SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF LOW FLOWS ACROSS A PORTION OF THE CENTRAL SOUTHERN ALPS, NEW ZEALAND

Flows were measured at 48 tributaries of the Rakaia, Hokitika, Waitaha and Mikonui Rivers, on 21 March 1978, during a period of extreme summer low flow, and at 54 tributaries, on 17 July 1979, during winter low flow. Summer low-flow runoff varies approximately linearly with mean annual precipitation...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of hydrology, New Zealand New Zealand, 1983-01, Vol.22 (2), p.123-137
Main Authors: Whitehouse, I. E., McSaveney, M. J., Horrell, G. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Altitude
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Geomorphology, landform evolution
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
Meteorological services
Precipitation
Rain
Regolith
River basins
Snow
Summer
Surficial geology
Tributaries
Winter
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Summary:Flows were measured at 48 tributaries of the Rakaia, Hokitika, Waitaha and Mikonui Rivers, on 21 March 1978, during a period of extreme summer low flow, and at 54 tributaries, on 17 July 1979, during winter low flow. Summer low-flow runoff varies approximately linearly with mean annual precipitation. Mean annual precipitation explained most of the observed variance in instantaneous specific discharge for summer low flow in a simple power-law relationship, and could usefully be used to interpolate between sites of measured summer low flows. Winter low flows do not correlate with mean annual precipitation, with basin altitude, or with any other easily measured drainage-basin parameter. Winter and summer low flows in this region belong to distinct populations and should be treated separately in the prediction of extremes.
ISSN:0022-1708
2463-3933