Prediction of daily flow duration curves and streamflow for ungauged catchments using regional flow duration curves

A method is presented to predict flow duration curves (FDCs) and streamflow for ungauged catchments in the Mid-Atlantic Region, USA. Twenty-nine catchments were selected from the Appalachian Plateau Ridge and Valley, and Piedmont physiographic provinces to develop and test the proposed method. Using a step-wise multiple regression analysis, the dominant landscape and climate descriptors were identified and regional FDC models were developed for each province. Predictive performance of the proposed method was estimated using data from three evaluation sites that were not included in parameter estimation for the regional FDC models. The results of this study show that climate and geomorphological descriptors Strongly influence the hydrology of the Appalachian Plateau and some Ridge and Valley catchments, whereas soil and geomorphological descriptors strongly influence the hydrology of the Piedmont and sonic Ridge and Valley catchments. Streamflow Values Calculated by the drainage area ratio method and those reconstructed by the FDC method were compared with the observed streamflow values. The results indicate that the FDC-based method shows great promise for predicting streamflow in ungauged basins.