Title
Hydrologic Catchment Characteristics and Stream Character: A Brief Review
Authors
Wesonga Samwel Othieno
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Natural Resources, University of Eldoret, Eldama Ravine, Kenya.
*Corresponding author E-mail address: samwelwesonga42@gmail.com
Article History
Publication details: Received: 11th February 2022; Revised: 08th March 2022; Accepted: 08th March 2022; Published: 24th March 2022
Cite this article
Wesonga S. O. Hydrologic Catchment Characteristics and Stream Character: A Brief Review. Green Rep., 2022, 3(7), 49-53.
Abstract
A catchment area (effective or topographic), which can be determined by the effective catchment index, is the area of land where precipitation is collected and flows into a general output (river, lake, wetland, bay, or other reservoirs); this area is very crucial in comprehensively understanding stream ecology. The physical processes that occur between rainfall on a catchment and runoff at the outlet are very complex and it is virtually impossible to give a full description of this part of the hydrologic cycle. Stream load, profile, gradient, rank among other characteristics of streams is a result of/ can be significantly affected by the catchment characteristics. This review will discuss the catchment characteristics that affect stream character/behavior and how. Understanding this offers a robust grasping of the connection between management activities and their consequences for stream ecosystem quality and freshwater availability.
Keywords
catchment area; stream; hydrology; morphology; ecosystem
