Predictions of runoff hydrographs in ungauged basins
Résumé
This chapter deals with predicting the entire runoff hydrograph in ungauded basins. Runoff hydrographs form the basis for a wide range of hydrological investigations and water resources management tasks. From a scientific perspective one may be interested in predicting hydrographs in ungauged basins in order to understand how the individual processes combine to produce catchment response. From a practical perspective one may be interested in obteining design characteristics for spillways, culverts and embankments. One may also be interested in water resources management applications such as water allocation for irrigation, industry and human use, hydropower operation and environmental flow estimation. Predictions of hydrographs in ungauged basins are also essential for risk management such as in flood and drought forecasting. Finally, there is considerably interest in assessing the effects of environmental changes on the runoff hydrograph and in predicting water quality characteristics, for wich accurate runoff predictions are essential