Abstract
Using the entropy theory, this paper derives an instantaneous unit sediment graph (IUSG or USG) to determine sediment discharge and the relation between sediment yield and runoff volume. The derivation of IUSG requires an expression of the effective sediment erosion intensity whose relation with rainfall is revisited. The entropy theory provides an efficient way to estimate the parameters involved in the derivations. Sediment discharge is also computed using the instantaneous unit hydrograph (IUH), which can also be derived using the entropy theory. This method works as well as the IUSG method, especially when the peak sediment discharge and peak runoff occur at the same time. The entropy theory yields the probability distribution of sediment yield and of sediment discharge, which can then be used to estimate uncertainty in sediment yield prediction.
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Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 20 • Issue 6 • June 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 25, 2014
Accepted: Jul 17, 2014
Published online: Aug 20, 2014
Discussion open until: Jan 20, 2015
Published in print: Jun 1, 2015
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