Hydrological behaviour of non-navigable watercourses

The total volume of water that drains a watercourse consists of two components. The direct run-off or superficial discharge is the component that forms the direct reaction of the catchment area to a rain shower. In general, the part of the precipitation that flows shallowly reaches the unnavigable watercourse after a few hours or days. The basic discharge is the part of the total discharge that reacts much slower to the precipitation and reaches the watercourse via the groundwater to a large extent. Analysis of the discharge behaviour of watercourses can provide information about the chances of flooding and desiccation. After all, if the total flow rate and the superficial discharge increase, the chances of flooding increase. If the base flow rate drops, that is an indication of desiccation.