Evaluation of Hydrological Rainfall Loss Methods Using Small-Scale Physical Landslide Model

An adequate representation of the relationship between effective rainfall and rainfall losses is required in hydrological rainfall–runoff models to reduce the uncertainty of the modelling results. This study evaluates the performance of several hydrological rainfall loss methods using the experiment...

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Main Authors: Nejc Bezak, Josip Peranić, Matjaž Mikoš, Željko Arbanas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
Series:Water
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/17/2726
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author Nejc Bezak
Josip Peranić
Matjaž Mikoš
Željko Arbanas
author_facet Nejc Bezak
Josip Peranić
Matjaž Mikoš
Željko Arbanas
author_sort Nejc Bezak
collection DOAJ
description An adequate representation of the relationship between effective rainfall and rainfall losses is required in hydrological rainfall–runoff models to reduce the uncertainty of the modelling results. This study evaluates the performance of several hydrological rainfall loss methods using the experimental data obtained from a laboratory small-scale physical landslide model with variable slope inclination, homogenous material and no vegetation effects. Three different experiments were selected and five rainfall loss methods were tested to evaluate their performance in reproducing the experimental results from the perspective of the surface runoff formation on the experimental slope. Initial and calibrated parameters were used to test the performance of these hydrological rainfall loss methods. The results indicate that the initial parameters of the rainfall loss model can satisfactorily reproduce the experimental results in some cases. Despite the fact that the slope material characteristics used in the laboratory experiments were relatively homogenous, some well-known methods yielded inaccurate results. Hence, calibration of the rainfall loss model proved to be essential. It should also be noted that, in some cases, the calibrated model parameters were relatively different from the initial model parameters estimated from the literature. None of the tested hydrological rainfall loss methods proved to be superior to the others. Therefore, in the case of natural environments with heterogeneous soil characteristics, multiple rainfall loss methods should be tested and the most suitable method should be selected only after cross-validation or a similar evaluation of the tested methods.
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spelling doaj.art-d3990cb55f10434b81efb146a1ad94212023-11-23T14:27:18ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-09-011417272610.3390/w14172726Evaluation of Hydrological Rainfall Loss Methods Using Small-Scale Physical Landslide ModelNejc Bezak0Josip Peranić1Matjaž Mikoš2Željko Arbanas3Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Civil Engineering, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, CroatiaFaculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Civil Engineering, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, CroatiaAn adequate representation of the relationship between effective rainfall and rainfall losses is required in hydrological rainfall–runoff models to reduce the uncertainty of the modelling results. This study evaluates the performance of several hydrological rainfall loss methods using the experimental data obtained from a laboratory small-scale physical landslide model with variable slope inclination, homogenous material and no vegetation effects. Three different experiments were selected and five rainfall loss methods were tested to evaluate their performance in reproducing the experimental results from the perspective of the surface runoff formation on the experimental slope. Initial and calibrated parameters were used to test the performance of these hydrological rainfall loss methods. The results indicate that the initial parameters of the rainfall loss model can satisfactorily reproduce the experimental results in some cases. Despite the fact that the slope material characteristics used in the laboratory experiments were relatively homogenous, some well-known methods yielded inaccurate results. Hence, calibration of the rainfall loss model proved to be essential. It should also be noted that, in some cases, the calibrated model parameters were relatively different from the initial model parameters estimated from the literature. None of the tested hydrological rainfall loss methods proved to be superior to the others. Therefore, in the case of natural environments with heterogeneous soil characteristics, multiple rainfall loss methods should be tested and the most suitable method should be selected only after cross-validation or a similar evaluation of the tested methods.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/17/2726landslideslab experimenthydrologyinfiltrationrainfall losssurface runoff
spellingShingle Nejc Bezak
Josip Peranić
Matjaž Mikoš
Željko Arbanas
Evaluation of Hydrological Rainfall Loss Methods Using Small-Scale Physical Landslide Model
Water
landslides
lab experiment
hydrology
infiltration
rainfall loss
surface runoff
title Evaluation of Hydrological Rainfall Loss Methods Using Small-Scale Physical Landslide Model
title_full Evaluation of Hydrological Rainfall Loss Methods Using Small-Scale Physical Landslide Model
title_fullStr Evaluation of Hydrological Rainfall Loss Methods Using Small-Scale Physical Landslide Model
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Hydrological Rainfall Loss Methods Using Small-Scale Physical Landslide Model
title_short Evaluation of Hydrological Rainfall Loss Methods Using Small-Scale Physical Landslide Model
title_sort evaluation of hydrological rainfall loss methods using small scale physical landslide model
topic landslides
lab experiment
hydrology
infiltration
rainfall loss
surface runoff
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/17/2726
work_keys_str_mv AT nejcbezak evaluationofhydrologicalrainfalllossmethodsusingsmallscalephysicallandslidemodel
AT josipperanic evaluationofhydrologicalrainfalllossmethodsusingsmallscalephysicallandslidemodel
AT matjazmikos evaluationofhydrologicalrainfalllossmethodsusingsmallscalephysicallandslidemodel
AT zeljkoarbanas evaluationofhydrologicalrainfalllossmethodsusingsmallscalephysicallandslidemodel