Runoff Curve Numbers for Peat-Dominated Watersheds
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 20, Issue 4
Abstract
The natural resources conservation service (NRCS) curve number method is widely used to estimate runoff from rainfall events for four hydrological soil groups (A, B, C, and D). However, the NRCS soil groups do not yet include peat soils. Therefore, this study analyzed 59 rainfall-runoff events from two peat-dominated watersheds in Finland (Marjasuo, Röyvänsuo) and one in Norway (Grualia). The analysis used the United States Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) to calibrate curve numbers and initial abstraction ratios (). This gave a mean of 0.036, with a mean standard error of 0.003 and 95% confidence interval of 0.030–0.042, which is significantly lower than the value of 0.2 recommended in the NRCS curve number method. The mean curve number was 61, with a mean standard error of 0.9 and 95% confidence interval of 59–63 for the study watersheds. This study confirmed that application of the NRCS curve number method in HEC-HMS required separation of base flow from runoff. Calibration by HEC-HMS is an equivalent method to determine curve number from rainfall-runoff data.
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Acknowledgments
The study was funded by Maa- ja vesitekniikan tuki r.y. Runoff data for Finnish watersheds were obtained from Metsähallitus.
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Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 20 • Issue 4 • April 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 13, 2013
Accepted: Jun 10, 2014
Published online: Aug 14, 2014
Discussion open until: Jan 14, 2015
Published in print: Apr 1, 2015
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