Work

Incorporating natural variability in master recession curves

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: . In this technical note, we hypothesise that the master recession curve (MRC) is a continuum rather than a single average curve and the natural variability as evidenced in the range of MRCs represents aleatory uncertainty across the continuum and is the result of antecedent hydroclimatic conditions and heterogenous storage conditions in the unconfined aquifer/s feeding the streamflow. For four streams, representing the range of Australian hydrology, master recession curves were computed for five aleatory conditions (90, 75, 50, 25 and 10 percentiles) using the correlation technique. Observed recessions were superimposed on the plots confirming that the continuum of MRCs represented the observed conditions. For one stream, the Northern Arthur River (a 437 km2 in Western Australia yielding 2.7 mm runoff per year), a qualitative model based on field observations supports the continuum concept.

Source: Hydrology and earth system sciences

DOI: 10.5194/hess-30-893-2026

Authors: Thomas A. McMahon, Rory Nathan, Richard George

Institutions: The University of Melbourne, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Language: English

Topic: Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,725

Funder: Medical Research Council