AN ASSESSMENT OF THE DYNAMIC-RESPONSE CHARACTERISTICS OF STREAMFLOW IN THE BALQUHIDDER CATCHMENTS

The method of rainfall-runoff modelling and hydrograph separation deve loped in an earlier paper is applied to the Kirkton and Monachyle catc hments situated near Balquhidder, Scotland. Using daily rainfall and s treamflow data, natural differences between the quick and slow flow re sponses for the Kirkton and Monachyle catchments are quantified, and a n attempt is made to detect the impact of land-use changes on these na tural regimes (clear-felling in part of the Kirkton and drainage ditch ing and conifer planting in part of the Monachyle). Dynamic response c haracteristics for the quick and slow flow components are defined in t erms of time constants, relative throughput volumes and unit hydrograp h peaks. These response characteristics are estimated and compared for annual periods before and after the land-use changes. For both the Ki rkton and Monachyle, the effects of the land-use changes (affecting pa rt of each catchment) on the hydrological response are not detectable at the catchment outlets. The interannual variation of the dynamic res ponse characteristics falls within the inherent uncertainty expected i f no land-use changes had occurred.