Masanori Katsuyama, Keitaro Fukushima and Naoko Tokuchi
Release Date: March 28, 2008

Comparison of Rainfall-Runoff Characteristics in Forested Catchments Underlain by Granitic and Sedimentary Rock with Various Forest Age
Masanori Katsuyama1), Keitaro Fukushima2) and Naoko Tokuchi3)

1) Research Institute for Humanity and Nature
2) Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University
3) Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University

(Received: November 22, 2007)
(Accepted for publication: February 16, 2008)

Abstract:
This study examines rainfall-runoff characteristics of catchments underlain by granitic and sedimentary rock. Differences in bedrock geology and forest age for sedimentary rock catchments were considered. In granite catchment, the quick flow ratio was small and baseflow was sufficient even during dry conditions because of large water storage within the soil and the relatively homogeneous weathered bedrock. In sedimentary rock catchments, water that infiltrated to the soil and fractured bedrock drained quickly, causing large quick flow over short, rainstorm timescales. The peak flow was lower in sedimentary rock catchments with older forest where the soils were more developed over longer periods of forest growth. The differences among sedimentary rock catchments by forest age were smaller than the differences between granitic and sedimentary rock catchments. Bedrock geology is of primary importance for categorizing and identifying universal rainfall-runoff characteristics.

[Full Text]

To cite this article:
Masanori Katsuyama, Keitaro Fukushima and Naoko Tokuchi: “Comparison of Rainfall-Runoff Characteristics in Forested Catchments Underlain by Granitic and Sedimentary Rock with Various Forest Age”, Hydrological Research Letters, Vol. 2, pp.14-17, (2008) .

doi:10.3178/hrl.2.14
JOI JST.JSTAGE/hrl/2.14
Copyright (c) 2008 Japan Society of Hydrology and Water Resources