Peak Discharge Research Articles

Analysis of Energy During Spark Discharge in Short Circuit of Capacitive Circuit

ABSTRACT In the explosive environments, the electrical sparks with short circuit of capacitor output will ignite the surrounding explosive medium, and the relationship between effective ignition energy, capacitance energy conversion rate, capacitor capacitance and capacitor terminal voltage is unclear. Based on the three stages of breakdown, discharge and attenuation of the discharge characteristic curve of capacitive circuit, this paper deduces the expressions of spark resistance and discharge current including voltage, capacitance and polar distance parameters. Based on the programmable micro-nano gap discharge experimental platform, experiments under different voltages and different capacitances were carried out. It is found that the theoretical voltage-current curve and spark energy conversion rate are in good agreement with the experimental fitting curve and spark energy conversion rate. And with the increase of capacitance or voltage, the peak current and discharge time increase, which leads to the increase of energy. The conversion rate of spark energy decreases with the increase of capacitance or voltage, and the conversion rate changes between 20% and 30%. The change of spark energy conversion rate is also related to spark resistance, and with the decrease of spark resistance, the spark energy conversion rate also decreases. This study can further understand the energy variation in the discharge gap and is of great significance for the research of intrinsically safe circuits.

Flood Control Analysis with Polder Ponds in Tegal Made Village, Sukoharjo

A good drainage system should be able to drain back stagnant water into natural channels such as rivers and sea. Puddles and floods that occurred in Nawud Village in Sukoharjo Regency due to water from existing drainage channels cannot be directly discharged into the river because when the rain occure make the water level in river was higer than the water level from existing drainage. It causes water cant be discharged by gravity process and for this reason, a temporary water reservoir is needed. Design and capacity of the planned polder depends on the volume of water runoff. In determining the amount of runoff discharge to design a polder conduct a hydrological analysis based on rain that occurs in the area of ​​the study. Water runoff discharge analysis conducted using the HSS Nakayasasu method obtained runoff peak discharge of 33,3662 m3/sec and using the HSS SCS method obtained runoff peak discharge of 25,0379 m3/sec. Dimension plan of polder obtained that 15593 m2 is area of polder with 3,58 m pool hight which is planned to accommodate 55868,58 m3 a maximum puddle volume. the planned outflow volume is carried out using flow tracking analysis and using 3 pumps with each capacity of 2 m3 / sec.

Pulsed power supply of Tr-RC and Tr-RLC topologies for improvement of micro electrical discharge machining

Pulsed power supply is one of the key technologies in micro-electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM), particularly in machining micro-holes with high aspect ratios. Through the disadvantageous waveform feature analysis of the controllable RC pulsed power supply with random interpulse voltage, insufficient capacitor charging, and uncontrolled reversed fluctuations, an improved Tr-RC pulsed power supply with a promoted function is proposed. Discharge pulses with high power density have the potential to synchronously improve machining efficiency and accuracy. Increasing the discharge peak current by optimizing the pulsed-power topology is a feasible means of improving the power density. A pulsed power supply of the Tr-RLC topology introducing an inductor-controlled branch according to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction was further proposed based on the improved Tr-RC pulsed power structure. The discharge waveforms of Tr-RLC pulsed power supply achieve an average peak current of 1.3 A with inductance of 20 μH, compared to 0.5 A with Tr-RC pulsed power supply. For machining micro-holes with aspect ratios of 10:1, 20:1, and 30:1, the Tr-RLC pulsed power supply exhibited an efficiency improvement of 25%, 22%, and 17%, respectively, with reduced taper error and a slight decrease in tool wear rate compared to the Tr-RC pulsed power supply.

A hybrid model coupling process-driven and data-driven models for improved real-time flood forecasting

Accurate and reliable incoming flood forecasting is an important prerequisite for flood warning, flood risk analysis and reservoir flood control operation. This paper proposes a hybrid model for real-time flood forecasting that couples process-driven hydrological models (HMs) with data-driven models (DDMs). The generic hybrid model framework adds DDMs as the post-processing procedure for residual correction to the original results of HMs, and considers multiple uncertainties in input data, parameter and model structure simultaneously. The performance of the hybrid model is evaluated comprehensively in terms of deterministic forecast accuracy, interval forecast reliability, and the reliability and sharpness of probabilistic forecast. Taking the multireservoir system at the east Pi River as a study case, the results indicate that: (1) Compared to the benchmark model (ensemble XAJ model), the hybrid model with additional residual analysis show a significant improvement. The average continuous ranked probability score (CRPS) metric values calculated by the Stacking-Hybrid model improved by 71.5 %, 67.0 % and 38.1 % in the three data samples. Furthermore, the adaptability of the Stacking-Hybrid model for residual correction during short-duration intense rainfall events has been validated, with the relative error of the peak discharge improved to within ± 10 %. (2) The Stacking-Hybrid model, which also takes into account structure uncertainty, is able to better exploit the combined advantages and improve the stability of the model performance compared to those that only apply a single DDM. (3) When the number of iterations within the BOA reaches 300, the parameter optimization process is capable to search for the hyperparameters that bring out the best performance of the DDMs. (4) When the ensemble size reaches 200, the uncertainty of HM parameters can be fully defined, and the consumed computational resources can be controlled within an acceptable bound while ensuring stable model performance. Overall, the hybrid model that takes into account multiple sources of uncertainty generates both interval and probabilistic forecast in addition to deterministic forecast, which can provide richer risk information for subsequent flood warning and reservoir operation, making the flood prevention decisions more reliable and scientific.

Assessment of the Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Change on the Surface Runoff of Hadejia River System, Kano, Nigeria

Land use and land cover changes, mostly driven by anthropogenic activities, affect the processes of the water cycle. The impacts of land use (LU) and land cover (LC) changes between 1995 and 2015 on the surface runoff of the Hadejia River System (HRS) were investigated. The LULC changes obtained through re-classifications of selected Landsat satellite images and their effects on runoff peak discharges and volumes were assessed using selected hydrologic models for runoff generation and routing available within the HEC-HMS. Physically-based parameters of the models were estimated from the LULC change maps together with a digital elevation model and soil datasets of the basin. The simulated flows from the 90 sub-catchments were routed to the basin outlet afterwards to obtain the accrued effects in the entire river basin. Model results obtained generally revealed significant and varying increases in the runoff peak discharges and volumes within some sub-basins in the whole catchment, though the change was not significant at the basin outlet. In the sub-catchments within Kano and Jigawa states, increase between 15-20% and 10-15% were observed in the peak discharge respectively. These are the areas with the highest increase in agricultural activities and urbanization within the whole catchment. In the entire basin, however, the flood peak discharges and volumes increased by at least 3.57% and 8.18% respectively. From these results, the study concludes that changes were more pronounced in Kano and Jigawa states due to the increase of urbanization and farming activities in those areas, leading to reduction of infiltration and hence, increase in surface runoff. The study successfully outlined the hydrological consequences of land cover changes, emphasizing the importance of sustainable land use and catchment management strategies. Hence, integration of remote sensing, GIS, and the hydrological model (HEC-HMS) can be used to solve hydrological problems in a river basin.

Rainfall-Runoff Simulation for Ungauged Watershed: A Case of Bessre Watershed, Duhok Province, Iraq

The scarcity of measured hydrological data poses a challenge in many developing countries, stemming from insufficiently established gauging stations. Due to the mentioned issue, it is crucial to develop models capable of conducting reliable simulations of runoff behavior, particularly for ungauged catchments. Understanding the intricate relationships in rainfall-runoff modeling is essential for estimating peak flows, a critical aspect in formulating water resources management strategies, which can aid in water resource management and planning. In areas prone to floods performing, an extensive hydrological study becomes necessary. This study determined the outflow discharge at the outlet point of the Bessre Valley Ungauged Catchment (41.4 km2) using the Watershed Modeling System, used by reliable hydrological standards as a graphical interface integrating with the Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS). Bessre Valley watershed is one of the flood-prone watersheds in the Duhok governorate, mainly due to the terrain’s steep slopes at the upper north and east of the catchment. The catchment was delineated by a Geographic Information System (GIS). Its properties were extracted from a 12.5 m × 12.5 m Digital Elevation Model (DEM), which evaluates the hydrological response of a watershed to two significant storm events: a real rainfall event in March 2020 and a hypothetical 100-year return period event by dividing the watershed into ten sub-basins. Achieving a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.895 indicates a high accuracy between observed and simulated peak flows of the real rainfall event of March 2020, underscoring the model's reliability for hydrological predictions. Also, comparing the HEC-HMS model and the Rational Method of (100 YRP event) for calculating peak discharges revealed a mere 2.2% error. Furthermore, the study explores the potential for building additional dams based on discharge volumes from specific sub-basins to enhance flood control and water storage capabilities.

Concomitant determination of pesticides in soil and drainage water over a potato cropping season reveal dissipations largely in accordance with respective models

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture where they do not only reach their targets but also distribute to other environmental compartments and negatively affect non-target organisms. To prospectively assess their environmental risk, several tools and models using pesticide persistence (DT50) and leaching potential (groundwater ubiquity score (GUS), EXPOSIT) have been developed. Here, we simultaneously quantified 18 pesticides in soil and drainage water during a conventionally grown potato culture at field scale with high temporal resolution and compared our findings with predictions of the above models. Overall dissipations of all freshly applied compounds in soil were in line with published DT50 field values and their occurrences in drainage water were generally consistent with GUS and EXPOSIT models, respectively. In contrast, soil concentrations of the legacy pesticide atrazine and one of its transformation products (atrazine-2-hydroxy) were constant during the entire sampling campaign. Moreover, during peak discharge atrazine concentrations in drainage water were diluted whereas those of freshly applied pesticides were maximal. This difference demonstrates that the applied risk assessment tools were capable of predicting environmental concentrations and dissipation of pesticides at the short and medium time scale of a few half-lives after application, but fell short of capturing long-term trace residues.

Flash Flood Simulation for Hilly Reservoirs Considering Upstream Reservoirs—A Case Study of Moushan Reservoir

With the advancement of society and the impact of various factors such as climate change, surface conditions, and human activities, there has been a significant increase in the frequency of extreme rainfall events, leading to substantial losses from flood disasters. The presence of numerous small and medium-sized water conservancy projects in the basin plays a crucial role in influencing runoff production and rainwater confluence. However, due to the lack of extensive historical hydrological data for simulation purposes, it is challenging to accurately predict floods in the basin. Therefore, there is a growing emphasis on flood simulation and forecasting that takes into account the influence of upstream water projects. Moushan Reservoir basin is located in a hilly area of an arid and semi-arid region in the north of China. Flooding has the characteristics of sudden strong, short confluence time, steep rise, and steep fall, especially floods caused by extreme weather events, which have a high frequency and a wide range of hazards, and has become one of the most threatening natural disasters to human life and property safety. There are many small and medium-sized reservoirs in this basin, which have a significant influence on the accuracy of flood prediction. Therefore, taking Moushan Reservoir as an example, this paper puts forward a flash flood simulation method for reservoirs in hilly areas, considering upstream reservoirs, which can better solve the problem of flood simulation accuracy. Using the virtual aggregation method, the 3 medium-sized reservoirs and 93 small upstream reservoirs are summarized into 7 aggregated reservoirs. Then, we construct the hydrological model combining two method sets with different runoff generation and confluence mechanisms. Finally, after model calibration and verification, the results of different methods are analyzed in terms of peak discharge error, runoff depth error, difference in peak time, and certainty coefficient. The results indicate that the flooding processes simulated by the proposed model are in line with the observed ones. The errors of flood peak and runoff depth are in the ranges of 2.3% to 15% and 0.1% to 19.6%, respectively, meeting the requirements of Class B accuracy of the “Water Forecast Code”. Method set 1 demonstrates a better simulation of floods with an average flood peak error of 5.63%. All these findings illustrate that the developed model, utilizing aggregate reservoirs and dynamic parameters to reflect regulation and storage functions, can effectively capture the impact of small water conservancy projects on confluence. This approach addresses challenges in simulating floods caused by small and medium-sized reservoirs, facilitating basin-wide flood prediction.

Experimental study on the impact of the second dam break heights on the evolution of two-dam failure floods

Dam-break floods, especially cascade dam-break floods, could be catastrophic and warranted further investigation to enhance understanding. This paper systematically investigated the impact of break heights of the second dam on the evolution of two-dam failure floods, comparing it with single-dam outburst floods. The experiments were carried out in an inclined rectangular flume with LiDAR technology to capture the free surface. Results indicated that a computational model for the moving hydraulic jump was developed, showing good agreement with experimental results with a relative error of about 10%. The wave height of dam-break flood increased with the increase of evolution distance. The wave front celerity (for dam spacing: L/H = 26) after the flood passed the second dam increased with the break heights. The peak discharges at the second dam site and the peak flow depth (for longitudinal coordinate: x/H = 59) both showed a linear relationship with the initial flow depth in reservoir and the break heights. An increase in the initial flow depth in reservoir or the break heights led to an increase in peak discharges and peak flow depth. This study offered constructive guidance for the risk assessment of multi-dam failure floods and disaster emergency management.

Chemodiversity of dissolved organic matter exports from subtropical humid catchment driven by hydrological connectivity

The quantity and quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) exported from source areas are closely related to hydrological linkage between source areas and streams, that is hydrological connectivity. However, understanding of how hydrological connectivity regulates the export of catchment DOM components remains inadequate. In this study, high-frequency monitoring of groundwater and runoff from subtropical humid catchment was conducted for 20 months, and hydrological connectivity was quantitatively characterized by considering both surface and subsurface hydrological processes. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) was utilized to investigate the DOM molecular composition. Results showed that over half of the areas in the catchment could not persistently establish hydrological connectivity with the stream during the rainfall. The average proportion of lignin was the highest in DOM components, followed by tannin and proteins. Additionally, both modified aromaticity index and double bond equivalence reached maximums at peak discharge, reflecting terrestrial materials could increase DOM aromaticity and unsaturated degree. Partial least square-structural equation modeling revealed significantly direct effects of rainfall, antecedent conditions, and hydrological connectivity on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) export. Furthermore, nonlinear relationships were observed between hydrological connectivity and DOC, tannin, and condensed aromatics. Specifically, the instantaneous DOC flux increased dramatically when the hydrological connectivity strength exceeded 0.14; tannin and condensed aromatics exhibited a rapid increase with rising connectivity strength, but remained stable at connectivity strength above 0.25. However, hydrological connectivity showed no significant correlation with unstable components (such as lipids, protein, amino sugars, and carbohydrates). These results provide new insights into hydrological controls on the quantity and quality of DOM export and contribute to developing appropriate catchment management strategies for carbon storage.

Climate-resilient urban drainage planning: An approach using a GIS-based SCS-CN model

ABSTRACT Inexorable urbanization continues apace across the world and urban flooding in megacities is now frequently evidenced due to extreme rainfall events due to climate change (CC). Climate-resilient urban drainage planning is critical towards making sustainable cities or any new urbanization. This paper presents an approach through an insightful assessment of climate resilient urban drainage applying GIS-based Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN) model of a new urban growth of megacity Dhaka, Bangladesh. A precise DEM (Digital Elevation Model) of the study area has been used for catchment delineation using ArcSWAT. Localized climate anomalies of rainfall of around 11% have been identified during monsoon from statistical downscaling and included in the cumulative rainfall event of 5 days. The effect of historical and CC-induced rainfall have been used to identify and map the peak discharges of sub-catchments considering the return period of 5-day cumulative rainfall for 10, 25, and 100 years of the urban catchment for both existing and future land-use scenarios accounting for the change in CN. The varying results of the peak discharges of the sub-catchments for resilient drainage planning is not only dependent on the increase in rainfall but also the combined response of the land-use and soil profile.

A web-based urban hydrology model for municipal scale applications

Extensive data and computational requirements limit the application of existing urban hydrology models at municipal scales. Community-enabled Lifecycle Analysis of Stormwater Infrastructure Costs (CLASIC) is a web-based deployment of the SWMM model with decoupled hydrologic and hydraulic components to enable hydrologic assessment at the municipal and larger scales. This study comprehensively evaluates the performance validity of CLASIC for characterization of hydrologic responses against SWMM and observed data. Furthermore, global sensitivity analysis is used to explore the significance of hydrologic and hydraulic model parameters across spatial and temporal scales. CLASIC reliably represents the urban hydrological processes and accurately quantifies stream discharge at the municipal scale and temporal scales greater than the catchment's time of concentration. Notably, the computational requirements of CLASIC are substantially lower than those of SWMM as the catchment drainage area increases. The application of CLASIC for flood assessment may be conducted with careful examination of the estimated peak discharge at sub-daily timescales.

Sediment transport modelling in densly populated urban areas due to earthfill dam break

This study simulates two dimensional sediment transport, as a result of overtopping earthfill dam break, in urban areas. The model can consider breaching, removal of sediment from dam body, and transport of sediment. The model is first validated by simulating laboratory experimental data that involved measurements of levels, and longitudinal sediment profiles, and sediment distribution. Downstream side of the experimental canal is designed as; (1) smooth bed, and (2) rough bed with concrete blocks. For both cases, the model simulations are found to be satisfactory. The model is then applied to simulate artificial overtopping break scenarios of two real earthfill dams. The AW3D30 is used as the source data for representing the topographic surfaces and the LULC dataset is generated from the ESA’s Sentinel-2 imagery. The results reveal that downstream of the dams can be subject to both scour, at onset of the dam break, and substantial deposition after having reservoir completely emptied. The cut can go all the way to dam bed. The scoured areas can be refilled after peak discharge recedes. Sediment depths can reach up to 1.5 m in the case of Urkmez Dam break in some areas in the vicinity of Urkmez Town and up to 3 m at the downstream area of Alibey Dam in Istanbul, implying disastrous consequences for the settlement areas.

Nonlinear storage–discharge dynamics of forested headwater catchment: A hysteresis index approach

AbstractThe relationship between catchment storage and discharge is nonlinear. The dynamicity of this relationship is dependent on the distance of the storage measurement from the stream, the depth of the soil moisture (SM) measurement, antecedent SM storage, and precipitation characteristics. Understanding the relative influence of these factors is critical for interpreting runoff generation processes and predicting discharge. In this study, we used a hysteresis index approach and analysed the nonlinear dynamics of catchment storage–discharge relationship across points, hillslope and catchment scales, and their controlling factors. A small headwater forested catchment located in the southern part of the Sierra Nevada region, California, was selected as a case study. In this Mediterranean catchment, the anticlockwise class IV hysteresis loop, indicating an earlier discharge peak than SM, was observed as a prevalent hysteresis class across all the scales, irrespective of seasons (i.e., dry vs. wet) and years (i.e., normal vs. drought). A few clockwise hysteresis loops were observed at the shallow depths (10 and 30 cm) of upslope and lower slope topographic positions. Further, we found a shorter lag time between SM peak to discharge peak at 60 and 90 cm soil depths during the wet season, and during the drought period. The shorter lag at the deeper depth was due to the presence of subsurface flow during high antecedent SM storage conditions and preferential flow through the soil pores during the drought periods. The variability in hysteresis at catchment and hillslope scales was controlled by peak rainfall intensity and antecedent SM storage. However, rainfall characteristics (intensity and depth) were major governing factors for most of the point scale locations. Overall, the current study highlighted the role of SM sensor's location in characterizing storage–discharge behaviour.

Seismic fragility analysis of simply supported bridges considering uncertainty in scour condition

Bridges are vital infrastructures but face compounding risks from scouring and seismic events. Although recent studies have explored these individual and overlapping hazards, they often utilize deterministic approaches and focus on specific bridge types in limited geographical areas. This study addresses these gaps by introducing a probabilistic framework for assessing the seismic performance of multi-span reinforced concrete (RC) highway bridges in the presence of scour-related uncertainties. A time-dependent scour model, informed by a Bayesian approach and literature-based uncertainties, is integrated into the framework. Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA) and record selection strategies are employed to define the seismic demand probabilistically. Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is utilized to propagate combined uncertainties during the analysis, considering different scour scenarios defined according to the discharge peak condition of the flood event at the specific location of the bridge. In the last step of the probabilistic framework, fragility analyses are conducted on individual components and the entire system by means of nonlinear dynamic models and multiple stripe analysis (MSA). An actual five-span bridge with simply supported prestressed concrete girders, located in Chile, is used as application example of the proposed approach, considering measured hydrological data and seismic hazard of the real location of the bridge. The study identifies distinct vulnerabilities across various bridge components under scour conditions. Elastomeric bearings are particularly susceptible in scenarios characterized by low scour depths (low discharge peak condition). Conversely, abutments display heightened vulnerabilities as scour depth increases (medium discharge peak condition). Piles also exhibit notable vulnerability, escalating in scenarios with great scour depth (medium discharge peak condition). Notably, piles tend to be more susceptible than columns to scour effects, especially in bents featuring shorter columns. These disparities in vulnerability are influenced by the bridge design philosophy, as well as the synergistic effects of seismic forces and varying scour depths. System fragility curves further elucidate that the likelihood of exceeding specific damage thresholds varies according to different scour scenarios, with the deeper scour depth scenario, displaying the higher vulnerabilities.

Interactions between runoff volume, timing, and annual temperatures shape migration phenology of a threatened adfluvial sucker

AbstractMigratory fish species have been particularly impacted by changes to the hydrologic and climatic cues to which migration and spawning behaviours have been adapted across generations. While conservation and recovery programs increasingly implement flow management actions to promote successful migration and spawning, uncertainty regarding how spawning migration phenology responds to changing environmental conditions can limit the ability to effectively target such recovery actions. Here, we use a Bayesian hierarchical modelling framework to analyse spawning migration phenology of individually tagged June suckers (Chasmistes liorus) – a federally threatened, long‐lived, iteroparous, adfluvial species endemic to Utah Lake (Utah, USA) and its tributaries. We then examine how annual hydrologic and thermal conditions relate to different components of annual migration phenology, including peak migration date, in‐stream residence time, and among‐individual variation in migration timing. Peak migration date occurred earlier in years with warmer spring air temperatures (a proxy for water temperatures), though this effect interacted with peak runoff timing. Both residence time and among‐individual variation in migration timing were greater in years with larger spring discharge and later peak flows. Residence time was also longer in warmer years. These results highlight how natural and anthropogenic changes to river flow and thermal regimes are likely to impact June sucker migration timing and duration, and our approach can be applied to other migratory species to identify the external drivers of the different components of migration phenology.

The influence of change in river networks on waterway connectivity and flooding processes

ABSTRACT Urbanization disrupts river networks, alters waterway connectivity, and elevates flood control pressure. Quantitatively assessing river network changes and their impact on waterway connectivity and flooding processes is imperative. We constructed a waterway connectivity evaluation model and a hydrologic–hydrodynamic model to assess the river network, the waterway connectivity and the flooding change in the Qinhuai River Basin, and used scenario analysis to determine the effectiveness of different topology changes. The results showed a 0.09 decline in connectivity from 2000 to 2010, which led to a peak occurrence time 1 h earlier, an increase in peak discharge by 2.59 m3/s and a rise in peak water level by 51 mm. Scenario analysis demonstrated that adding tributaries can enhance both connectivity and flood resilience. Increasing river width effectively reduces peak water levels while minimally affecting connectivity. Extending river length has a negligible effect on peak water levels but may decrease waterway connectivity.

Analysing the impacts of extreme torrential events using multi‐temporal LiDAR datasets—The Schöttlbach catchment, Upper Styria, Austria

AbstractExtreme precipitation events in small alpine catchments trigger hazardous hydro‐geomorphic processes that cause considerable damage to settlements and infrastructure. In summer 2011 and 2017, two flood events mobilizing large amounts of sediments struck the town of Oberwölz (Styria, Austria) located at the outlet of the Schöttlbach catchment. We used data from local weather stations and precipitation radar to analyse the meteorological settings that caused the flooding. We compiled a consistent sediment budget for the 2017 event by combining geomorphic mapping, connectivity analysis, high‐resolution airborne LiDAR (ALS) and uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV)‐borne LiDAR (ULS), data from other authors for the 2011 event and external information (e.g., event analysis and excavation data). The 2017 event mobilized higher sediment volumes than the 2011 event (131 000 m3 vs 90 000 m3) even though 24‐h precipitation and peak discharges were lower in 2017. First assumptions that the larger sediment output was caused by the reworking of the 2011 flood deposits proved to be incorrect. The impacts of the 2011 event affected the resilience of the geomorphic system resulting in a significantly higher hillslope sediment supply. We conclude that sediment transport in alpine catchments can increase disproportionately when recurrence intervals fall below a critical level.

Flash Flood Risk Assessment in the Asir Region, Southwestern Saudi Arabia, Using a Physically-Based Distributed Hydrological Model and GPM IMERG Satellite Rainfall Data

Floods in southwestern Saudi Arabia, especially in the Asir region, are among the major natural disasters caused by natural and human factors. In this region, flash floods that occur in the Wadi Hail Basin greatly affect human life and activities, damaging property, the built environment, infrastructure, landscapes, and facilities. A previous study carried out for the same basin has effectively revealed zones of flood risk using such an approach. However, the utilization of the HEC–HMS (Hydrologic Engineering Center–Hydrologic Modeling System) model and IMERG data for delineating areas prone to flash floods remain unexplored. In response to this advantage, this work primarily focused on flood generation assessment in the Wadi Hail Basin, one of the major basins in the region that is frequently prone to severe flash flood damage, from a single extreme rainfall event. We employed a fully physical-based, distributed hydrological model run with HEC–HMS software version 4.11 and Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals of Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG V.06) data, as well as other geo-environmental variables, to simulate the water flow within the Wadi Basin, and predict flash flood hazard. Discharge from the wadi and its sub-basins was predicted using 1 mm rainfall over an 8-h occurrence time. Significant peak discharge (3.6 m3/s) was found in eastern and southern upstream sub-basins and crossing points, rather than those downstream, due to their high-density drainage network (0.12) and CNs (88.4). Generally, four flood hazard levels were identified in the study basin: ‘low risk’, ‘moderate risk’, ‘high risk’, and ‘very high risk’. It was found that 43.8% of the total area of the Wadi Hail Basin is highly prone to flooding. Furthermore, medium- and low-hazard areas make up 4.5–11.2% of the total area, respectively. We found that the peak discharge value of sub-basin 11 (1.8 m3/s) covers 13.2% of the total Wadi Hail area; so, it poses more flood risk than other Wadi Hail sub-basins. The obtained results demonstrated the usefulness of the methods used to develop useful hydrological information in a region lacking ungagged data. This study will play a useful role in identifying the impact of extreme rainfall events on locations that may be susceptible to flash flooding, which will help authorities to develop flood management strategies, particularly in response to extreme events. The study results have potential and valuable policy implications for planners and decision-makers regarding infrastructural development and ensuring environmental stability. The study recommends further research to understand how flash flood hazards correlate with changes at different land use/cover (LULC) classes. This could refine flash flood hazards results and maximize its effectiveness.

Estimation of peak discharge and flood volume in ungauged basins using HydroCAD software

Estimation of peak discharge and flood volume in ungauged basins using HydroCAD software