Does the discharge of a river increase down stream?

Question

Does the discharge of a river increase down stream?

Answer 1

Generally speaking, YES, they do

There are very few times when a river's discharge or water volume would decrease as it approached its end.

Nearly 100% of that reason is human interference, that is, dams and farm irrigation.

North American example:

Colorado River

Otherwise, a large change in the topography as a result of seismic activity would have a declining effect on a River's discharge if a portion of it got diverted elsewhere due to a tremendous crack in the earth.

Answer 2

Not necessarily but most often yes. There are factors that come into play, it is not just the fact the the river would have more tributaries so more water thus an increase of the discharge. It doesn't always work that way. It depends on other factors.

Most rivers, yes:

"For a regular or typical stream, typical stream not regulated by dams nor heavily used for water withdrawals, the expected spatial variability is an increasing gradient of flow in a downstream direction."

http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/St-Ts/S...

For others:

For Example:

The affects of the preceding topography and landforms, low drainage slopes, and the affects of the back waters may complicate the situation. The build of sediment in coastal plain rivers would also affect the discharge. People tend to interfere as well.  Dams built for hydro with their large reservoirs, water pulled for irrigation, water pulled to provide drinking water for the surrounding cities and in some cases as in the Colorado, providing water to neighboring countries (Mexico).

Downstream trends in discharge:

Journal of Hydrology

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob...

http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/St-Ts/S...

Answer 3

Yes it does. More streams enter the river further downstream adding to the amount of water at the end.