Stochastic characteristics of rainfall-runoff processes in southeast botswana

This study was carried out chiefly for hydrological characterization of the rainfall-runoff processes of southeast Botswana. It is shown that the direct runoff component behaves as a memoryless process while the baseflow component, where this is present, is associated with first order memory. Interaction between rainfall and runoff processes on a monthly basis is found to be highly stochastic, with the variance explained by the stochastic component ranging from 70% to 83%. The level of this influence is found to be smallest for a catchment with the smallest drainage area and the entire study area is found to consist of physical features which accelerate movement of runoff water.