RELATING BASEFLOW TO CATCHMENT PROPERTIES IN SOUTH-EASTERN AUSTRALIA

This paper examines the influence of a set of geology-vegetation group s and a number of dimensionless catchment properties, including topogr aphic and climatic indices, on the baseflow index for 114 catchments i n Victoria, Australia, with areas ranging from 0.05 to 192 km(2). Ther e are 12 geology-vegetation groups, based on the geology and indigenou s vegetation community of the catchment. They constitute the most impo rtant factor determining the value of baseflow index. The groups are c onsidered as surrogates that represent climatic history, the capacity for recharge, and the transmissivity of the bedrock and soils. No tren ds are found in plots of baseflow index against any dimensionless topo graphic parameters within the geology-vegetation groups. Examination o f annual trends in a catchment that was clearfelled in 1972 shows no e vidence that baseflow index is affected by forest growth stage. There appears to be no effect of catchment size on baseflow index for catchm ent areas up to 100 km(2). The evidence is inconclusive as to a size e ffect outside this range. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.