Characteristics of summer runoff from a small watershed in central Alaska

Measurements of discharge from a drainage basin of about 0.7 mi 2 area located 8 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska, revealed runoff characteristics markedly different from those of similar sized basins in midlatitude regions. The stream hydrograph was greatly attenuated, with large lag times (as much as 21 hours), low peak discharges, and streamflow recessions drawn out in time. These features are probably due to the fact that storm runoff travels to the stream largely as interflow through a thick mat of mosses.