Identification of flow components with the trigonometric hydrograph separation method: a case study from Madjez Ressoul catchment, Algeria

Madjez Ressoul catchment constitutes an important source of fresh water and arable land in northeastern Algeria. In order to achieve better management of the catchments’ natural resources, specifically water, an advanced flood recession analysis was conducted, using the recession analysis-based trigonometric approach, which was based completely on a mathematical solution. This approach provides very useful results for the master recession curves construction. The advantage of this method in the hydrograph separation is both its non-subjectivity related to the user, and then its viability for initial use in the hydrograph separation field. Results in this real case give a better indication of groundwater flow during different drought periods, using many assessed parameters of initial discharge and relative recession time. A particular review of existing hydrograph separation techniques is used to situate the recession analysis and show its case of application relative to other techniques.