Curve Numbers and Urban Runoff Modeling—Application Limitations

Eli, Robert N.; Lamont, Samuel J.

doi:10.1061/41099(367)36

Cited by 22 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…As we will see in Section 5, these adaptations of the SCS‐CN method allows one to reproduce correctly the runoff volume, through a reasonable calibration of CN, but not the runoff peak and its timing. In principle, it is indeed inappropriate to use the SCS‐CN method as an infiltration equation for estimating the incremental rainfall excess during a storm event [ Eli and Lamont , ; Grimaldi et al ., ].…”

Section: Hydrological Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Runoff of small rocky headwater catchments: Field observations and hydrological modeling

et al. 2016

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In dolomitic headwater catchments, intense rainstorms of short duration produce runoff discharges that often trigger debris flows on the scree slopes at the base of rock cliffs. In order to measure these discharges, we placed a measuring facility at the outlet (elevation 1770 m a.s.l.) of a small, rocky headwater catchment (area ∼0.032 km2, average slope ∼320%) located in the Venetian Dolomites (North Eastern Italian Alps). The facility consists of an approximately rectangular basin, ending with a sharp‐crested weir. Six runoff events were recorded in the period 2011–2014, providing a unique opportunity for characterizing the hydrological response of the catchment. The measured hydrographs display impulsive shapes, with an abrupt raise up to the peak, followed by a rapidly decreasing tail, until a nearly constant plateau is eventually reached. This behavior can be simulated by means of a distributed hydrological model if the excess rainfall is determined accurately. We show that using the Soil Conservation Service Curve‐Number (SCS‐CN) method and assuming a constant routing velocity invariably results in an underestimated peak flow and a delayed peak time. A satisfactory prediction of the impulsive hydrograph shape, including peak value and timing, is obtained only by combining the SCS‐CN procedure with a simplified version of the Horton equation, and simulating runoff routing along the channel network through a matched diffusivity kinematic wave model. The robustness of the proposed methodology is tested through a comparison between simulated and observed timings of runoff or debris flow occurrence in two neighboring alpine basins.

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Section: Hydrological Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Runoff of small rocky headwater catchments: Field observations and hydrological modeling

et al. 2016

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“…the separation of losses from gross rainfall, plays the major role when trying to determine the watershed hydrograph. In the case of small and ungauged basins, where discharge data are lacking, the modeller is often forced to use lumped and empiric models such as the SCS-CN method, augmenting the uncertainty since the SCS-CN should be not be used for describing the infiltration evolution over time (3,4).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular for small and ungauged basins that usually are lacking of discharge observations, where the hydrologist is forced to apply semi-empirical rainfall-runoff models, such as the Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN) method (1,2). The SCS-CN method is worldwide used, both from a practical point of view, since it is included in many hydrological software, both in research papers (3,4), because of is simplicity, being fully applicable because it needs just one parameter (the Curve Number) well classified with respect to soil properties. Although the method is well known and used, it is not appropriate for estimating the incremental rainfall excess during a storm event, basically because it is an empiric relationship and not an infiltration equation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Empirical solution of Green-Ampt equation using soil conservation service - curve number values

Grimaldi¹,

Petroselli²,

Romano³

2012

AIP Conference Proceedings

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“…The NRCS-CN is a simple and commonly used approach to estimate the total net rainfall volume generated by a gross rainfall, but it was developed to be used with daily rainfall data and is not appropriate for sub-daily resolution analyses (Eli and Lamont, 2010;Woodward et al, 2010). To overcome this drawback, the Green-Ampt infiltration scheme was included in a mixed procedure aiming to distribute in time the information provided by the NRCS-CN method.…”

Section: Downloaded By [George Mason University] At 04:55 27 Decembermentioning

confidence: 99%

The Flat-Area Issue in Digital Elevation Models and Its Consequences for Rainfall-Runoff Modeling

Petroselli

Alvarez

2012

GIScience & Remote Sensing

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When analyzing a digital elevation model, flat areas originating from the standard pit removal procedure can affect the characterization of flow paths and subsequent hydrologic or hydraulic analysis. In the present work, six case-study areas were selected, and two different methodologies for rainfall-runoff modeling were investigated within the framework of the Width Function Instantaneous Unit Hydrograph (WFIUH). One methodology is "standard," while the other is an "advanced" approach. The methodologies basically differ with regard to pit and flatarea treatment and flow-routing determination. In both approaches continuous rainfall-runoff modeling was applied and annual maximum hydrographs were compared. The results show that when using the "standard" approach a shorter WFIUH and a resultant hydrograph characterized by higher peak discharge and shorter duration are obtained.

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Curve Numbers and Urban Runoff Modeling—Application Limitations

Cited by 22 publications

References 6 publications

Runoff of small rocky headwater catchments: Field observations and hydrological modeling

Runoff of small rocky headwater catchments: Field observations and hydrological modeling

Empirical solution of Green-Ampt equation using soil conservation service - curve number values

The Flat-Area Issue in Digital Elevation Models and Its Consequences for Rainfall-Runoff Modeling

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