Glossary of Hydrologic Terms - R
Glossary of Hydrologic Terms - R
These definitions have been compiled from various sources, including the USGS's Water Resources Data, Weather Service Operations Manual, Chapter E-90, and Glossary of Meteorology (AMS, 1959).
- rating
- see rating curve
- rating curve
- A graph showing the relation between the stage (ordinate, dependent variable) expressed as a height and streamflow (abcissa, independent variable) expressed as a volume per unit time.
- rating table
- A table of stage values and the corresponding discharge for a river gaging site.
- reach
- The length of a river between two gaging stations. More generally, any length of a river.
- reservoir
- A man-made facility for the storage, regulation, and controlled release of water. Types of reservoirs include flood control, water supply, and power generation.
- reservoir surface area
- The surface area of a reservoir when filled to the normal pool or water level.
- reservoir volume
- The volume of a reservoir when filled to normal pool or water level.
- response time
- The amount of time in which it will take a watershed to react to a given rainfall event.
- return period
- The average time interval between occurrences of a hydrological event of a given or greater magnitude, usually expressed in years.
- river forecast center (RFC)
- A division of the National Weather Service which provides river forecasts for rivers within its area of responsibility. There are 13 RFCs in the United States. Their areas are demarked by hydrologic bounaries and watersheds rather than political boundaries.
- river gage
- A device for measuring the river stage.
- river flooding
- The rise of a river to an elevation such that the river overflows its natural banks causing or threatening damage.
- river observing station
- An established location along a river designated for observing and measuring properties of the river
- river stage
- see stage
- river statement
- A statement issued by the NWS about the state of a river, usually when the river is within banks.
- river system
- All of the streams and channels draining a river basin.
- riparian
- Pertaining to the banks of a stream (e.g., riparian vegetation).
- routing
- The operation of translating a volume of water from one forecast point through a reach to another forecast point. Common methods are Lag-and-K, Muskingum, and dynamic wave.
- runoff
- That part of precipitation that flows toward the streams on the surface of the ground or within the ground. It is composed of baseflow and surface runoff.
Return to the WGRFC Home Page
Glossary of Hydrologic Terms - R
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/wgrfc/glossary/r.html
This page maintained by SR-FWR.Webmaster
Updated June 1, 2003
www.srh.noaa.gov
