Predicting The Runoff From Storm Rainfall

The estimation of the volume of runoff to be expected from a given volume of rainfall is a fundamental problem in flood forecasting. Such estimates are necessary before the unit hydrograph or other techniques can be used to predict the streamflow hydrograph. The authors describe the technique now used at the River Forecast Centers of the U.S. Weather Bureau for evaluating the effect of season, antecedent conditions, duration of rainfall and rainfall amount in determining the portion of the rainfall contributing to storm runoff. Special problems encountered in flood forecasting are emphasized. The technique, developed and tested over several years, yields a high degree of accuracy in estimated runoff. Although prepared by empirical procedures, the close agreement between relations for basins of similar hydrologic characteristics suggests that rational parameter have been adopted. The similarity between relations also simplifies the work required for their preparation.

Amid climatic changes linked to global warming, ongoing changes in land-use patterns, and growing international concern with the environment it is increasingly important to understand the potential impact of these changes on the environment. Rainfall-runoff modeling is an important predictor of that impact. This book introduces rainfall-runoff models that have been developed over the past 24-30 years, giving examples of their practical applications. It provides a summary of available techniques for rainfall modeling based upon the most recent research, but in a way that serves as a primer for the subject. Provides an overview of how catchment rainfall-runoff systems work A history of rainfall-runoff models Examples of models can be downloaded over the Internet Looks at uncertainty in model prediction