Synthesis of Unit Hydrographs from a Digital Elevation Model
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 2
Abstract
Characterization of hydrologic processes of a watershed requires estimation of the specific time-response characteristics of the watershed. In the absence of observations these characteristics are estimated from watershed physical characteristics. An exploratory assessment of a particle-tracking approach for parametrizing unit hydrographs from topographic information for applicable Texas watersheds is presented. The study examined 126 watersheds in Texas, for which rainfall and runoff data were available with drainage areas ranging approximately from 0.65 to , main channel lengths ranging approximately from 1.1 to , and dimensionless main channel slopes ranging approximately from 0.0002 to 0.02. Unit hydrographs based on entirely on topographic information were generated and used to simulate direct runoff hydrographs from observed rainfall events. These simulated results are compared to observed results to assess method performance. Unit hydrographs were also generated by a conventional analysis (of the observed data) approach to provide additional performance comparison. The results demonstrate that the procedure is a reasonable approach to estimate unit hydrograph parameters from a relatively minimal description of watershed properties, in this case elevation and a binary development classification. The method produced unit hydrographs comparable to those determined by conventional analysis and thus is a useful synthetic hydrograph approach.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to acknowledge the support of the Texas Department of Transportation, program coordinator David Stolpa, P.E., project directors Jaime Villena-Morales, P.E., and George R. Herrmann, P.E. The writers also acknowledge contributions from their colleagues, Dr. William Asquith, Meghan Roussel, and Amanda Garcia at the U.S. Geological Survey, Austin, Texas. This study was supported through Texas Department of Transportation research Project Nos. UNSPECIFIED0-4193, UNSPECIFIED0-4194, and UNSPECIFIED0-4696. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the writers. The contents do not reflect the official view or policies of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This paper does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
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Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 134 • Issue 2 • April 2008
Pages: 212 - 221
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 27, 2006
Accepted: Apr 9, 2007
Published online: Apr 1, 2008
Published in print: Apr 2008
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