TY - JOUR
T1 - Estimation of volumetric runoff coefficients for texas watersheds using land-use and rainfall-runoff data
AU - Dhakal, Nirajan
AU - Fang, Xing
AU - Cleveland, Theodore G.
AU - Thompson, David B.
AU - Asquith, William H.
AU - Marzen, Luke J.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2011/4/30
Y1 - 2011/4/30
N2 - The rational method for peak discharge (Q p) estimation was introduced in the 1880s. Although the rational method is considered simplistic, it remains an effective method for estimating peak discharge for small watersheds. The runoff coefficient (C) is a key parameter for the rational method and can be estimated in various ways. Literature-based C values (C lit) are listed for different land-use/land cover (two words, no hyphen) (LULC) conditions in various design manuals and textbooks; however, these C lit values were developed with little basis on observed rainfall and runoff data. In this paper, C lit values were derived for 90 watersheds in Texas by using LULC data for 1992 and 2001; the C lit values derived from the two data sets were essentially the same. Also for this study, volumetric runoff coefficients (C ν) were estimated by using observed rainfall and runoff depths from more than 1,600 events observed in the watersheds. Watershed-median and watershedaverage C ν values were computed, and both are consistent with data from the National Urban Runoff Program. In addition, C ν values were estimated by using rank-ordered pairs of rainfall and runoff depths (i.e., frequency matching). As anticipated, C values derived by all three methods (literature based, event totals, and frequency matching) consistently had larger values for developed watersheds than for undeveloped watersheds. Two regression equations of C ν versus percent impervious area were developed and combined into a single equation that can be used to rapidly estimate C ν values for similar Texas watersheds.
AB - The rational method for peak discharge (Q p) estimation was introduced in the 1880s. Although the rational method is considered simplistic, it remains an effective method for estimating peak discharge for small watersheds. The runoff coefficient (C) is a key parameter for the rational method and can be estimated in various ways. Literature-based C values (C lit) are listed for different land-use/land cover (two words, no hyphen) (LULC) conditions in various design manuals and textbooks; however, these C lit values were developed with little basis on observed rainfall and runoff data. In this paper, C lit values were derived for 90 watersheds in Texas by using LULC data for 1992 and 2001; the C lit values derived from the two data sets were essentially the same. Also for this study, volumetric runoff coefficients (C ν) were estimated by using observed rainfall and runoff depths from more than 1,600 events observed in the watersheds. Watershed-median and watershedaverage C ν values were computed, and both are consistent with data from the National Urban Runoff Program. In addition, C ν values were estimated by using rank-ordered pairs of rainfall and runoff depths (i.e., frequency matching). As anticipated, C values derived by all three methods (literature based, event totals, and frequency matching) consistently had larger values for developed watersheds than for undeveloped watersheds. Two regression equations of C ν versus percent impervious area were developed and combined into a single equation that can be used to rapidly estimate C ν values for similar Texas watersheds.
KW - Hydrology
KW - Impervious area
KW - Parameters
KW - Rainfall
KW - Runoff
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84857214559&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000368
DO - 10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000368
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84857214559
VL - 138
SP - 43
EP - 54
JO - Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
JF - Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
SN - 0733-9437
IS - 1
ER -