Abstract
The kinematic wave model under the assumption of balanced gravity and friction forces has been applied in open channel hydraulics and surface hydrology. There persists a severe misunderstanding that a discontinuity of a kinematic wave occurs due to a discontinuity of input and then dissipates. This study clarifies that a discontinuity can develop without dissipation under the smoothness of all input. The theory of first-order quasilinear partial differential equations shows that Cauchy problems for the kinematic wave model have unique measurable and bounded solutions, which are possibly discontinuous. Numerical examples are presented to visualize the fundamental properties of discontinuous kinematic waves.
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