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Runoff calculation on semi‐arid watersheds using a Rotadisk Rainulator
Author(s) -
Morin Joseph,
Cluff C. Brent
Publication year - 1980
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/wr016i006p01085
Subject(s) - surface runoff , infiltration (hvac) , hydrology (agriculture) , watershed , arid , environmental science , runoff curve number , runoff model , soil science , geology , geotechnical engineering , meteorology , geography , ecology , paleontology , biology , machine learning , computer science
A method of determining runoff from ungaged semi‐arid unit watersheds is presented. The method consists of using the realistic rotating disk rainfall simulator (Rotadisk Rainulator) to measure the infiltration rate combined with data from recording raingages. The infiltration rate is expressed mathematically as a function of rainfall volume and soil parameters by a modified Horton‐type equation. A runoff depth for the unit area is then calculated using a computer program which essentially subtracts the infiltration and surface storage from the rainfall as measured by existing recording rainfall records. The method was tested using four 1‐ac gaged watersheds on the Atterbury Experimental Watershed on the valley floor east of Tucson, Arizona. In general, the measured and calculated runoff were in good correlation, while the standard deviation of the differences between them was between 1 and 3 mm over a 3‐year period for the four unit watersheds tested.