Effects of urbanization on watershed hydrology: The scaling of discharge with drainage area

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2006 Effects of urbanization on watershed hydrology: The scaling of discharge with drainage area Joshua C. Galster; Joshua C. Galster 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University, 31 Williams, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Frank J. Pazzaglia; Frank J. Pazzaglia 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University, 31 Williams, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bruce R. Hargreaves; Bruce R. Hargreaves 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University, 31 Williams, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Donald P. Morris; Donald P. Morris 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University, 31 Williams, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen C. Peters; Stephen C. Peters 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University, 31 Williams, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard N. Weisman Richard N. Weisman 2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University, 19 Memorial Drive West, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2006) 34 (9): 713–716. https://doi.org/10.1130/G22633.1 Article history received: 23 Jan 2006 rev-recd: 29 Mar 2006 accepted: 06 Apr 2006 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Joshua C. Galster, Frank J. Pazzaglia, Bruce R. Hargreaves, Donald P. Morris, Stephen C. Peters, Richard N. Weisman; Effects of urbanization on watershed hydrology: The scaling of discharge with drainage area. Geology 2006;; 34 (9): 713–716. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G22633.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract This study examines the effects of impervious surfaces within urbanized land on the scaling of river discharge with drainage area. Discharge in a river channel grows as drainage basin area increases following the general equation Q = kAc, where Q is river discharge, k is a measure of river base flow, A is upstream drainage area, and c is the scaling power dependency. Land use is a critical variable in the examination of river discharge; discharge has significant geologic and ecologic influences on fluvial systems. Discharge is assumed to scale linearly or nearly linearly with drainage area (c ∼1), but in spite of its widespread application, the relationship has not been explicitly tested with respect to urbanization. Here we show that in small urban settings the scaling is nonlinear for peak flows. It is proposed that effective water loading occurs through a combination of increased runoff and an increase in the rate of transport to the rivers. These higher discharges in urban rivers have the potential to increase erosion, degrade aquatic habitats, and significantly alter channel forms. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.