# Presentation: 306743

## Floodplain ManagementSESSION 4

**Stream Systems on Dynamic Earth**
**Hydrosphere**
**Prepared By**
**Donald R. Reichmuth, PhD.**

**Notes:**
Title Page for Session 4

## Meteorological Framework

**Objectives:**
**Show Temperature & Pressure Gradients**
**Show Water Sources**
**Define A River Basin**
**Explain Published Resource Data**
**Illustrate Factors Affecting Weather**
**Discuss Metrological processes within ****	****   the context case study floodplains.**

**Notes:**
Meteorological Framework -- This slide lays out the objectives to be presented in this session.  The instructor should be tell the students what they are going to hear; then present the information and finally tell them what was said. 

## North American Temperature Data

**Mid-Continent:**
**(North Central US & Canadian Plains)**
**Normally has cold winters and hot summers**
**	****	****	****that causes Mid-Continent**
**	****	****	****   ****Winter High Pressure &**
** ****	****	****	****   ****Summer Low Pressure**

**Notes:**
North American Temperature Data –  Seasonal temperature changes in the Mid-continent region of the U.S. create high pressure conditions in the winter and low pressure conditions in the summer.

## WinterTemperature Data

**Typical Winter Pattern:**
- 		**Coldest in Northern ****	****Mid-Continent**
**2004 Departure:**
- 		**From Mean**

**Notes:**
Winter Temperature Data – The coldest region in the U.S. (except Alaska) in in the upper mid-west.  The mean surface temperature in northern Minnesota and North Dakota for the December to February period is minus twelve degrees Celsius.

## North American Air Flow

_**Monsoon Pattern:**_
_**Monsoon Defined:**_
**  ****A wind system that reverses direction**
**	****	****  ****between summer and winter.**

**Notes:**
North American Air Flow – Air flow in North America has a monsoon pattern.  This causes the wind system to reverse direction between summer and winter.

## Monsoon Air Flow

**Notes:**
Monsoon Air Flow (Summer) – Summer air flow into North America comes predominately from the Gulf of Mexico. This flow pattern creates a “tornado Alley” through the mid-continent because turbulence develops.  Along the West Coast air flow is mostly on-shore.

## Monsoon Air Flow

**Notes:**
Monsoon Air Flow (Winter) --  Winter air flow is dominated by a cold high pressure area that develops in the Illinois area.  The winds generally flow in a clockwise direction about this center.  Air flow along the West Coast is generally from the west.

## Earth’s Water

**Sources:**
**Outer Space**
**Volcanoes**
**Rock Disintegration**
**Total Volume:     309,000 Units**
**One Unit (1) = 4475 Cubic Km**
**	****	****	****     ****(1070 Cubic Miles)**
**100 Units = Yearly Evaporation From Oceans**
**300,000 Units = Present Volume All Oceans**

**Notes:**
Earth’s Water – The sources of water on earth include: outer space, volcanoes and rock disintegration.  The total water volume that circulates in the oceans; on land and in the atmosphere is 309,000 Units.  A Unit is defined as 4475 Cubic Km (1070 Cubic Miles).  This unit of measure was chosen to simplify the discussion concerning where water is located.  100 Units evaporate from the oceans each year and there are presently 300,000 Units contained in all of the oceans.

## Water Distribution(Total Units)

**Notes:**
Water Distribution --  Water is currently distributed on earth as follows: Oceans – 300,000; Glaciers - 6000; Active groundwater – 150; Fresh inactive groundwater – 1200; Old salty inactive groundwater – 1600; Lakes and Inland Seas – 50; Atmosphere – 3 and Surface streams – 0.28.  It is important to note that the available surface water is a very small fraction of the water total.

## Hydrologic Cycle

**Evaporation From Oceans**
**Wind Moves Moisture Laden Clouds**
**Moisture Condenses & Falls**
**Precipitation**
**	****Falls Back Into Oceans**
**	****Produces Stream Flow On Land**
**	****Enters Groundwater On Land**
**Water Returns To Oceans**

**Notes:**
Hydrologic Cycle – The hydrologic cycle creates a continuous flow path that starts when water evaporates from the ocean.  Wind then carries the evaporated water (clouds) to locations where the moisture condenses and fall as precipitation.  The water then flows back to the oceans by various paths.

## Simplified Hydrologic Cycle

**Notes:**
Simplified Hydrologic Cycle – This slide graphically depicts the information presented in the previous slide.

## Detailed Hydrologic Cycle(Units Per Year)

**Notes:**
Detailed Hydrologic Cycle – This slide depicts some of the intricate and interconnected flow paths that exist in the hydrologic cycle.  It is important to observe that out of the 100 Units that evaporate from the ocean, only 10 Units become part of the active surface and groundwater flow.

## Runoff Defined

**Runoff (Two Forms):**
**	****	****Surface Stream Flow**
**	****	****	****Controlled by Surface Topography**
**	****	****Groundwater Flow**
**	****	****	****Controlled by Subsurface Structure**

**Notes:**
Runoff Defined – Runoff can either involve surface stream flow that is controlled by surface topography or involve groundwater flow that is controlled by subsurface structure.  It is important to realize that these two flow paths do not have to be parallel or even connected.

## Catchment Defined

**The **_**surface catchment area**_** is that area of a**
**River Basin upstream from a given point on a stream where “surface runoff” is determined.**
**The **_**groundwater catchment area**_** is all areas that contribute recharge water to the subsurface aquifer.**

**Notes:**
Catchment Defined – Catchment is a term used to define the area that contributes water to either surface runoff or groundwater flow.  The surface catchment area is that area of a river basin upstream from a given point on a stream where surface runoff is determined.  The groundwater catchment area is all areas that contribute recharge water to the subsurface aquifer.  Note: The groundwater catchment area may contain parts of multiple river basins.

## River Basin Example

**Notes:**
River Basin Example – This slide shows the location of the Grand River Basin.  This basin is located in Canada and water from the Grand River flows into Lake Erie.  It is suggested that the instructor of this course obtain an equivalent set of slides to replace this example using a river basin that is locally known.

## Basin Topographic Map

**Grand River**
**NOTE:**
- Subbasins Marked

**Notes:**
Basin Topographic Map – This slide illustrates the map data that is useful in understanding the conditions that exist within a river basin.  Data can include locations of urban infrastructure; natural features such as wetlands, woods and lakes; and transportation systems.  Also note that each River Basin may contain Subbasins which delineate smaller contributing stream systems.

## Block DiagramGrand River Basin

**Notes:**
Block Diagrams --  This slide depicts a 3-dimensional drawing of the Grand River Basin.  This type of digital terrain model can be extremely helpful in visualizing basin relationships.  Currently, there are sophisticated computer programs available that can generate this type of drawing from digital topographic data.

## Moisture Forecasthttp://www.cpc.ncp.noaa.gov/ptoducts/analysis/monitoring/cdus/palmer_drought_outlook.gif

**Notes:**
Moisture Forecast – This an example of data that is available from the  NOAA Climate Prediction Center that predicts future moisture conditions.

## River Forecast Centerswww.nws.noaa.gov/er/nerfc

**Notes:**
River Forecast Centers – There are numerous NOAA River Forecast Centers that concentrate on specific regional areas.  These Centers provide more detailed local information concerning forecasts.

## Hazards Assessment Briefinghttp://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/threats

**Notes:**
Hazards Assessment Briefing – This is an example of data that is available from the NOAA National Weather Service concerning potential hazards that may develop.  These hazards include flooding, wildfire, drought and severe storms.

## Precipitation Data

_**National Resources Conservation Service**_
**                             ****(NRCS)**
**	****	****National Water & Climate Center**
**	****	****	**_[www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/](http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/)_** **
**	****	****Snow Survey & Water Supply**
**	****	****	**_[www.nrcs.gov/programs/snowsurvey/](http://www.nrcs.gov/programs/snowsurvey/)_
_**Western Regional Climate Center**_
**	****	****	****	****(WRCC)**
**	****	****wrcc@dri.edu**

**Notes:**
Precipitation Data – There are a number of sources for precipitation data.  These include the NRCS (National Water & Climate Center and Snow Survey & Water Supply) and the Western Regional Climate Center.

## NRCS Snow Water Contenthttp://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/data.current.htm

**Notes:**
NRCS Snow Water Content --  This slide is an example of data that is supplied from the NRCS SNOTEL sites.  These sites measure the buildup of the snow pack at various inaccessible mountain locations.  The purpose of these measurements is to help predict summer stream flows.  These data are most important in areas that use water snow pack for summer irrigation and domestic water supolies.

## River Basin Precipitation Data(wrcc@dri.edu)

**Notes:**
River Basin Precipitation Data – This slide is an example of data supplied by the NRCS that shows how precipitation is collecting during certain reporting periods in various stream basins in the Western U.S.

## Floodthreat Example

**Notes:**
Flood-threat Example – This slide is an example of the flood-threat potential for all counties in the U.S. (except Alaska and Hawaii).  These predictions are based recent rainfall and other satellite data.  These predictions are for the immediate future (often less than one day).  These data are provided by the National Weather Service.

## Flood Risk Example

**Notes:**
Flood Risk Example – This slide is an example by counties of the immediate flood risk.  These data contain information on the current risk and a forecast of the potential for near-term future risk. These data are provided by the National Weather Service.

## Flood Warning Example

**April 11, 2004**
**Red River, ND**

**Notes:**
Slide PP4.4-9 Flood Warning Example – This slide is an example of the status of current stream flow along a specific stream.  Data shows which communities have streams that are at or above flood stage and which have high water, below flood stage. These data are provided by the National Weather Service.

## Palmer Drought Severity Index

**A “Meteorological” Drought Index**
**Widely Used In The USA**
**Measures Abnormality**
**Range**
**+6 ---- Extremely Wet**
**0 ------ Near Normal**
**-6 ----- Extremely Dry**

**Notes:**
Slide PP4.5-1 Palmer Drought Severity Index – This index is widely used in the U.S.  It provides a measure of the deviation of soil moisture conditions from the location’s normally expected conditions.  The name “Drought Severity” is confusing because the index also reports above normal moisture.

## Dendrochronology

**    ****Example:**
**         ****Determining**
**         ****Past Climate**
**         ****Conditions**

**Notes:**
Dendrochronology – This slide is an example of using tree ring data to provide information on earlier moisture conditions.  In 1863, the entire area west of the Mississippi River were dryer than normal while the South East was wetter than normal.  The use of tree ring data has allowed climatic conditions to be determined well before records were kept.

## Drought Information Center(NOAA)http://www.drought.noaa.gov/index.html

_**Home Page Menu**_
**Lists Links To Numerous Products**
**Precipitation**
**Soil Moisture**
**Drought**
**Fire Potential**
**Temperature**

**Notes:**
Drought Information Center – This Center is sponsored by NOAA and provides information on precipitation, soil moisture drought, fire potential and temperature.

## Drought Conditionshttp://drought.unl.edu/dm

**Notes:**
Drought Conditions – This is an example of U.S. drought conditions for a specific date that was prepared by a joint federal agency group.  It is called the U.S. Drought Monitor.

## Drought Predictionhttp://www.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/season_drought.gif

**Notes:**
Drought Prediction – This slide is an example of drought prediction prepared by NOAA.  It is called the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook.

## Local Microclimates

**Orographic Precipitation**
**Caused by Anabatic (Blowing Up Slope) Wind**
**Rain Shadows**
**Caused by Katabatic (Blowing Down Slope) Wind**
**Lake Effects**
**Caused by Wind Blowing Over Water**
**Heat Islands**
**Caused by Urban Heat Sources**
**Acid Rain**
**Caused by SO****4**** Emissions**

**Notes:**
Local Microclimates – Unique local conditions can cause isolated pockets to develop that have different climates than what is seen at the regional level.  Topography, water bodies, heat sources and atmospheric emissions are some examples of conditions that can affect local climate.

## Topographic Influence

**Notes:**
Topographic Influence – Air flow over mountain ranges produces two effects.  On the windward side, raising air flow creates anabatic conditions that increases precipitation.  On the leeward side, descending air flow creates katabatic conditions that causes ground evaporation to increase. Rain Forests often develop when anabatic conditions prevail and rain shadows often develop when katabatic conditions prevail.

## Effect of Smoke Stack Emissions

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**Notes:**
Effect of Smoke Stack Emissions – Midwest power plants that burn high sulfur coal have caused the pH of precipitation to decrease in the North East.  The acid rainfall that results can be very damaging to vegetation.  In the 1970’s, pH as low as 4 occurred along the New England coast..

## Effect Of Urban Heat Islands

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**Notes:**
Effect of Urban Heat Islands – This slide is an example of increased winter temperature in the District of Columbia Vicinity that is caused by urban heat releases.  The increase is approximately 5 degrees F above the ambient regional temperature.

## Lake Effect On Snowfall

**Notes:**
Lake Effect on Snowfall – This an example of the increased snowfall that occurs downwind from the Great Lakes. Snowfall can be increased locally by one and one-half times over the regional average.

## Average Runoff Patterns

**Low ----- Western Plains & Southwest**
**High ----- New England, Appalachians, Gulf Coast **
**                ****& Pacific Northwest**

**Notes:**
Average Runoff Patterns --  This slide depicts the average runoff patterns in the U.S.  Note that with the exception of the Pacific Northwest high runoff areas are concentrated in the eastern half of the country. Average values can, however, be misleading because lack of vegetative cover in the Low Average areas causes these drainages to be more “flashy” and the most severe runoff occurs in mountainous area (Gulf Coast excepted).   Adapted from USGS, 1986

## Slide Presentation Prepared ByGeomax, P.C.Dr. Donald R. Reichmuth, President1023 W. 30th Ave.Spokane, WA 99203-1324Phone & FAX – 509-838-6390E-mail – geomax@comcast.net

**Notes:**
This slide set for Session 4 was lasted edited 12/16/04.