TECHNICAL PAPERS
Oct 14, 2011

Analytical Probabilistic Approach for Estimating Design Flood Peaks of Small Watersheds

Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 16, Issue 11

Abstract

An analytical probabilistic approach was developed in earlier studies to estimate design flood peaks from small urban areas. Developed in this paper are methods of incorporating the curve-number procedure for rainfall loss and Clark’s unit hydrograph for runoff routing calculations into the analytical probabilistic framework. These methods are verified by applying the analytical probabilistic approach to 12 urbanizing watersheds in the Chicago metropolitan area, with calibrated parameters representing two degrees of urbanization. The results are compared with those from single-event design-storm rainfall-runoff modeling. Generally comparable results demonstrate the potential of the analytical probabilistic approach as an efficient alternative for the estimation of design flood peaks from small watersheds.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)NSERC and the Illinois Indiana Sea Grant, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

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Published In

Go to Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 16Issue 11November 2011
Pages: 847 - 857

History

Received: Jun 24, 2010
Accepted: Jan 12, 2011
Published online: Oct 14, 2011
Published in print: Nov 1, 2011

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Authors

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Yiping Guo, M.ASCE [email protected]
Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, McMaster Univ., Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4L7 (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]
Momcilo Markus [email protected]
Hydrologist, Illinois State Water Survey, Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61821. E-mail: [email protected]

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