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This study evaluates regionalized unit hydrograph methods for Texas watersheds ranging from 200 acres to 10 square miles, aiming to improve rainfall-runoff modeling for areas with limited stream gage data. The research involves synthesizing instantaneous unit hydrographs using a two-parameter Rayleigh distribution and developing regression equations based on watershed characteristics. A database of 90 watersheds and 1600 storms was analyzed to create predictive models and compare results with existing NRCS methodologies.

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2 views

2

This study evaluates regionalized unit hydrograph methods for Texas watersheds ranging from 200 acres to 10 square miles, aiming to improve rainfall-runoff modeling for areas with limited stream gage data. The research involves synthesizing instantaneous unit hydrographs using a two-parameter Rayleigh distribution and developing regression equations based on watershed characteristics. A database of 90 watersheds and 1600 storms was analyzed to create predictive models and compare results with existing NRCS methodologies.

Uploaded by

gunjanc064
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Regressions Relating Watershed Physical Characteristics to Instantaneous Unit

Hydrograph Parameters for Rainfall-Runoff Modeling in Central Texas

Theodore G. Cleveland, Xin He


Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Houston

ABSTRACT

This poster presents the results of on-going study to evaluate regionalized unit
hydrograph methods for Texas watersheds in the 200-acre to 10 square mile range. The
research was conducted as part of a four-institution team (Texas Tech University, Lamar
University, University of Houston, and the U.S. Geological Survey) to develop
regionalized methods for use in watersheds with limited stream gage data for use by the
Texas Department of Transportation for drainage areas in the specified size range.
Currently the department uses the NRCS unit hydrograph as implemented in HEC-HMS.

Our research explored an alternate method where instantaneous unit hydrographs


are synthesized from a two-parameter Rayleigh distribution, and excess precipitation is
synthesized from an initial-abstraction, constant proportion (runoff coefficient) model.
These two components are combined to simulate runoff hydrographs from a precipitation
event.

The study has four fundamental steps:


1. Determine the underlying Rayleigh unit hydrograph for several events at each
watershed.
2. Determine a median unit hydrograph for each watershed
3. Develop regional regression equations for the unit hydrograph and excess
rainfall model in terms of watershed physical characteristics.
4. Evaluate the performance of this approach.
5. Compare the results to current NRCS methodology.

In this research a database for 90 watersheds was constructed containing paired


rainfall-runoff events for 1600 storms. Each member of the research team then subjected
these data to various analyses.

The University of Houston team created psuedo 1-minute data for instantaneous
unit hydrograph development then performed a simple baseflow separation procedure.
Next storm-optimum unit hydrographs were developed by pattern search for timing
parameters, shape parameters, initial abstraction depths, and runoff coefficients. This
step was accomplished using a purpose-built psuedo-parallel computer. Once the storm-
optimum results were obtained, the storms were screened using an acceptance algorithm
to automatically remove pathologically poor data (e.g. runoff arrives before precipitation
begins, etc.). The remaining data are then correlated to selected watershed parameters
(area, basin length, slope along main channel, etc.) to develop regression equations to
predict unit hydrograph parameters given these simple measures. Lastly, the regression
equations are applied to a handful stations that were omitted from the original analysis as
a test of method performance.

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