Grayson et al. (2010) Long-term change in storm hydrographs in response to peatland vegetation change

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2010
• Date: 2010-06-11
• Authors: Richard Grayson, Joseph Holden, R. J. Rose
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.06.012

Research Groups

• School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
• Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, UK

Short Summary

This study investigated the long-term influence of vegetation cover changes on storm hydrographs in a blanket peat catchment in northern England. It found that reduced vegetation cover leads to significantly peakier hydrographs with higher peak flows and narrower shapes, demonstrating for the first time a catchment-scale link between peatland vegetation and river flow response.

Objective

• To test the hypothesis that peak flows are significantly higher and lag times shorter at the catchment scale when blanket peat vegetation cover is reduced.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: A blanket peat headwater catchment in northern England.
• Temporal Scale: Long-term analysis of storm hydrograph data from the 1950s to the present day.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not applicable; empirical analysis of long-term observational data.
• Data sources: Historical storm hydrograph data and records of vegetation cover changes within the catchment.

Main Results

• The proportion of vegetated cover in the catchment declined between the early 1950s and mid-1970s, then increased to the present day.
• Changes in the proportion of bare peat coincided with changes in storm hydrographs.
• During periods of greater erosion (reduced vegetation), hydrographs were significantly peakier, with higher peaks per unit of rainfall (400 m² compared with 270 m²), and exhibited narrower shapes.
• Mean peak storm discharge was significantly higher during the most eroded period.
• This study provides the first catchment-scale evidence that vegetation cover influences river flow response to rainfall in a blanket peat headwater catchment.

Contributions

• Provides novel empirical evidence at the catchment scale demonstrating a direct link between peatland vegetation cover and storm hydrograph characteristics (peak flows, shape, lag times).
• Addresses a critical gap in understanding the hydrological impacts of peatland degradation and restoration efforts, particularly concerning flood mitigation.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Grayson2010Longterm,
  author = {Grayson, Richard and Holden, Joseph and Rose, R. J.},
  title = {Long-term change in storm hydrographs in response to peatland vegetation change},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2010},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.06.012},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.06.012}
}