along the Appalachian Mountains where the range of storage values in the Blue Ridge Mountains are collectively larger than the watersheds in the Ridge and Valley Appalachians that collectively show smaller range of storage values. There are also noticeable spatial clusters of the model’s parameters, such as the maximum storage parameter showing low values clustered around Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. Ciaran Harman (charman1@jhu.edu) is the advisor/reader for this paper.
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Quantifying Relationships Between Storage and Discharge in a Large Database of Reference Watersheds Across the Continental US
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