Estimating an Impedance-to-Flow Parameter for Flood Peak Prediction in Semiarid Watersheds
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 15, Issue 3
Abstract
The time of concentration equation used in Pima County, Arizona, includes a hydrologic parameter representing the impedance to flow for peak discharge estimation on small [typically less than ] semiarid watersheds. The impedance-to-flow parameter is similar in function to the hydraulic Manning’s roughness coefficient in the kinematic wave time of concentration equation; however, the impedance to flow is a hydrologic parameter representing all portions of a watershed rather than a hydraulic parameter representing friction loss during uniform flow. To relate the impedance-to-flow parameter to physical watershed characteristics, impedance-to-flow values were calculated for return period and observed events on five undeveloped rangeland watersheds and correlated with Manning’s roughness coefficients determined from particle size analysis and simulated flow conditions. Impedance to flow displayed a positive trend with observed peak discharge on each watershed. The results indicate that local impedance-to-flow values can be developed for time of concentration equations using observed rainfall and runoff data, as well as measurable field characteristics. The impedance-to-flow parameter allows for a physical basis in time of concentration estimation without the additional detail of a physically based model.
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Acknowledgments
The writers thank the anonymous reviewers of this article, the United States Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service, the University of Arizona, and the Pima County Regional Flood Control District for making this study possible. The writers express their gratitude to Michael Zeller, P.E., for developing the Pima County Hydrology Procedures and providing insightful comments on this study.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 15 • Issue 3 • March 2010
Pages: 182 - 190
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 19, 2009
Accepted: Aug 17, 2009
Published online: Aug 24, 2009
Published in print: Mar 2010
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