Determination of Optimal Unit Hydrographs and Green-Ampt Parameters for Watersheds
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 19, Issue 2
Abstract
Determination of unit hydrographs using observed rainfall-runoff events can be accomplished by minimizing the deviations between the derived and the observed direct runoff hydrograph ordinates, and accurate estimation of loss rate parameters. Linear programming is an optimization tool that can be used to determine the optimal composite unit hydrograph for a watershed from observed multiple rainfall-runoff data, but requires infiltration losses prior to using the model. Nonlinear programming models overcome this problem and can be used to simultaneously determine the unit hydrograph and loss rate parameters. In fact, several known rainfall-runoff events can be used simultaneously to develop a composite unit hydrograph based upon all those events. Such a model has been developed and applied to multiple storms for watersheds near Buckeye, Arizona; Fort Worth, Texas; and San Antonio, Texas. The nonlinear optimization procedures used for this investigation are the general algebraic modeling system (GAMS) and the generalized reduced gradient (GRG) in a spreadsheet application. Results of the two procedures are comparable.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Dr. David B. Thompson and the entire research team of Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation at Texas Tech University for providing data for Texas watersheds to perform the work presented here. The authors would also like to acknowledge Flood Control District of Maricopa County and especially Thomas Loomis and Alejandro Riano for supplying data for the Rainbow Wash watershed within unincorporated Maricopa County, Arizona. The authors would like to thank anonymous reviewers for their useful comments.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 19 • Issue 2 • February 2014
Pages: 375 - 383
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 29, 2012
Accepted: Feb 1, 2013
Published online: Jan 15, 2014
Published in print: Feb 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Jun 15, 2014
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