New Routing Model for Continuous Runoff Simulation

A new runoff routing model has been developed that combines realistic allowances for the spatial distribution of storage with the theoretically satisfying features of the kinematic wave approximation. Appropriate boundary conditions enable replacement of the partial differential equations describing the flow by tractable total differential equations. Also, similar forms of equations have been adopted to describe both overland and channel flow. All these features result in a relatively simple model with a small number of physically relevant parameters that are not difficult to evaluate. The use of the current discharge as a state variable enables the model to be automatically tuned to the current conditions and is particularly suitable for short-term flood forecasting.