Use of the continuous slope-area method to estimate runoff in a network of ephemeral channels, southeast Arizona, USA

Journal of Hydrology
By: , and 

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Abstract

The continuous slope-area (CSA) method is an innovative gaging method for indirect computation of complete-event discharge hydrographs that can be applied when direct measurement methods are unsafe, impractical, or impossible to apply. This paper reports on use of the method to produce event-specific discharge hydrographs in a network of sand-bedded ephemeral stream channels in southeast Arizona, USA, for water year 2008. The method provided satisfactory discharge estimates for flows that span channel banks, and for moderate to large flows, with about 10–16% uncertainty, respectively for total flow volume and peak flow, as compared to results obtained with an alternate method. Our results also suggest that the CSA method may be useful for estimating runoff of small flows, and during recessions, but with increased uncertainty.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Use of the continuous slope-area method to estimate runoff in a network of ephemeral channels, southeast Arizona, USA
Series title Journal of Hydrology
DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.09.022
Volume 472-473
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Arizona Water Science Center
Description 11 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Journal of Hydrology
First page 148
Last page 158
Country United States
State Arizona
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