Computer programs for describing the recession of ground-water discharge and for estimating mean ground-water recharge and discharge from streamflow records-update
Water-Resources Investigations Report
98-4148
By: A. T. Rutledge
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Abstract
The computer programs included in this report can be used to develop a mathematical expression for recession of ground-water discharge and estimate mean ground-water recharge and discharge. The programs are intended for analysis of the daily streamflow record of a basin where one can reasonably assume that all, or nearly all, ground water discharges to the stream except for that which is lost to riparian evapotranspiration, and where regulation and diversion of flow can be considered to be negligible. The program RECESS determines the master reces-sion curve of streamflow recession during times when all flow can be considered to be ground-water discharge and when the profile of the ground-water-head distribution is nearly stable. The method uses a repetitive interactive procedure for selecting several periods of continuous recession, and it allows for nonlinearity in the relation between time and the logarithm of flow. The program RORA uses the recession-curve displacement method to estimate the recharge for each peak in the streamflow record. The method is based on the change in the total potential ground-water discharge that is caused by an event. Program RORA is applied to a long period of record to obtain an estimate of the mean rate of ground-water recharge. The program PART uses streamflow partitioning to estimate a daily record of base flow under the streamflow record. The method designates base flow to be equal to streamflow on days that fit a requirement of antecedent recession, linearly interpolates base flow for other days, and is applied to a long period of record to obtain an estimate of the mean rate of ground-water discharge. The results of programs RORA and PART correlate well with each other and compare reasonably with results of the corresponding manual method.
Suggested Citation
Rutledge, A.T., 1998, Computer programs for describing the recession of ground-water discharge and for estimating mean ground-water recharge and discharge from streamflow records-update (Supercedes WRI 93-4121): U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4148, vii, 43 p. :ill. ;28 cm., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri984148.
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Computer programs for describing the recession of ground-water discharge and for estimating mean ground-water recharge and discharge from streamflow records-update |
| Series title | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Series number | 98-4148 |
| DOI | 10.3133/wri984148 |
| Edition | Supercedes WRI 93-4121 |
| Year Published | 1998 |
| Language | ENGLISH |
| Publisher | U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey ; Information Services, |
| Description | vii, 43 p. :ill. ;28 cm. |