An assessment of the dynamic response characteristics of streamflow in the Balquhidder catchments

Abstract The method of rainfall-runoff modelling and hydrograph separation developed in an earlier paper is applied to the Kirkton and Monachyle catchments situated near Balquhidder, Scotland. Using daily rainfall and streamflow data, natural differences between the quick and slow flow responses for the Kirkton and Monachyle catchments are quantified, and an attempt is made to detect the impact of land-use changes on these natural regimes (clear-felling in part of the Kirkton and drainage ditching and conifer planting in part of the Monachyle). Dynamic response characteristics for the quick and slow flow components are defined in terms of time constants, relative throughput volumes and unit hydrograph peaks. These response characteristics are estimated and compared for annual periods before and after the land-use changes. For both the Kirkton and Monachyle, the effects of the land-use changes (affecting part of each catchment) on the hydrological response are not detectable at the catchment outlets. The interannual variation of the dynamic response characteristics falls within the inherent uncertainty expected if no land-use changes had occurred.