On the possibilities of watershed parameterization for extreme flow estimation in ungauged basins

The estimation of design discharges and water levels of extreme floods is one of the most important parts of the design process for a large number of engineering projects and studies. Design flood estimates require a consideration of the hydrological, meteorological and physiographical situation...

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Main Authors: S. Kohnová, B. Karabová, K. Hlavčová
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2015-06-01
Series:Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences
Online Access:https://www.proc-iahs.net/370/171/2015/piahs-370-171-2015.pdf
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author S. Kohnová
B. Karabová
K. Hlavčová
author_facet S. Kohnová
B. Karabová
K. Hlavčová
author_sort S. Kohnová
collection DOAJ
description The estimation of design discharges and water levels of extreme floods is one of the most important parts of the design process for a large number of engineering projects and studies. Design flood estimates require a consideration of the hydrological, meteorological and physiographical situation, the legal requirements, and the available estimation techniques and methods. In the last decades changes in floods have been observed (Hall et al., 2014) which makes design flood estimation particularly challenging. Methods of design flood estimation can be applied either locally or regionally. A significant problem may arise in small catchments that are poorly gauged or when no recorded data exist. To obtain the design values in such cases, many countries have adopted procedures that fit the local conditions and requirements. One of these methods is the Soil Conservation Service – Curve number (SCS-CN) method which is often used in design flood estimation for ungauged sites, including those in Slovakia. Since the method was derived on the basis of the specific characteristics of selected river basins in the United States, it may lead to significant uncertainties in other countries with different hydrological conditions. The aim of this study was to test the SCN-CN method and derive regional runoff curve numbers based on rainfall and discharge measurements for selected region in Slovakia. The results show that the classical CN method gives too high estimates of event runoff depths and is not valid in the study area. To avoid the overestimation of runoff caused by extreme rainfall events, the use of the empirically derived regional runoff curves was tested and finally proposed for practical application in engineering hydrology.
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spelling doaj.art-e3f1d5c4eab7495d95cba682692b3e192022-12-22T01:25:27ZengCopernicus PublicationsProceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences2199-89812199-899X2015-06-0137017117510.5194/piahs-370-171-2015On the possibilities of watershed parameterization for extreme flow estimation in ungauged basinsS. Kohnová0B. Karabová1K. Hlavčová2Department of Land and Water Resources Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Bratislava, SlovakiaDepartment of Land and Water Resources Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Bratislava, SlovakiaDepartment of Land and Water Resources Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Bratislava, SlovakiaThe estimation of design discharges and water levels of extreme floods is one of the most important parts of the design process for a large number of engineering projects and studies. Design flood estimates require a consideration of the hydrological, meteorological and physiographical situation, the legal requirements, and the available estimation techniques and methods. In the last decades changes in floods have been observed (Hall et al., 2014) which makes design flood estimation particularly challenging. Methods of design flood estimation can be applied either locally or regionally. A significant problem may arise in small catchments that are poorly gauged or when no recorded data exist. To obtain the design values in such cases, many countries have adopted procedures that fit the local conditions and requirements. One of these methods is the Soil Conservation Service – Curve number (SCS-CN) method which is often used in design flood estimation for ungauged sites, including those in Slovakia. Since the method was derived on the basis of the specific characteristics of selected river basins in the United States, it may lead to significant uncertainties in other countries with different hydrological conditions. The aim of this study was to test the SCN-CN method and derive regional runoff curve numbers based on rainfall and discharge measurements for selected region in Slovakia. The results show that the classical CN method gives too high estimates of event runoff depths and is not valid in the study area. To avoid the overestimation of runoff caused by extreme rainfall events, the use of the empirically derived regional runoff curves was tested and finally proposed for practical application in engineering hydrology.https://www.proc-iahs.net/370/171/2015/piahs-370-171-2015.pdf
spellingShingle S. Kohnová
B. Karabová
K. Hlavčová
On the possibilities of watershed parameterization for extreme flow estimation in ungauged basins
Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences
title On the possibilities of watershed parameterization for extreme flow estimation in ungauged basins
title_full On the possibilities of watershed parameterization for extreme flow estimation in ungauged basins
title_fullStr On the possibilities of watershed parameterization for extreme flow estimation in ungauged basins
title_full_unstemmed On the possibilities of watershed parameterization for extreme flow estimation in ungauged basins
title_short On the possibilities of watershed parameterization for extreme flow estimation in ungauged basins
title_sort on the possibilities of watershed parameterization for extreme flow estimation in ungauged basins
url https://www.proc-iahs.net/370/171/2015/piahs-370-171-2015.pdf
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AT khlavcova onthepossibilitiesofwatershedparameterizationforextremeflowestimationinungaugedbasins