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Discharge predictions of a rainfall‐driven theoretical hydrograph compared to common models and observed data
Author(s) -
Criss Robert E.,
Winston William E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2007wr006415
Subject(s) - hydrograph , context (archaeology) , structural basin , storm , evapotranspiration , environmental science , flood myth , hydrology (agriculture) , flow (mathematics) , geology , meteorology , mathematics , geomorphology , geography , geotechnical engineering , paleontology , ecology , geometry , archaeology , biology
A theoretical hydrograph based on Darcy's law and the diffusion equation has been extended into a predictive model for the discharge of diffuse springs and small rivers from a detailed rainfall record, using only a single free parameter, the basin time constant b . The model accurately predicts the flow variations of natural hydrographs, including the magnitude and timing of peak flow, total flow volume, inflection points, and recession rate, all as a function of effective rainfall amounts, basin area, and the time constant b . Predicted hydrographs for a sharp storm event in an unimpounded basin are compared to results for two common transfer functions, and our more parsimonious model is statistically superior. Modeling of a long‐term record in proximal basins illustrates the effect of variations in b . Potential applications of the model include flood prediction, comparative studies of basin response in a regional context, and estimation of actual evapotranspiration.