Precipitation-runoff relationships for palaeohydrology

Wang, Hongya (1988) Precipitation-runoff relationships for palaeohydrology. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Abstract

Four curves relating mean annual precipitation and mean annual runoff for four specific values of mean annual temperature were proposed by Langbein and Schumm. Schumm (1965) argued that these curves based on modern data allow an estimation of Quaternary changes of runoff from palaeoclimatic information. However, this approach has never been tested since it was formally proposed in 1965.

In this research, using data for 726 small drainage basins in the conterminous United States, Zimbabwe, Australia and Finland, relationships between mean annual precipitation and mean annual runoff and between mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature and mean annual runoff are established. Comparison of some of the newly-derived relationships with the Langbein- Schumm curves confirms and indicates the general validity and limitations of the approach of Langbein and Schumm. A new "rule" describing climate-runoff associations is suggested on the basis of modifying the Langbein and Schumm "rule".

Finally, the way in which to use some of the newly-derived precipitation-runoff relationships to estimate runoff values for different palaeoclimates is suggested. (DX84044)

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