Explanation of River Length Exercise

Exercise Objective

Exercise Explanation

1. Examine the image showing the two hydrographs, and determine whether you had selected the correct river form for each color.
2. Shorter rivers will push a flood wave or other runoff hydrograph through the watershed more rapidly, creating a higher magnitude event with shorter duration, as shown in the blue hydrograph.
3. Longer rivers will move a flood wave or other runoff hydrograph through the watershed more slowly, creating a lower magnitude event with longer duration, as shown in the red hydrograph.