Long term hydrograph for the River Kennet at Theale
Publications - in the Hydrological Data UK Series
The 'Hydrological data UK' series of publications documents and interprets hydrological conditions and water resource variations throughout the UK. The series embraces a number of components:
- Yearbooks (and precursor publications)
- Hydrometric Register and Statistics
- Hydrological Summaries for the United Kingdom
- Hydrological Reviews
- Occasional Reports
- Feature Articles
- Associated Publications
- Long-Term Hydrographs
Publications and the Web
Following a readership consultation exercise in 1995, the Hydrological data UK series was reviewed. A major objective was to exploit the opportunities afforded by new information dissemination options to ensure that nationally archived hydrometric datasets are more widely accessible. Accordingly, it was decided to publish future Yearbooks on the World Wide Web; the first electronic Yearbook - that for 1996 - was posted in December 1997.
The Hydrometric Register and Statistics volumes (see below) are published at five-yearly intervals and will continue to be available in hard copy format. However, an increasing volume of nationally archived hydrological data and reports relating to hydrological conditions in the UK are being made available via the Web. The pace of technological change and, in particular, the user demand for new forms of data presentation will continue to help shape the future structure of the Hydrological data UK series.
All the publications in the Hydrological data UK series are available through the National River Flow Archive Office. The Yearbooks (pre-1996) and Hydrometric Register and Statistics volumes can be ordered over the Internet from the CEH Bookshop. Enquiries or comments regarding the Hydrological data UK series, or individual publications, are welcomed.
Cost and Availability
| Title | Published | Price (inclusive of second class postage within the UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Yearbooks: | ||
| 1981 | 1985 | Out of print |
| 1982 | 1985 | £6 |
| 1983 | 1986 | Out of print |
| 1984 | 1986 | Out of print |
| 1985 | 1987 | £7 |
| 1986 | 1988 | £7 |
| 1987 | 1989 | £7 |
| 1988 | 1989 | £7 |
| 1989 | 1990 | £9 |
| 1990 | 1991 | £18 |
| 1991 | 1992 | £20 |
| 1992 | 1993 | £20 |
| 1993 | 1994 | £20 |
| 1994 | 1995 | £20 |
| 1995 | 1996 | Out of print |
| Hydrometric Register and Statistics: | ||
| 1981-85 | 1988 | Out of print |
| 1986-90 | 1993 | Out of print |
| 1991-95 | 1998 | £25 |
| 1996-2000 | 2003 | £30 |
| UK Hydrometric Register | 2008 | £30 |
| Occasional Reports: | ||
| 1984 Drought | 1988 | £8 |
| 1988-92 Drought | 1993 | £20 |
| 2004-06 Drought | 2007 | Free to download |
| 2007 Summer Floods | 2007 | Free to download |
The above prices for the pre-1990 editions are concessionary rates.
Yearbooks
Apart from summary information, river flow and groundwater level information were published separately prior to the introduction of the Hydrological UK series. Beginning with the 1981 edition, each Yearbook brings together the principal datasets relating to river flows, groundwater levels and areal rainfall throughout the United Kingdom. A comprehensive hydrological review of the year is featured in each Yearbook. Also included in the editions for 1986-95 are water quality data for a representative selection of river basins throughout Britain.
Feature Articles
Most Yearbooks include feature articles relating to significant hydrological events or issues; the articles are listed below. PDF versions of the articles can be downloaded - please note that because of the scanning process some of the figures and plates reproduce poorly in monochrome.
| Yearbook Article | Author | |
| 1983. Flow Gauging on the River Thames - The First 100 Years | A.E. Jones | |
| 1985. Inland Water Surveying in the United Kingdom - A Short History | M.L.Lees | |
| 1985. The McClean Hydrometric Data Collection | A.Werritty | |
| 1986. The Acquisition and Archiving of River Flow Data - Past and Present | T.J. Marsh | |
| 1987. The October 1987 Flood on The River Tywi | J.R. Frost and E.C. Jones | |
| 1988. Hydrological Analysis of the Truro floods of January and October 1988 | M.C. Acreman | |
| 1989. The 1988/89 Drought - A Hydrological Review | M.L.Lees, S.J.Bryant and T.J. Marsh | |
| 1990. 1990 - A Year Of Floods and Droughts | T.J. Marsh and S.J. Bryant | |
| 1993. The Great Tay Flood of January 1993 | A. R. Black and J.L.Anderson | |
| 1994. The Chichester Flood, January 1994 | S.M.Taylor | |
| 1994. Regional Flooding In Strathclyde December 1994 | A.R. Black and A.M. Bennett | |
| 1995. The 1995 Drought - a water resources review in the context of the recent hydrological instability | T.J. Marsh |
Hydrometric Register and Statistics
These reference volumes are indispensable handbooks both for practising hydrologists and a wide community of other users of hydrometric data. The latest edition, the UK Hydrometric Register, includes maps, tables and statistics for over 1500 river basins and over 160 representative wells and boreholes throughout the UK. The principal aims of the publication are to assist data users in the selection of monitoring sites for particular investigations, and to allow more effective interpretation of analyses based upon the raw data. To this end, comprehensive summary statistics are given for each monitoring site together with concise gauging station and catchment descriptions for the featured flow measurement stations - particular emphasis is placed on hydrometric performance and on the net effect of artificial influences on the natural flow regime. Earlier editions in this series are less comprehensive but provide summary hydrometric statistics, for each year in a featured 5-year sequence, alongside the corresponding long term averages, or extremes, to allow annual variability in surface and groundwater resources to be considered in a suitable historical context.
Occasional Reports
The summer 2007 floods in England and Wales
This provides a hydrological appraisal of the 2007 floods, places them in a historical context and considers the evidence for any long term increase in the magnitude of major fluvial floods.
The 2004-06 Drought
This documents the 2004-06 drought in a hydrological framework with particular reference to its impact on water resources and the aquatic environment. It can be downloaded as a PDF [4.89mb].
The 1988-92 Drought
This report provides comprehensive documentation of the 1988-92 drought within a hydrological framework and establishes a benchmark against which future periods of severe rainfall deficiency may be compared. The spatial and temporal variations in the drought's intensity are examined and its severity assessed within the perspective provided by long-term rainfall and hydrometric records. The synoptic backcloth to the drought's development is also reviewed and the European perspective is examined using selected rainfall and river flow records to index drought severity.
The 1984 Drought
The first occasional report in the Hydrological data UK series concerns the 1984 drought. The structure of the report follows the hydrological cycle with chapters devoted to rainfall, evaporation, runoff and water storage in surface reservoirs and aquifers. The report documents the drought in a water resources framework and its development, duration and severity are examined with particular reference to regional variations in intensity.
Hydrological Summaries for Great Britain
Since the winter of 1988/89 these monthly reports have been prepared jointly by the Institute of Hydrology (now the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) and the British Geological Survey on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Environment Agency. Financial support towards their publication costs is also provided by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and OFWAT.
Each report includes regional rainfall data - both recent and, where significant, longer term accumulations for the major administrative divisions in the water industry. Also featured are maps and representative hydrographs of river flow and groundwater levels with supporting summary statistics and a tabulation of current stocks for a selection of major reservoirs. A commentary is provided detailing notable hydrological events and summarising both the national hydrological status and the water resources outlook. The Summaries are published within ten working days of month-end.
Much of the material featured in the Summaries is now routinely posted on the Internet (see Water Watch) but subscription to the manuscript versions of the Hydrological Summaries - currently £48 per year - may be arranged through the National Water Archive Office.
Hydrological Reviews
- UK Hydrological Review 2008 [PDF, 12.4mb]
- UK Hydrological Review 2007 [PDF, 9.34mb]
- UK Hydrological Review 2006 [PDF, 7.82mb]
Associated Publications
Representative Basin Catalogue
Data collection for the national Flood Event Archive, maintained by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (formerly the Institute of Hydrology), concentrates on a selection of basins that form a representative sample of UK catchments. A catalogue providing comprehensive hydrological and reference information for 200 representative basins has been prepared and is available as national (five volumes) or regional sets; user-selected groups of catchments can be provided for particular investigations. A valuable feature is a listing of all raingauges, and their period of operation, within and around each basin.
Enquiries concerning the cost and availability of the catalogue should be directed to the National Water Archive.
Long-Term Hydrographs
In 1990 the British Geological Survey launched a series of wallcharts depicting long term variations in groundwater levels. Long-term hydrographs are currently available for the Chilgrove House (1836-) and Dalton Holme(1883-) boreholes in the Chalk of the South downs and Yorkshire respectively. A report is in preparation for the Therfield Rectory well, this will include a long-term hydrograph together with other hydrological information and reference material. Copies of the groundwater level hydrographs may be obtained from the British Geological Survey (for further details visit the BGS Web Site).
Long-term hydrographs of daily or monthly flows are also available for selected gauging stations (e.g. the River Thames at Kingston with records from 1883), for details contact the National Water Archive Office. (see also, 'Hydrological Trends').
