Evaluation and validity of the antecedent moisture condition (AMC) of Natural Resources Conservation Service-Curve Number (NRCS-CN) procedure in undeveloped arid basins

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Mohammed Farran ◽  
Amro Mohamed Elfeki
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-455
Author(s):  
Wenhai Shi ◽  
Ni Wang

Abstract In the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) method for estimating runoff, three antecedent moisture condition (AMC) levels produce a discrete relation between the curve number (CN) and soil water content, which results in corresponding sudden jumps in estimated runoff. An improved soil moisture accounting (SMA)-based SCS-CN method that incorporates a continuous function for the AMC was developed to obviate sudden jumps in estimated runoff. However, this method ignores the effect of storm duration on surface runoff, yet this is an important component of rainfall-runoff processes. In this study, the SMA-based method for runoff estimation was modified by incorporating storm duration and a revised SMA procedure. Then, the performance of the proposed method was compared to both the original SCS-CN and SMA-based methods by applying them in three experimental watersheds located on the Loess Plateau, China. The results indicate that the SCS-CN method underestimates large runoff events and overestimates small runoff events, yielding an efficiency of 0.626 in calibration and 0.051 in validation; the SMA-based method has improved runoff estimation in both calibration (efficiency = 0.702) and validation (efficiency = 0.481). However, the proposed method performed significantly better than both, yielding model efficiencies of 0.810 and 0.779 in calibration and validation, respectively.


Author(s):  
Tauseef Ahmad Ansari ◽  
Yashwant B Katpatal ◽  
C Rishma

The Soil Conservation Service - Curve Number (SCS-CN) method is extensively used to calculate the runoff from rainfall over a large catchment over the world. Slope is an important criterion for runoff but a very few attempts have been made to evaluate the effect of slope on the CN with runoff potential. The objective of this paper is to summarise the historical review on the effects of slope on CN and runoff potential in various regions by the hydrologists. This paper also depicts that how the various researchers proved the importance of consideration of slope for CN and runoff estimation. In addition, paper highlights the key features of research in future like to classify the watersheds on slope based CN, accurate Antecedent Moisture Condition (AMC) and proper initial abstraction in the various regions etc. Considering these parameters an accurate runoff estimation can be predicted and managed properly in the urban watersheds.


Respuestas ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-15
Author(s):  
Leonardo Vargas Garay ◽  
Oscar David Torres Goyeneche ◽  
Gustavo Adolfo Carrillo Soto

In several studies it is necessary to determine the magnitude of extreme flows in a river. Having an adequate register of observed discharge it is possible to adjust a probability density function (fdp) that allows estimating events associated with a high return period (i.e. 100 years). In ungauged basins, such as the majority of basins in the world are, other methodologies are used, such as the Synthetic Unity Hydrograph proposed by the United State Soil Conservation Service (UH-SCS). The UH-SCS model was evaluated in watersheds of the Norte de Santander department (COL), in its capacity to estimate extreme flows, and to explore its possible regionalization. The evaluation is done by comparing estimates of Q100, using the Frequency Factors method and the UH-SCS model. Discharge and precipitation time series were obtained from the IDEAM network, selecting 19 basins based on their drainage area, climatological stations density and records length. Geomorphology was characterized using ArcMap™ on the ASTER-GDEM digital elevation model. Using information available on geology, soils, vegetation cover, and assuming a wet antecedent moisture condition (AMC-III), values of the median of relative Q100 error (ε-Q100) of + 507% and + 406% were obtained for the fdp Gumbel and Log-Pearson. Using dry antecedent moisture condition (AMC-I) ε-Q100 low to + 36% and + 17%. It was possible to minimize ε-Q100 by calibrating the Curve Number (CN) parameter. A satisfactory regionalization function for CN was not found. Applying SCS-HU under AMC-III condition, Q100 is greatly overestimated. It is possible to minimize the error by considering AMC-I and reduce CN, a counter-intuitive situation since extreme flows are associated with wet weather conditions (i.e. Año Niña). Improvements in the characterization of rainfall and soils in Norte de Santander should be investigated.


Author(s):  
Rekha Verma ◽  
Azhar Husain ◽  
Mohammed Sharif

Rainfall-Runoff modeling is a hydrological modeling which is extremely important for water resources planning, development, and management. In this paper, Natural Resource Conservation Service-Curve Number (NRCS-CN) method along with Geographical Information System (GIS) approach was used to evaluate the runoff resulting from the rainfall of four stations, namely, Bilodra, Kathlal, Navavas and Rellawada of Sabarmati River basin. The rainfall data were taken for 10 years (2005-2014). The curve number which is the function of land use, soil and antecedent moisture condition (AMC) was generated in GIS platform. The CN value generated for AMC- I, II and III were 57.29, 75.39 and 87.77 respectively. Using NRCS-CN method, runoff depth was calculated for all the four stations. The runoff depth calculated with respect to the rainfall for Bilodra, Kathlal, Navavas and Rellawada shows a good correlation of 0.96. The computed runoff was compared with the observed runoff which depicted a good correlation of 0.73, 0.70, 0.76 and 0.65 for the four stations. This method results in speedy and precise estimation of runoff from a watershed.


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