Author(s): Shangyou Zhang; Ian Cordery; Ashish Sharma
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Flood forecasting; Storage routing; Rainfall runoff model
Abstract: Mitigation of flood-related disasters relies on accurate forecasting of flood hydrographs. A linear storage routing model, which attempts to provide a physically realistic distribution of storage effects, has recently been developed (Zhang et al, 2000a, 2000b). This model is particularly useful for estimation of large floods. It has been shown that for large floods, those with peak discharges greater than bankfull flow, catchments tend to operate as linear systems. The model with its physically realistic storage effects has been shown to provide consistently good reproduction of observed large floods without the need for direct parameter fitting or calibration. In the model framework, storage distribution is determined from a volume law that accounts for the distribution of storage in natural catchments. The model is briefly described, but the emphasis of the paper is on demonstrating its ability to reproduce large observed floods. Application results, including the estimation of probable maximum floods, are compared with those estimated using two other common storage routing models.
Year: 2001