Surface hydrology, sediment transport dynamics, and remote sensing of disturbed watersheds in a humid temperature region

Technical Report · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6389923· OSTI ID:6389923

Gardner, T W; Miller, A C

The specific objectives of this research are to quantify relationships between surface spectral properties and infiltration capacity explore the interaction between surface hydrology and basin morphology, specifically drainage network morphology, and develop a comprehensive process-response model for drainage basin evolution. This research examines the response of the drainage network and drainage basin water discharge to changes in the dominant processes that control infiltration and runoff, namely macropore network development. Infiltration, the primary regulator of runoff, is analyzed with respect to surface spectral characteristics and drainage basin water discharge. Changes in basin discharge measured on a storm event basis in the field are supplemented with simulated discharge events using a distributed hydrologic model. The hydrologic model is evaluated and parameterized by means of a detailed sensitivity analysis. The response of drainage basin water discharge to charges in infiltration properties of minesoils, and the inferred runoff process, and drainage network morphology is examined. The threshold discharge, or stream power, for sediment entrainment and the implications for changes in sediment discharge through time is also discussed. Ritter and Gardner conclude with a process-response model for drainage basin evolution, with implications for natural drainage basin response to climate change. Finally, basic rainfall-runoff relationships developed will be applied to an empirical method for predicting discharge on reclaimed surface mines and compared to standard relationships presently used for discharge prediction. 17 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States). Environmental Resources Research Inst.
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-87ER60594
• OSTI ID: 6389923
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/60594-T2; ON: DE92002596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540310 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EROSION
HYDROLOGY
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PRECIPITATION
PROGRESS REPORT
REMOTE SENSING
RUNOFF
SEDIMENTS
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SURFACE WATERS
TOPOGRAPHY
WATER INFLUX
WATERSHEDS