Continuous Simulation of Water and Soil Erosion in a Small Watershed of the Loess Plateau with a Distributed Model
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 13, Issue 5
Abstract
A physically based distributed hydrological model (THIHMS-SW, TsingHua Integrated Hydrological Modeling System-for Small Watershed) was developed and applied to a watershed in the severe soil erosion region of the Loess Plateau. In the model, calculations of water and sediment transport were coupled in each grid, and the modeling of water and soil conservation measures, especially the silt-trapping dam, was also included. Continuous simulation for a period of eight years undisturbed by human activities was carried out and the results indicate that the model worked well in terms of estimating water/sediment peak discharge, time to peak, and total volume at different locations. Continuous simulation for three years after the installation of hundreds of silt-trapping dams was also carried out and fairly good results were obtained. The model is physically based and can be used in water resources planning, land use management, flood control, as well as water and soil conservation planning in small watersheds.
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Acknowledgments
This research is partially supported by the joint grant (50721140161) of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and by the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 13 • Issue 5 • May 2008
Pages: 392 - 399
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 13, 2006
Accepted: May 22, 2007
Published online: May 1, 2008
Published in print: May 2008
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