INSTANTANEOUS UNIT HYDROGRAPHS, PEAK DISCHARGES AND TIME LAGS IN URBAN BASINS

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Abstract
The effects of urbanization of a basin on the runoff have been investigated in the past by the use of linear conceptual models in which the time lag appears as an important parameter. However, in this approach the effects of noise in the data, of sampling rate, of errors due to the lack of synchronization between the effective rainfall and runoff on the instantaneous unit hydrograph do not become readily apparent. A case in which the cumulative effects of these factors are predominant is presented as an example of the possible difficulties which might be encountered in the analysis of urban hydrological data by the unit hydrograph method. The disadvantages of relating the peak discharge, the time to peak discharge and the time lag to the physiographic characteristics alone have been discussed. Alternative regression relationships which involve storm characteristics along with the physiographic characteristics to estimate the peak discharge, time to peak discharge and time lag have been presented.

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