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<br />of ungaged streams. The most effective method of regionalization presently <br />known, and the one which should lead most rapidly to the general definition <br />of streamflow characteristics, is the multiple-regression method. It <br />defines streamflow in terms of the environment; that Is, In terms of the <br />basin characteristics and climatic characteristics that cause variation In <br />streamflow from one place to another (Benson, 1962; Benson, 1964j James, <br />1968). The regression equation used has the form <br /> <br />Y = a Ab SC pd <br /> <br />where Y is a streamflow characteristic and A, S, P, etc., are basin or <br />climatic characteristics. The constants a, b, c, etc., are determined by <br />a standard statistical procedure, using data from stations at which the <br />streamflow characteristics are well defined. <br /> <br />Once the equation and its constants are defined, streamflow charac- <br />teristics for a specific site in a given basin can be approximated by sub- <br />stituting the appropriate values of the hydrologic variables in the <br />formulas. <br /> <br />Following the multiple-regression analyses of James (1968), who used <br />data from 41 complete-record gaging stations in and near Kansas, new <br />analyses were made using data from 34 additional complete-record stations <br />covering a wider range of physical and cl,imatic characteristics. The gag- <br />ing stations used in the analyses and the values of the physical and cli- <br />matic characteristics are listed in table 4. The physical characteristics <br />are defined and were determined as follows: <br /> <br />Drainage area (A), in square miles, is the total drainage area <br />upstream from the,gaging-statlon site and Is that shown In the latest <br />published U.S. Geological Survey reports. <br /> <br />Contributing drainage area (Ac) , in square miles, is the area contri- <br />buting directly to surface runoff. <br /> <br />I <br />Alluvial area (Aa) , In square mIles, Is the <br />alluvium shown on State geologic maps at a:scale <br /> <br />total area of valley <br />of 1:500,000. <br /> <br />Main channel slope (Sl), in feet per mile, <br />between points 10 percent and 85 percent of the <br />site to the basin divide (main channel length). <br />was computed as the difference in elevation, In <br />percent points divided by the length, in miles, <br />using the best available topographic maps. <br /> <br />Main channel length (Ll, In mi les, Is the length of the main channel <br />between the gaging station and the basin divide measured along the channel <br />which drains the largest basin, using the best available maps. <br /> <br />is the average slope <br />distance from the gaging <br />The main channel slope <br />feet, at the 10 and 85 <br />between the two points, <br /> <br />22 <br />