Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Continuous Instream Monitoring of Nutrients and Sediment in Agricultural Watersheds
Published on: September 26, 2017
[Fractal characteristics of daily discharge in different scales watersheds]
Hui Zhao1, Suo-Yan Guo, Ming-Shu Xie
1College of Water Conservancy & Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China. 7166zhaohui@163.com
Abstract:
Based on the fractal theory and the long-term daily discharge records, this paper analyzed the fractal characteristics of daily discharge in mid-scale watershed (Wushui watershed) and small-scale watersheds (Zhenfu and Shuangxi watersheds). Under the same time scales and different threshold values of daily runoff, the fractal characteristics of daily discharge in the watersheds of different spatial scales and of same spatial scales were evident, and existed self-similarity. With the increase of the threshold values of daily runoff, the fractal dimensions of the daily discharge of different space-scale watersheds decreased gradually. The set of fractal dimensions of the daily discharge in different space-scale watersheds tended to be saturated when the time scale was 120-150 days, and the critical threshold values of daily runoff might appear when the time scale exceeded this number of days.
Related Concept Videos
Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway
Gradually Varying Flow
Rapidly Varying Flow
Weir: Problem Solving
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Typical Model Studies

