scholarly journals Hydrometeorological Characterization of a Flash Flood Associated with Major Geomorphic Effects: Assessment of Peak Discharge Uncertainties and Analysis of the Runoff Response

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 3063-3077 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Amponsah ◽  
Lorenzo Marchi ◽  
Davide Zoccatelli ◽  
Giorgio Boni ◽  
Marco Cavalli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Peak Flow ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
River System ◽  
Peak Discharge ◽  
Response Analysis ◽  
Context Model ◽  
Model Simulations ◽  
Flood Response ◽  
Peak Discharges

Abstract Postflood indirect peak flow estimates provide key information to advance understanding of flash flood hydrometeorological processes, particularly when peak observations are combined with flood simulations from a hydrological model. However, indirect peak flow estimates are affected by significant uncertainties, which are magnified when floods are associated with important geomorphic processes. The main objective of this work is to advance the integrated use of indirect peak flood estimates and hydrological model simulations by developing and testing a procedure for the assessment of the geomorphic impacts–related uncertainties. The methodology is applied to the analysis of an extreme flash flood that occurred on the Magra River system in Italy on 25 October 2011. The event produced major geomorphic effects and peak discharges close to the maxima observed for high-magnitude rainstorm events in Europe at basin scales ranging from 30 to 1000 km2. Results show that the intensity of geomorphic impacts has a significant effect on the accuracy of postflood peak discharge estimation and model-based flood response analysis. It is shown that the comparison between rainfall–runoff model simulations and indirect peak flow estimates, accounting for uncertainties, may be used to identify erroneous field-derived estimates and isolate consistent hydrological simulations. Comparison with peak discharges obtained for other Mediterranean flash floods allows the scale-dependent flood response of the Magra River system to be placed within a broader hydroclimatological context. Model analyses of the hydrologic response illustrate the role of storm structure and evolution for scale-dependent flood response.

scholarly journals Assessing the hydrologic restoration of an urbanized area via integrated distributed hydrological model

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 4099-4132 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Trinh ◽  
T. F. M. Chui
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Peak Flow ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Peak Discharge ◽  
Generic Model ◽  
Distributed Hydrological Model ◽  
Hydrologic Restoration ◽  
The Tropics

Abstract. Green structures (e.g. green roof and bio-retention systems) are adopted to mitigate the hydrological impacts of urbanization. However, our current understanding of the urbanization impacts are often process-specific (e.g. peak flow or storm recession), and our characterizations of green structures are often on a local scale. This study uses an integrated distributed hydrological model, Mike SHE, to evaluate the urbanization impacts on both overall water balance and water regime, and also the effectiveness of green structures at a catchment level. Three simulations are carried out for a highly urbanized catchment in the tropics, representing pre-urbanized, urbanized and restored conditions. Urbanization transforms vegetated areas into impervious surfaces, resulting in 20 and 66% reductions in infiltration and base flow respectively, and 60 to 100% increase in peak outlet discharge. Green roofs delay the peak outlet discharge by 2 h and reduce the magnitude by 50%. Bio-retention systems mitigate the peak discharge by 50% and also enhance infiltration by 30%. The combination of green roofs and bio-retention systems even reduces the peak discharge to the pre-urbanized level. The simulation results obtained are independent of field data, enabling a generic model for understanding hydrological changes during the different phases of urbanization. This will benefit catchment level planning of green structures in other urban areas.

scholarly journals Assessing the hydrologic restoration of an urbanized area via an integrated distributed hydrological model

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4789-4801 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Trinh ◽  
T. F. M. Chui
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Peak Flow ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Peak Discharge ◽  
Generic Model ◽  
Distributed Hydrological Model ◽  
Hydrologic Restoration ◽  
The Tropics

Abstract. Green structures (e.g. green roof and bio-retention systems) are adopted to mitigate the hydrological impacts of urbanization. However, our current understanding of urbanization impacts are often process-specific (e.g. peak flow or storm recession), and our characterizations of green structures are often on a local scale. This study uses an integrated distributed hydrological model, Mike SHE, to evaluate the urbanization impacts on both overall water balance and water regime, and also the effectiveness of green structures at a catchment level. Three simulations are carried out for a highly urbanized catchment in the tropics, representing pre-urbanized, urbanized and restored conditions. Urbanization transforms vegetated areas into impervious surfaces, resulting in 20 and 66% reductions in infiltration and base flow respectively, and 60 to 100% increase in peak outlet discharge. Green roofs delay the peak outlet discharge by 2 h and reduce the magnitude by 50%. Bio-retention systems mitigate the peak discharge by 50% and also enhance infiltration by 30%. The combination of green roofs and bio-retention systems even reduces the peak discharge to the pre-urbanized level. The simulation results obtained are independent of field data, enabling a generic model for understanding hydrological changes during the different phases of urbanization. This will benefit catchment-level planning of green structures in other urban areas.

scholarly journals Unmanned Aerial Systems-Aided Post-Flood Peak Discharge Estimation in Ephemeral Streams

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 4183
Author(s):  
Emmanouil Andreadakis ◽  
Michalis Diakakis ◽  
Emmanuel Vassilakis ◽  
Georgios Deligiannakis ◽  
Antonis Antoniadis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flash Flood ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Peak Discharge ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Response Dynamics ◽  
Hydrologic Modelling ◽  
Flood Peak ◽  
Field Evidence ◽  
Aerial Systems

The spatial and temporal scale of flash flood occurrence provides limited opportunities for observations and measurements using conventional monitoring networks, turning the focus to event-based, post-disaster studies. Post-flood surveys exploit field evidence to make indirect discharge estimations, aiming to improve our understanding of hydrological response dynamics under extreme meteorological forcing. However, discharge estimations are associated with demanding fieldwork aiming to record in small timeframes delicate data and data prone-to-be-lost and achieve the desired accuracy in measurements to minimize various uncertainties of the process. In this work, we explore the potential of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology, in combination with the Structure for Motion (SfM) and optical granulometry techniques in peak discharge estimations. We compare the results of the UAS-aided discharge estimations to estimates derived from differential Global Navigation Satellite System (d-GNSS) surveys and hydrologic modelling. The application in the catchment of the Soures torrent in Greece, after a catastrophic flood, shows that the UAS-aided method determined peak discharge with accuracy, providing very similar values compared to the ones estimated by the established traditional approach. The technique proved to be particularly effective, providing flexibility in terms of resources and timing, although there are certain limitations to its applicability, related mostly to the optical granulometry as well as the condition of the channel. The application highlighted important advantages and certain weaknesses of these emerging tools in indirect discharge estimations, which we discuss in detail.

scholarly journals SHETRAN and HEC HMS Model Evaluation for Runoff and Soil Moisture Simulation in the Jičinka River Catchment (Czech Republic)

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 872
Author(s):  
Vesna Đukić ◽  
Ranka Erić
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
River Catchment ◽  
Hydrological Variable ◽  
Model Structures

Due to the improvement of computation power, in recent decades considerable progress has been made in the development of complex hydrological models. On the other hand, simple conceptual models have also been advanced. Previous studies on rainfall–runoff models have shown that model performance depends very much on the model structure. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of a complex hydrological model leads to more accurate results or not and to analyze whether some model structures are more efficient than others. Different configurations of the two models of different complexity, the Système Hydrologique Européen TRANsport (SHETRAN) and Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS), were compared and evaluated in simulating flash flood runoff for the small (75.9 km2) Jičinka River catchment in the Czech Republic. The two models were compared with respect to runoff simulations at the catchment outlet and soil moisture simulations within the catchment. The results indicate that the more complex SHETRAN model outperforms the simpler HEC HMS model in case of runoff, but not for soil moisture. It can be concluded that the models with higher complexity do not necessarily provide better model performance, and that the reliability of hydrological model simulations can vary depending on the hydrological variable under consideration.

scholarly journals Benefits and limitations of data assimilation for discharge forecasting using an event-based rainfall–runoff model

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Coustau ◽  
S. Ricci ◽  
V. Borrell-Estupina ◽  
C. Bouvier ◽  
O. Thual
Keyword(s):  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Peak Discharge ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Discharge Data ◽  
Southern France ◽  
Flood Peak ◽  
Event Based ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Mediterranean catchments in southern France are threatened by potentially devastating fast floods which are difficult to anticipate. In order to improve the skill of rainfall-runoff models in predicting such flash floods, hydrologists use data assimilation techniques to provide real-time updates of the model using observational data. This approach seeks to reduce the uncertainties present in different components of the hydrological model (forcing, parameters or state variables) in order to minimize the error in simulated discharges. This article presents a data assimilation procedure, the best linear unbiased estimator (BLUE), used with the goal of improving the peak discharge predictions generated by an event-based hydrological model Soil Conservation Service lag and route (SCS-LR). For a given prediction date, selected model inputs are corrected by assimilating discharge data observed at the basin outlet. This study is conducted on the Lez Mediterranean basin in southern France. The key objectives of this article are (i) to select the parameter(s) which allow for the most efficient and reliable correction of the simulated discharges, (ii) to demonstrate the impact of the correction of the initial condition upon simulated discharges, and (iii) to identify and understand conditions in which this technique fails to improve the forecast skill. The correction of the initial moisture deficit of the soil reservoir proves to be the most efficient control parameter for adjusting the peak discharge. Using data assimilation, this correction leads to an average of 12% improvement in the flood peak magnitude forecast in 75% of cases. The investigation of the other 25% of cases points out a number of precautions for the appropriate use of this data assimilation procedure.

scholarly journals Assessment of flash floods taking into account climate change scenarios in the Llobregat River basin

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3145-3156 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Velasco ◽  
P. A. Versini ◽  
A. Cabello ◽  
A. Barrera-Escoda
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Extreme Events ◽  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Flash Floods ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Whole Process ◽  
The Future ◽  
Peak Over Threshold ◽  
Llobregat River

Abstract. Global change may imply important changes in the future occurrence and intensity of extreme events. Climate scenarios characterizing these plausible changes were previously obtained for the Llobregat River basin (NE Spain). This paper presents the implementation of these scenarios in the HBV (Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning) hydrological model. Then, the expected changes in terms of flash flood occurrence and intensity are assessed for two different sub-basins: the Alt Llobregat and the Anoia (Llobregat River basin). The assessment of future flash floods has been done in terms of the intensity and occurrence of extreme events, using a peak over threshold (POT) analysis. For these two sub-basins, most of the simulated scenarios present an increase of the intensity of the peak discharge values. On the other hand, the future occurrence follows different trends in the two sub-basins: an increase is observed in Alt Llobregat but a decrease occurs in Anoia. Despite the uncertainties that appear in the whole process, the results obtained can shed some light on how future flash floods events may occur.

scholarly journals On the potential of variational calibration for a fully distributed hydrological model: application on a Mediterranean catchment

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxime Jay-Allemand ◽  
Pierre Javelle ◽  
Igor Gejadze ◽  
Patrick Arnaud ◽  
Pierre-Olivier Malaterre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Distributed Hydrological Model ◽  
Initial State ◽  
Ungauged Catchments ◽  
Temporal Dimension ◽  
Radar Rainfall ◽  
Additional Constraints

Abstract. Flash flood alerts in metropolitan France are provided by SCHAPI (Service Central Hydrométéorologique et d’Appui à la Prévision des Inondations) through the Vigicrues Flash service, which is designed to work in ungauged catchments. The AIGA method implemented in Vigicrues Flash is designed for flood forecasting on small- and medium-scale watersheds. It is based on a distributed hydrological model accounting for spatial variability of the rainfall and the catchment properties, based on the radar rainfall observation inputs. Calibration of distributed parameters describing these properties with high resolution is difficult, both technically (in terms of the estimation method), and because of the identifiability issues. Indeed, the number of parameters to be calibrated is much greater than the number of spatial locations where the discharge observations are usually available. However, the flood propagation is a dynamic process, so observations have also a temporal dimension. This must be larger enough to comprise a representative set of events. In order to fully benefit from using the AIGA method, we consider its hydrological model (GRD) in combination with the variational estimation (data assimilation) method. In this method, the optimal set of parameters is found by minimizing the objective function which includes the misfit between the observed and predicted values and some additional constraints. The minimization process requires the gradient of the cost function with respect to all control parameters, which is efficiently computed using the adjoint model. The variational estimation method is scalable, fast converging, and offers a convenient framework for introducing additional constraints relevant to hydrology. It can be used both for calibrating the parameters and estimating the initial state of the hydrological system for short range forecasting (in a manner used in weather forecasting). The study area is the Gardon d’Anduze watershed where four gauging stations are available. In numerical experiments, the benefits of using the distributed against the uniform calibration are analysed in terms of the model predictive performance. Distributed calibration shows encouraging results with better model prediction at gauged and ungauged locations.

scholarly journals Assessment of catchment response and calibration of a hydrological model using high-frequency discharge–nitrate concentration data

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 995-1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh R. Shrestha ◽  
Karsten Osenbrück ◽  
Michael Rode
Keyword(s):  
Surface Runoff ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Nitrate Concentration ◽  
Subsurface Flow ◽  
Nitrate Transport ◽  
Response Analysis ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
High Frequency Discharge

This study uses a high-frequency discharge and nitrate concentration dataset from the Weida catchment in Germany for the catchment scale hydrologic response analysis. Nitrate transport in the catchment is mostly conservative as indicated by the nitrate stable isotope (δ15N and δ18O) analysis. Discharge–nitrate concentration data from the catchment show distinctive patterns, suggesting flushing and dilution response. A self-organizing feature map-based methodology was employed to identify such patterns or cluster in the datasets. Based on knowledge of the catchment conditions and prevailing understanding of discharge–nitrate concentration relationship, the clusters were characterized into five qualitative flow responses: (1) baseflow; (2) subsurface flow increase; (3) surface runoff increase; (4) surface runoff recession; and (5) subsurface flow decrease. Such qualitative flowpaths were used as soft data for a multi-objective calibration of a hydrological model (WaSiM-ETH). The calibration led to a reasonable simulation of overall discharge (Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient: 0.84) and qualitative flowpaths (76% agreement). A prerequisite for using such methodology is limited biogeochemical transformation of nitrate (such as denitrification).

Forensic analysis of flash flood response

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Borga ◽  
Francesco Comiti ◽  
Isabelle Ruin ◽  
Francesco Marra
Keyword(s):  
Flash Flood ◽  
Forensic Analysis ◽  
Flood Response
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