Drainage Basins
Figure 1: Graph of normal precipitation vs elevation
Figure 1: Graph of normal precipitation vs elevation
Figure 2: Shaded relief map of Vermont, towns and cities are displayed in red numbers, with a scale bar to the right of the map
Figure 2: Shaded relief map of Vermont, towns and cities are displayed in red numbers, with a scale bar to the right of the map
Calculations:
Calculations:
Vermont Average Precipitation: 42.15 inches (Source: US Weather Service)
Vermont Average Precipitation: 42.15 inches (Source: US Weather Service)
Towns in the Winooski River Basin: Montpelier (14), Waterbury (28), Burlington (3)
Towns in the Winooski River Basin: Montpelier (14), Waterbury (28), Burlington (3)
Average Precipitation:
Average Precipitation:
Montpelier: 34.38in, Waterbury: 41.64in, Burlington: 34.47in
Montpelier: 34.38in, Waterbury: 41.64in, Burlington: 34.47in
Average = 36.83in
Average = 36.83in
Winooski River Basin Total Precipitation Volume:
Winooski River Basin Total Precipitation Volume:
Area of Basin: 1044 square miles (1680 square km)
Area of Basin: 1044 square miles (1680 square km)
36.83 inches = 0.000935482 kilometers
36.83 inches = 0.000935482 kilometers
Total precipitation volume in basin: 1680 X 0.000935482 = 1.57km^3
Total precipitation volume in basin: 1680 X 0.000935482 = 1.57km^3
Average Runoff Percentage:
Average Runoff Percentage:
Winooski River mean annual discharge: 1817.36cfs (0.553931328km^3)
Winooski River mean annual discharge: 1817.36cfs (0.553931328km^3)
Average precipitation volume: 1.57km^3
Average precipitation volume: 1.57km^3
Average runoff percentage: (0.553931328/1.57) * 100 = 35.28%
Average runoff percentage: (0.553931328/1.57) * 100 = 35.28%
Mean Annual Suspended Load:
Mean Annual Suspended Load:
Mean Annual Suspended Load: 81mg/L
Mean Annual Suspended Load: 81mg/L
1 Liter = 1*10^-12 km^3
1 Liter = 1*10^-12 km^3
MASL = 81*10^-12 mg/km^3
MASL = 81*10^-12 mg/km^3
Mean Annual Discharge = 1.57km^3
Mean Annual Discharge = 1.57km^3
81*10^-12 mg/km^3 * 1.57km^3 = 1.2717*10^-7
81*10^-12 mg/km^3 * 1.57km^3 = 1.2717*10^-7
(1.2717*10^-7) / 2700 = 4.71*10^-11mg/km^2 per year
(1.2717*10^-7) / 2700 = 4.71*10^-11mg/km^2 per year
Mean Annual Dissolved Load:
Mean Annual Dissolved Load:
MADL: 82mg/L
MADL: 82mg/L
82*10^-12 mg/km^3 * 1.57km^3 = 1.2874*10^-7
82*10^-12 mg/km^3 * 1.57km^3 = 1.2874*10^-7
(1.2874*10^-7)/2700 = 4.77*10^-11mg/km^2 per year
(1.2874*10^-7)/2700 = 4.77*10^-11mg/km^2 per year
Rainfall vs Runoff in the Winooski River Basin
Rainfall vs Runoff in the Winooski River Basin
Of the annual average 36.83 inches of rain that falls on the Winooski Basin, only 35.28% of it ends up as runoff. The remaining 64.72% is either absorbed by the environment, whether by plants, permeable soil, or animals, or it evaporates into the atmosphere.
Of the annual average 36.83 inches of rain that falls on the Winooski Basin, only 35.28% of it ends up as runoff. The remaining 64.72% is either absorbed by the environment, whether by plants, permeable soil, or animals, or it evaporates into the atmosphere.
Mass Flux of the Winooski River Basin
Mass Flux of the Winooski River Basin
The values for dissolved load and suspended load (in mg/km^2 per year) were very close to each other based on my calculations. However, when looking at the rate of mass removal for basins in Cuba, I found that those values were much greater than those of Vermont. This may be due to the climate of Cuba. Since it is tropical, there is most likely more biomass near the river banks to get transported as load. Additionally, Cuba is susceptible to hurricanes, which produce large floods and subsequently an increase in load. Additionally, Vermont was previously under a glacier, while Cuba was not. Glaciated landscapes typically have less suspended sediment than other areas.
The values for dissolved load and suspended load (in mg/km^2 per year) were very close to each other based on my calculations. However, when looking at the rate of mass removal for basins in Cuba, I found that those values were much greater than those of Vermont. This may be due to the climate of Cuba. Since it is tropical, there is most likely more biomass near the river banks to get transported as load. Additionally, Cuba is susceptible to hurricanes, which produce large floods and subsequently an increase in load. Additionally, Vermont was previously under a glacier, while Cuba was not. Glaciated landscapes typically have less suspended sediment than other areas.