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An empirical method for determining average soil infiltration rates and runoff, Powder River structural basin, Wyoming

Water-Resources Investigations Report 81-76
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https://doi.org/10.3133/wri8176

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Abstract

This report describes a method to estimate infiltration rates of soils for use in estimating runoff from small basins. Average rainfall intensity is plotted against storm duration on log-log paper. All rainfall events are designated as having either runoff or nonrunoff. A power-decay-type curve is visually fitted to separate the two types of rainfall events. This separation curve is an incipient-ponding curve and its equation describes infiltration parameters for a soil. For basins with more than one soil complex, only the incipient-ponding curve for the soil complex with the lowest infiltration rate can be defined using the separation technique. Incipient-ponding curves for soils with infiltration rates greater than the lowest curve are defined by ranking the soils according to their relative permeabilities and optimizing the curve position. A comparison of results for six basins produced computed total runoff for all events used ranging from 16.6 percent less to 2.3 percent more than measured total runoff. (USGS)

Suggested Citation

Rankl, J.G., 1982, An empirical method for determining average soil infiltration rates and runoff, Powder River structural basin, Wyoming: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 81-76, v, 38 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri8176.

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title An empirical method for determining average soil infiltration rates and runoff, Powder River structural basin, Wyoming
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 81-76
DOI 10.3133/wri8176
Year Published 1982
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division,
Description v, 38 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm.
Additional publication details