An evidence for enhancing the design hydrograph estimation for small and ungauged basins in Ethiopia

Abstract

Study regionEthiopia and Upper Blue Nile Basin. Study focusEstimating design hydrograph characteristics (e.g. flood peak discharge, volume and duration) is a crucial topic in hydrology and this is particularly challenging in data scarce regions. In recent years, significant innovations in hydrological modeling were introduced, allowing for more advanced analyses also in ungauged areas, in doing so limiting the application of empirical approaches (e.g. the rational formula). In the present work we summarize the current practice in Ethiopia and explore the possibility to apply a simplified continuous modeling for estimating design hydrographs. New hydrological insights for the regionThis study supports the conclusion that COSMO4SUB (Continuous Simulation Model for Small and Ungauged Basins) framework, a simplified continuous rainfall-runoff model specifically tailored for small and ungauged basins, can be applied in Ethiopia. Indeed, the minimal information available in the country are sufficient for applying such modeling approach, that can provide useful outputs for a variety of practical hydrological studies.