Hydrograph - GCSE Geography Definition

A hydrograph is a graph that shows how a river's water flow, or discharge, changes over time, usually during and after a rainfall event. It usually has time on the x-axis and the amount of water flowing in the river on the y-axis. The hydrograph helps to visualise how quickly water reaches the river after it rains, the peak flow (which is the highest point on the graph), and how long it takes for the river to return to its usual level. Studying hydrographs in GCSE Geography helps students understand how different factors, like rainfall intensity and land use, affect river systems and flood risks.