Scaling and Regionalization of Flow Duration Curve Across the Contiguous United States

Scaling and Regionalization of Flow Duration Curve Across the Contiguous United States
Author: Matin Rahnamay Naeini
Publisher:
Total Pages: 62
Release: 2016
Genre:
ISBN: 9781369173192

The flow duration curve (FDC) is a signature catchment characteristic that depicts graphically the relationship between the exceedance probability of streamflow and its magnitude. This curve is relatively easy to create and interpret, and is used widely for hydrologic analysis, water quality management, and the design of hydroelectric power plants (among others). In a recent paper, Vrugt and Sadegh [2013] proposed the van Genuchten model as parametric expression for the FDC. This model and other soil water retention functions were tested by Sadegh et al. [2016] and found to closely describe the FDCs of the MOPEX data set. In this thesis, we apply the similar media concept of Miller and Miller [1956] to surface hydrology and analyze the spatial variability of the FDC in the contiguous US. The scaling method is used to coalesce the FDCs of the MOPEX data set into a "mean" reference curve for the contiguous US using single scaling factors for the FDC of the watersheds. Results demonstrate that the scaling factors exhibit a strong geographical trend with spatial patterns similar to those observed in US precipitation maps. Regionalization of the scaling factors is particularly successful for the peak flows of the FDC. Cokriging with environmental covariates such as the annual rainfall amount of each watershed improves further the prediction of the FDC for ungauged basins.

Runoff Prediction in Ungauged Basins

Runoff Prediction in Ungauged Basins
Author: Günter Blöschl
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 491
Release: 2013-04-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1107067553

Predicting water runoff in ungauged water catchment areas is vital to practical applications such as the design of drainage infrastructure and flooding defences, runoff forecasting, and for catchment management tasks such as water allocation and climate impact analysis. This full colour book offers an impressive synthesis of decades of international research, forming a holistic approach to catchment hydrology and providing a one-stop resource for hydrologists in both developed and developing countries. Topics include data for runoff regionalisation, the prediction of runoff hydrographs, flow duration curves, flow paths and residence times, annual and seasonal runoff, and floods. Illustrated with many case studies and including a final chapter on recommendations for researchers and practitioners, this book is written by expert authors involved in the prestigious IAHS PUB initiative. It is a key resource for academic researchers and professionals in the fields of hydrology, hydrogeology, ecology, geography, soil science, and environmental and civil engineering.