5.3B River Regimes
River regimes indicate the annual variation of discharge of a river and result from the impact of climate, geology and soils as shown in regimes from contrasting river basins. (Yukon, Amazon, Indus)
A river regime is the annual variation in the discharge or flow of a river at a particular point, and is usually measured in cumecs. The character of a river's regime is influenced by a number of variable factors:
- the size of the river and where discharge measurements are taken along its course
- the amount, seasonality and intensity of the precipitation
- the temperatures, with possible meltwater and high rates of evaporation in the summer
- the geology and soils particularly their permeability and porosity; groundwater noted in permeable rocks is gradually released into the river as base flow
- the type of vegetation cover: wetlands can hold water and release it slowly into the river
- human activities aimed at regulating a river's discharge
DIAGRAMS AND STUFF...