Comparative Study on the Runoff Process of Granite Drainage Basins in Korea and Mongolia

This study revealed the differences in runoff processes of granite drainage basins in Korea and Mongolia by hydrological measurements in the field. The experimental drainage basins are chosen in Korea (K-basin) and Mongolia (M-basin). Occurrence of intermittent flow in K-basin possibly implies that very quick discharge dominates. The very high runoff coefficient implies that most of effective rainfall quickly discharge by throughflow or pipeflow. The Hortonian overlandflow is thought to almost not occur because of high infiltration capacity originated by coarse grain sized soils of K- basin. Very little baseflow and high runoff coefficient also suggest that rainfall almost does not infiltrate into bedrocks in K-basin. Flood runoff coefficient in M-basin shows less than 1 %. This means that most of rainfall infiltrates or evaporates in M-basin. Runoff characteristics of constant and gradually increasing discharge imply that most of rainfall infiltrates into joint planes of bedrock and flow out from spring very slowly. The hydrograph peaks are sharp and their recession limbs steep. Very short time flood with less than 1-hour lag time in M-basin means that overland flow occurs only associating with rainfall intensity of more than 10 mm/hr. When peak lag time shows less than 1 hour for the size of drainage area of 1 to 10 km2, Hortonian overland flow causes peak discharge (Jones, 1997). The results of electric conductivity suggest that residence time in soils or weathered mantles of M-basin is longer than that of K-basin. Qucik discharge caused by throughflow and pipeflow occurs dominantly in K-basin, whereas baseflow more dominantly occur than quick discharge in M-basin. Quick discharge caused by Hortonian overlandflow only associating with rainfall intensity of more than 10 mm/hr in M-basin.