Calibration of Base Flow Separation Methods with Streamflow Conductivity

Authors

Mark T. Stewart, University of South FloridaFollow
Joseph Cimino, WRA Consultants Inc., Tampa, FL
Mark Ross, University of South Florida

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2007

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2006.00263.x

Abstract

The conductivity mass-balance (CMB) method can be used to calibrate analytical base flow separation methods. The principal CMB assumptions are base flow conductivity is equal to streamflow conductivity at lowest flows, runoff conductivity is equal to streamflow conductivity at highest flows, and base flow and runoff conductivities are assumed to be constants over the period of record. To test the CMB assumptions, fluid conductivities of ground water, surface runoff, and streamflow were measured during wet and dry conditions in a 12-km² stream basin. Ground water conductivities at wells varied an average of 6% from dry to wet conditions, while stream conductivities varied 58%. Shallow ground water conductivity varied significantly with distance from the stream, with lowest conductivities of 87 μS/cm near the divide, a maximum of 520 μS/cm 59 m from the stream, and 215 μS/cm 22 m from the stream. Runoff conductivities measured in three rain events remained nearly constant, with lower conductivities of 35 μS/cm near the divide and 50 μS/cm near the stream. The CMB method was applied to the records from 10 USGS stream-gauging stations in Texas, Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida to calibrate the USGS base flow separation technique, HYSEP, by varying the time parameter 2N*. There is a statistically significant relationship between basin areas and calibrated values of 2N*, expressed as N = 0.46A^0.44, with N in days and A in km². The widely accepted relationship N = 0.83A^0.2 is not valid for these basins. Other analytic methods can also be calibrated with the CMB method.

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Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Groundwater, v. 45, issue 1, p. 17-27

Scholar Commons Citation

Stewart, Mark T.; Cimino, Joseph; and Ross, Mark, "Calibration of Base Flow Separation Methods with Streamflow Conductivity" (2007). School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications. 10.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/geo_facpub/10