Numerical modeling of surface runoff and erosion due to moving rainstorms at the drainage basin scale

A physically-based distributed erosion model (MEFIDIS) was applied to evaluate the consequences of storm movement on runoff and erosion from the Alenquer basin in Portugal. Controlled soil flume laboratory experiments were also used to test the model. Nine synthetic circular storms were used, combin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of hydrology (Amsterdam) 2006-11, Vol.330 (3), p.709-720
Main Authors: Nunes, J.P., de Lima, J.L.M.P., Singh, V.P., de Lima, M.I.P., Vieira, G.N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Drainage basin
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Freshwater
hydrologic models
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
mathematical models
MEFIDIS model
Numerical modeling
rain
runoff
Soil erosion
Storm movement
storms
water erosion
watershed hydrology
watersheds
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Summary:A physically-based distributed erosion model (MEFIDIS) was applied to evaluate the consequences of storm movement on runoff and erosion from the Alenquer basin in Portugal. Controlled soil flume laboratory experiments were also used to test the model. Nine synthetic circular storms were used, combining three storm diameters (0.5, 1 and 2 times the Alenquer basin’s axial length) with three speeds of storm movement (0.5, 1 and 2 m/s); storm intensities were synthesized in order to maintain a constant rainfall depth of 50 mm. The model was applied to storms moving downstream as well as upstream along the basin’s axis. In all tests, downstream-moving storms caused significantly higher peak runoff (56.5%) and net erosion (9.1%) than did upstream-moving storms. The consequences for peak runoff were amplified as the storm intensity increased. The hydrograph shapes were also different: for downstream-moving storms, runoff started later and the rising limb was steeper, whereas for upstream moving storms, runoff started early and the rising limb was less steep. Both laboratory and model simulations on the Alenquer basin showed that the direction of storm movement, especially in case of extreme rainfall events, significantly affected runoff and soil loss.
ISSN:0022-1694
1879-2707
DOI:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.04.037