A nonlinear kinematic wave model for watershed surface runoff Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The kinematic flow on a converging surface is considered as a simple nonlinear model to describe watershed surface runoff. Analytical and numerical solutions to kinematic wave equations are presented. The converging overland-flow model has three parameters: two are geometric parameters, and one is a kinematic wave friction relationship parameter. The geometric parameters are determined from watershed topography, and a simple procedure is outlined for transforming the complex geometry of a natural watershed into an equivalent converging-section geometry. The kinematic wave friction relationship parameter is obtained by an optimization procedure. The model's utility is appraised by considering its application to several natural agricultural watersheds located in two geographically distinct regions. A regression analysis is used to correlate the friction relationship parameter with physically measurable characteristics of watershed physiography. Finally, the proposed model is compared with Nash's linear model. 1976.

published proceedings

  • Journal of Hydrology

author list (cited authors)

  • Singh, V. P., & Woolhiser, D. A.

citation count

  • 37

complete list of authors

  • Singh, Vijay P||Woolhiser, David A

publication date

  • December 1976