William H. Asquith
wasquith@usgs.gov
U.S. Geological Survey, Texas Water Science Center
8027 Exchange Drive
Austin, Texas 78754
(512) 927-3580
Oct. 1992–present
Research Hydrologist—Oct. 2003–present
Hydrologist—Nov. 1996–Oct. 2003
Civil Engineer—Oct. 1994–Nov. 1996
Student Trainee (Environmental Engineer)—GS-05; Oct. 1993–Oct. 1994
Hydrologic Technician—Oct. 1992–Oct.1993
RESEARCH INTEREST:
My research interests include statistical surfacewater hydrology, rainfall and runoff relations,
surfacewater acoustics, energy balance and evapotranspirtation processes, and lake
micrometeorology. In particular, I am interested in magnitude and frequency of environmental
phenomena such as floods and droughts and rainfall and runoff processes at various scales.
EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
I am experienced in advanced statistical techniques for environmental frequency analysis,
including: theory of L-moments, parametric and nonparametric statistical tests; analysis of
variance; multiple linear regression; kriging, multivariate analysis, and trend analysis. I am
experienced with nonlinear equation fitting and optimization. I am experienced in large data base
construction and management. I am experienced in statistical simulation. I am an experienced
rainfall and runoff process researcher. Further I am experienced with Linux, MacOS-X, Solaris,
and Windows XP, experienced with the following programming languages (skill level): Perl
(expert), FORTRAN (rusty intermediate), and R (advanced), experienced with graphical
presentation of data and statistical analyses using existing and custom self-written software; and
experienced with development of custom applications for research computations.
During my tenure with the USGS in Austin. I have served as principal investigator or co-principal
investigator on numerous the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and other agency
sponsored projects, such as low-slope, small watershed hydrology for Harris County Flood
Control District. Some research topics for TxDOT include the analysis of flood-frequency
distributions for Texas, the influence of regulation of annual peak streamflow statistiscs,
precipitation frequency and storm occurrence, temporal distributions of rainfall in Texas, unit
hydrograph regionalization, time to peak regionalization, influence of watershed scale on
hydrologic methods, and others. For other agencies I have conducted research on acoustics for
continuous monitoring of springflow, evapotranspirtation using energy budget approach for a
Juniper woodland at Honey Creek State Natural Area, micrometeorology over Lake Waco,
evaluation of the drainage area ratio method, and retrospective analysis of data mining activities
of USGS streamflow data.
TEACHING
Adjunct Assistant Professor: GEO376S and GEO382S Physical Hydrology (undergraduate
and graduate), University of Texas at Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences, Department of
Geosciences, August 2004–January 2005; August 2005–January 2006; August 2006–January
2007.
Lecturer, GEO376S Physical Hydrology (undergraduate), Aug. 2001–Jan. 2002, Aug. 2002–
Jan. 2003, and September 15, 19, 22, 2003 and November 5, 2003.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND REGISTRATION:
Engineer-in-Training, State of Texas, 1992.
Professional Geologist No. 1494, State of Texas, 2003 to present
Texas Riparian Association: Nov. 2001–Aug. 2003, Board of Directors: One-year member-atlarge.
Sigma Xi: 1998–present
American Geophysical Union: 1998–present
EDUCATION:
Ph.D., John R. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, Department of Geological
Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, 2003.
M.S., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1994.
B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1992.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
Senior Author
Asquith, W.H., and Roussel, M.C., 2007, An initial-abstraction, constant-loss model for unit
hydrograph modeling for applicable watersheds in Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific
Investigations Report 2007–5243, 82 p.
Asquith, W.H., Vrabel, Joseph, Roussel, M.C., 2007, Summary of water-surface-elevation data
for 116 U.S. Geological Survey lake and reservoir stations in Texas and comparison to data for
water year 2006: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 287, 44 p.
Asquith, W.H., Vrabel, Joseph, Roussel, M.C., 2007, Summary of percentages of zero daily
mean streamflow for 712 U.S. Geological Survey Streamflow-Gaging Stations in Texas
through 2003: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 247, 721 p.
Asquith, W.H., Vrabel, Joseph, Roussel, M.C., 2007, Summary of annual mean, maximum,
minimum, and L-scale statistics of daily mean streamflow for 712 U.S. Geological Survey
Streamflow-Gaging Stations in Texas through 2003: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 248,
721 p.
Asquith, W.H., 2006, L-moments and TL-moments of the generalized lambda distribution:
Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, vol. 51, p. 4,484–4,496.
Asquith, W.H., Roussel, M.C., and Vrabel, Joseph, 2006, Statewide analysis of the drainagearea ratio method for 34 streamflow percentile ranges in Texas: U.S. Geological Survey
Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5286, 34 p.
Asquith, W.H., Roussel, M.C., Cleveland, T.G., Fang, Xing, and Thompson, D.B., 2006,
Statistical Characteristics of Storm Interevent Time, Depth, and Duration for eastern New
Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1725, 299 p.
Asquith, W.H., and Thompson, D.B., 2005, Alternative regression equations for estimation of
annual peak-streamflow frequency for undeveloped watersheds in Texas using PRESS
minimization: Texas Department of Transportation Research Report 0–4405–2, Texas Tech
University Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation, Lubbock, 27 p.
Asquith, W.H., and Gary, M.O., 2005, Acoustic doppler velocity monitoring within main
spring, Barton Springs, Austin, Texas, April–September 2004—Enhancing the accuracy of
springflow data: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2005–3044, 4 p.
Asquith, W.H., Roussel, M.C., Thompson, D.B., Cleveland, T.G., and Fang, Xing, 2004,
Summary of dimensionless Texas hyetographs and distribution of storm depth developed for
Texas Department of Transportation Research Project 0–4194: Texas Department of
Transportation Research Report 0–4194–4, 68 p.
Asquith, W.H., and Roussel, M.C., 2004, Atlas of depth-duration frequency of precipitation
annual maxima for Texas: Texas Department of Transportation Project Summary Report 5–
1301–01–S, 4 p.
Asquith, W.H., and Roussel, M.C., 2004, Atlas of depth-duration frequency of precipitation
annual maxima for Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004–
5041,106 p.
Asquith, W.H., Thompson, D.B., Cleveland, T.G., and Fang, X., 2004, Synthesis of rainfall and
runoff data used in Texas Department of Transportation Research Projects 0–4193 and 0–4194:
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004–1035, 1,050 p.
Asquith, W.H., Bumgarner, J.R., and Fahlquist, L.S., 2003, A triangular model of
dimensionless runoff producing rainfall hyetographs in Texas: Journal American Water
Resources Association, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 911–921.
Asquith, W.H., and Roussel, M.C., 2003, Atlas of interoccurrence intervals for selected
thresholds of daily precipitation in Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources
Investigations Report 03–4281, 204 p.
Asquith, W.H., Bumgarner, J.R., and Fahlquist, L.S., 2003, A triangular model of
dimensionless runoff producing rainfall hyetographs in Texas: Journal American Water
Resources Association, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 911–921.
Asquith, W.H. and Thompson, D.B., 2003, Modeling of runoff-producing rainfall hyetographs
in Texas using L-moments: Texas Section, Spring Meeting, American Society of Civil
Engineers, Corpus Christi, Texas, April 2–5.
Asquith, W.H., 2001, Effects of regulation on L-moments of annual peak streamflow in Texas:
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01–4243, 66 p.
Asquith, W.H., and Famiglietti, J.S., 2000, Precipitation areal-reduction factor estimation using
an annual-maxima centered approach: Journal of Hydrology, vol. 230, pp. 55-69.
Asquith, W.H., 1999, Areal-reduction factors for the precipitation of the 1-day design storm in
Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99–4267, 81 p.
Asquith, W.H. 1999 and Slade, R.M., Site-specific estimation of peak-streamflow frequency
using generalized-least squares regression for natural basins in Texas: U.S. Geological Survey
Water-Resources Investigations Report 99–4172, 19 p.
Asquith, W.H., 1998, Depth-duration frequency of precipitation for Texas: U.S. Geological
Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 98–4044, 107 p.
Asquith, W.H., 1998, Peak-flow frequency and extreme flood potential for tributaries of the
Colorado River downstream of Austin, Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources
Investigations Report 98-4015, 19 p.
Asquith, W.H., and Slade, R.M., 1997, Regional equations for estimation of peak-streamflow
frequency for natural basins in Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations
Report 96–4307, 68 p.
Asquith, W.H., Slade, R.M., and Lanning-Rush, Jennifer, 1996, Peak-flow frequency and
extreme flood potential for streams in the vicinity of the Highland Lakes, central Texas: U.S.
Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 96–4072, 1 sheet.
Asquith, W.H., and Slade, R.M., 1995, Documented and potential extreme peak discharges and
relation between potential extreme peak discharges and probable maximum flood peak
discharges in Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 95–4249,
58 p.
Asquith, W.H., Slade, R.M., and Judd, L., 1995, Analysis of low-outlier thresholds for logPearson Type III peak-streamflow frequency analysis in Texas, in Texas Water'95 component
conference of American Society of Civil Engineers first international conference, San Antonio,
Tex., 1995, Proceedings: San Antonio, Tex., American Society of Civil Engineers, p. 379–84.
Asquith, W.H., and Slade, R.M., 1995, Flood frequency in Texas-calculation of peakstreamflow frequency at gaging stations: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 181–95, 2 p.
Contributing Author
Cleveland, T.G., He, Xin, Asquith, W.H., Fang, Xing, and Thompson, D.B., 2006,
Instantaneous unit hydrograph selection for rainfall-runoff modeling of small watersheds in
north and south central Texas: ASCE Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Sept.–
Oct. 2006, p. 479–485.
Heitmuller, F.T., Asquith, W.H., Fang, Xing, Thompson, D.B., and Wang, K.H., 2005,
Literature review for Texas Department of Transportation Research Project 0–4695: Guidance
for design in areas of extreme bed-load mobility, western Edwards Plateau, Texas: U.S.
Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005–1234, 40 p.
Thompson, D.B., Asquith, W.H., Cleveland, T.G., Fang, Xing, 2005, Dimensionless
hyetographs and distribution of storm depth—Findings and recommendations: Texas
Department of Transportation Research Project Summary Report 0–4194–S, Texas Tech
University Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation, Lubbock, 4 p.
Thompson, D.B., Asquith, W.H., Cleveland, T.G., Fang, Xing, 2005, Dimensionless
hyetographs and distribution of storm depth—Findings and recommendations: Texas
Department of Transportation Research Project Summary Report 0–4194–S, Texas Tech
University Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation, Lubbock, 4 p.
Williams-Sether, Tara, Asquith, W.H., Thompson, D.B., Cleveland, T.G., and Fang, Xing,
2004, Empirical, dimensionless, cumulative-rainfall hyetographs developed from 1959–86
storm data for selected small watersheds in Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific
Investigations Report 2004–5075, 125 p.
Tortorelli, R.L., Rea, A., and Asquith, W.H., 2000, Depth-duration frequency of precipitation
for Oklahoma: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99–4232, 113 p.
Lanning-Rush, Jennifer, Asquith, W.H., and Slade, R.M., 1998, Extreme precipitation depths
for Texas, excluding the Trans-Pecos region: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources
Investigations Report 98-4099, 38 p.
Phillips, J.F., McDoniel, Dawn, Capesius, J.P., and Asquith, W.H., 1998, Method to estimate
effects of flow-induced vegetation changes on channel conveyances of streams in Central
Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 98–4040, 43 p.
Raines, T.H., and Asquith, W.H., 1997, Analysis of minimum 7-day discharges and estimation
of minimum 7-day, 2-year discharges for streamflow-gaging stations in the Brazos River basin,
Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97–4117, 29 p.
Judd, Linda, Asquith, W.H., and Slade, R.M., 1996, Techniques to estimate generalized skew
coefficients of annual peak streamflow for natural basins in Texas: U.S. Geological Survey
Water Resources Investigations Report 96–4117, 28 p.
Slade, R.M., and Asquith, W.H., 1996, Peak data for U.S. Geological Survey gaging stations,
Texas network; and computer program to estimate peak-streamflow frequency: U.S. Geological
Survey Open-File Report 96–148, 57 p.
Slade, R.M., Asquith, W.H., and Tasker, G.D., 1995, Multiple-regression equations to estimate
peak-streamflow frequency for streams in Hays County, Texas: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 95–4019, 1 sheet.