Mark scheme for Hydrology.

JUNE 02:
1. From Fig. 1B shows the storm hydrographs for the catchments of two rivers, X
and river Y. River X that flows over a forested area has both steep rising and
falling limbs. On the otherhand River Y that flows over pasture and arable land
area has both gentle rising and falling limbs. In term of discharge, river X has
a high peak discharge and longer lag time if compared to river Y that has a
low peak discharge and shorter lag time.

2. For river Y that flows over forested area, most of the precipitation water
interception in trees’ leaves & canopy that is about 80% while 30% will be loss
through process of evapotranspiration. Some of the water left infiltrate into soil
via stemflow and join the stream by process of surface run-off. This explained
why river Y has a low peak discharge, and longer lag time since it takes time
for the precipitation to reach main stream. Since less water infiltrate into soil
thus contribute less to throughflow and baseflow that later feed into stream.

River X that flows over pasture and arable land only intercepted 10% of
precipitation water and much of the water will flow overland surface as surface
run-off quickly to join the stream. This explain why it has a higher peak
discharge and shorter lagtime. Much of the water infiltrate into the soil to be
stored as groundwater and soil moisture storage thus contribute much water
as baseflow and throughflow.