Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net
1027-5606
1607-7938
11
2
2007
10.5194/hess-11-891-2007
http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/891/2007/
http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/891/2007/hess-11-891-2007.html
http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/891/2007/hess-11-891-2007.pdf
891
906
2007-02-22
Identifying runoff processes on the plot and catchment scale
P. Schmocker-Fackel
petra.schmocker@wsl.ch
F. Naef
S. Scherrer
Insitute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, ETH Hönggerberg, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Scherrer AG Hydrologie und Hochwasserschutz, Stockackerstrasse 25, 4153 Reinach, Schwitzerland
Rainfall-runoff models that adequately represent the real hydrological
processes and that do not have to be calibrated, are needed in hydrology.
Such a model would require information about the runoff processes occurring
in a catchment and their spatial distribution. Therefore, the aim of this
article is (1) to develop a methodology that allows the delineation of
dominant runoff processes (DRP) in the field and with a GIS, and (2) to
illustrate how such a map can be used in rainfall-runoff modelling.
<br><br>
Soil properties were assessed of 44 soil profiles in two Swiss catchments.
On some profiles, sprinkling experiments were performed and soil-water
levels measured. With these data, the dominant runoff processes (DRP) were
determined using the Scherrer and Naef (2003) process decision scheme. At
the same time, a simplified method was developed to make it possible to
determine the DRP only on the basis of maps of the soil, topography and
geology. In 67% of the soil profiles, the two methods indicated the same
processes; in 24% with minor deviations.
<br><br>
By transforming the simplified method into a set of rules that could be
introduced into a GIS, the distributions of the different DRPs in two
catchments could be delineated automatically so that maps of the dominant
runoff processes could be produced. These maps agreed well with manually
derived maps and field observations.
<br><br>
Flood-runoff volumes could be quite accurately predicted on the basis of the
rainfall measured and information on the water retention capacity contained
in the DRP map. This illustrates the potential of the DRP maps for defining
the infiltration parameters used in rainfall-runoff models.
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