Abstract
Annual runoff hydrographs recorded by the Panama Canal Authority in the upper Río Chagres basin indicate several peculiar features. First, the annual hydrograph is strikingly seasonal, with very few signs of direct runoff and a continuous decay in base flow during the dry season. Secondly, there are signs of anomalously high runoff production efficiencies early in the wet season. Thirdly, the base flow from the catchment exhibits up to three different “quasi-stable” base flow discharges as the wet season progresses. This study examined runoff generation in the upper Río Chagres basin using the US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service ‘Curve Number’ (CN) methodology. Specifically, variation curve of the CN was analyzed using rainfall and runoff observations from the basin. Results indicate significant influence of seasonality on the CN. Furthermore, there are significant inter-seasonal changes in the CN that invalidate the applicability of the CN approach in this tropical watershed.
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Calvo, L.E., Ogden, F.L., Hendrickx, J.M. (2005). Infiltration in the Upper Río Chagres Basin, Panama. In: Harmon, R.S. (eds) The Río Chagres, Panama. Water Science and Technology Library, vol 52. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3297-8_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3297-8_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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