Evaluation of drainage-area ratio method used to estimate streamflow for the Red River of the North Basin, North Dakota and Minnesota

Emerson, Douglas G.; Vecchia, Aldo V.; Dahl, Ann L.

Abstract:

The drainage-area ratio method commonly is used to estimate streamflow for sites where no streamflow data were collected. To evaluate the validity of the drainage-area ratio method and to determine if an improved method could be developed to estimate streamflow, a multiple-regression technique was used to determine if drainage area, main channel slope, and precipitation were significant variables for estimating streamflow in the Red River of the North Basin. A separate regression analysis was performed for streamflow for each of three seasons-- winter, spring, and summer. Drainage area and summer precipitation were the most significant variables. However, the regression equations generally overestimated streamflows for North Dakota stations and underestimated streamflows for Minnesota stations. To correct the bias in the residuals for the two groups of stations, indicator variables were included to allow both the intercept and the coefficient for the logarithm of drainage area to depend on the group. Drainage area was the only significant variable in the revised regression equations. The exponents for the drainage-area ratio were 0.85 for the winter season, 0.91 for the spring season, and 1.02 for the summer season.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

70080

Citation Author:

Emerson, Douglas G.; Vecchia, Aldo V.; Dahl, Ann L.

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Online only

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ENGLISH

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Citation LatN:

0490000

Citation LatS:

0460000

Citation LonE:

-0000095

Citation LonW:

-0000099

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Citation Phsyical Description:

18 p.

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Scientific Investigations Report

Citation Series Code:

SIR

Citation Series Number:

2005-5017

Citation Search Results Text:

Evaluation of drainage-area ratio method used to estimate streamflow for the Red River of the North Basin, North Dakota and Minnesota; 2005; SIR; 2005-5017; Emerson, Douglas G.; Vecchia, Aldo V.; Dahl, Ann L.