Calculating catchment characteristics

A nice paper I came across recently (Latron et al., 2008), uses some simple indicators to determine rainfall–runoff relationship for a catchment. The R code for deriving them from time series is very simple and left as an excercise.

• Rainfall depth (mm)

• Mean rainfall intensity (mm)

• Maximum rainfall intensity (mm)

• Storm-flow (mm)

• Storm-flow coefficient (%)

• Base-flow specific discharge (at the start of the flood) (l/s/km2)

• Peak-flow specific discharge (l/s/km2)

• Specific discharge increment (l/s/km2)

References

• J. Latron, M. Soler, P. Llorens and F. Gallart, 2008. Spatial and temporal variability of the hydrological response in a small Mediterranean research catchment (Vallcebre, Eastern Pyrenees). Hydrol. Process. 22, 775-787.