A Practical, Objective, and Robust Technique to Directly Estimate Catchment Response Time

Methodologies to estimate the response time of a catchment new rainfall inputs based on and streamflow observations require analyst make number uncertain subjective steps. Moreover, these methods assumption that water producing discharge peak fell in last event, which does not necessary apply all environments conditions. Hence, here we present practical, objective, robust method (Tr) hourly series only, removes most sources uncertainties arising from current methodologies by restating conceptual hypothesis minimizing user’s choices. The proposed method, used originally field economics assess temporal correlation between two variables, has been adapted be for first hydrology. any about rainfall-runoff transformation (no hydrograph separation needed), event selection or parameter estimation, it is easily reproducible. above features useful tool even under different regarding age. agrees well with traditionally Tr observed hyetographs hydrographs (Spearman rank r = 0.82). gives results relatively short records, works presence noise bias series.