Basin Regionalization for the Purpose of Water Resource Development in a Limited Data Situation: Case of Blue Nile River Basin, Ethiopia
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 18, Issue 10
Abstract
It is a familiar exercise in hydrology to characterize river basins into hydrologically homogeneous regions by using parameters suited to explain typical hydrological variables such as extreme and annual flows. This paper discusses regionalization of the Blue Nile River Basin (BNRB) by using statistical techniques and describes the selection of best-fit distribution models to estimate the flood frequency of the basin; such undertakings have not been made before. The BNRB is delineated into five homogeneous regions based on statistical parameters of station data. Approximately 14 different distributions are analyzed. The generalized logistic model is the best fit for Regions I and IV. Log-Pearson Type III distribution is appropriate for Region II. Lognormal and generalized extreme value distributions are selected for Regions III and V, respectively. For all distributions, probability weighted moment parameter estimation method is most efficient, but for log-Pearson Type III, ordinary moments are chosen. For each region, a unique regional flood frequency curve is developed. These curves are important to estimate the flood quantiles of ungauged catchments in the data scarce area of the basin; hence, they meet the needs of water engineers who currently face tremendous challenges in designing small and medium hydraulic structures in the basin.
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Acknowledgments
We are thankful to National Meteorological Agency and Department of Hydrology of Ministry of Water Resources of Ethiopia for their invaluable input in providing all the required data and information.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 18 • Issue 10 • October 2013
Pages: 1349 - 1359
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 27, 2012
Accepted: Oct 22, 2012
Published ahead of production: Oct 23, 2012
Published online: Oct 24, 2012
Discussion open until: Mar 24, 2013
Published in print: Oct 1, 2013
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