Hydrology

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7 pages, 1786 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering

by Carmelina Costanzo, Roberta Padulano and Tommaso Caloiero

Hydrology 2022, 9(12), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9120228 - 19 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1587

Abstract

Surface and ground waters can be considered the main sources of water supply for agricultural, municipal, and industrial consumers. Over the centuries, the combination of both naturally occurring conditions and humanity’s actions has placed increasing pressure on these water resources. As an example, [...] Read more.

Surface and ground waters can be considered the main sources of water supply for agricultural, municipal, and industrial consumers. Over the centuries, the combination of both naturally occurring conditions and humanity’s actions has placed increasing pressure on these water resources. As an example, climate change and natural variability in the distribution and occurrence of water are among the natural driving forces that complicate the sustainable development of water resources. Recent advances in computer techniques have allowed scientists to develop complex models at different scales to support water-resource planning and management. The Special Issue “Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering” presents a collection of scientific contributions providing a sample of the state-of-the-art research in this field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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Research

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16 pages, 2223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Future Colorado River Basin Drought and Surplus

by Rama Bedri and Thomas Piechota

Hydrology 2022, 9(12), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9120227 - 14 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2127

Abstract

Historical and future drought and surplus periods in the Colorado River basin are evaluated based on eight climate scenarios. Unimpaired streamflow from 17 stations in the Colorado River are evaluated based on U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, and Coupled Modeled Intercomparison Projection [...] Read more.

Historical and future drought and surplus periods in the Colorado River basin are evaluated based on eight climate scenarios. Unimpaired streamflow from 17 stations in the Colorado River are evaluated based on U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, and Coupled Modeled Intercomparison Projection 5 downscaled data from 1950–2099. Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 emission scenarios are considered for four climate models (HadGEM2-ES, CNRM-CM5, CanESM2, MI-ROC5). Drought (surplus) quantities, magnitudes, severities, and water year flows are compared for the historical and future periods. Results indicate that there is a significant difference between the historical record and future projections. The results are not consistent in terms of increase of drought or surplus; however, the intensity (as measured by magnitude and duration) will likely increase for both RCP 4.5 and 8.5. The CanESM2 and CNRM-CM5 models project wetter scenarios, and HadGEM2 and MI-ROC5 models project drier scenarios. For the critical Lees Ferry station, models indicate a chance of higher drought and surplus length and magnitude on the order of two times the historical period. In addition, basin wide flow at Lees Ferry had a shift in the future mean ensemble of approximately 3–10% for the water year. Future hydrologic changes will heighten the need for appropriate management and infrastructure options available to adapt to these changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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23 pages, 9330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Regionalisation Techniques for Peak Streamflow Estimation in Small Catchments in the Pilbara, Australia

by Alissa Flatley and Ian Rutherfurd

Hydrology 2022, 9(10), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9100165 - 24 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2080

Abstract

Arid and semi-arid regions typically lack high-resolution river gauging data causing difficulties in understanding rainfall-runoff patterns. A common predictive method for discharge estimation within ungauged catchments is regional flood frequency estimation (RFFE), deriving peak discharge estimates from similar, gauged catchments and applying them [...] Read more.

Arid and semi-arid regions typically lack high-resolution river gauging data causing difficulties in understanding rainfall-runoff patterns. A common predictive method for discharge estimation within ungauged catchments is regional flood frequency estimation (RFFE), deriving peak discharge estimates from similar, gauged catchments and applying them to the catchment of interest. The majority of RFFE equations are developed for larger catchments where flow events may be larger and of greater interest. We test a series of RFFE methods derived for the Pilbara region, applying them to new ungauged small catchments under 10 km². Rainfall values are derived from a guideline Australian design rainfall database, Australian Rainfall and Runoff 2019 (ARR2019) which was recently updated with an additional 30 years of rainfall data. RFFE equations are compared to a direct rainfall model to evaluate their performance within small catchments, identifying key limitations and considerations when modelling small headwater catchments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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15 pages, 3488 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Variable SWAT Model Calibration Using Satellite-Based Evapotranspiration Data and Streamflow

by Evgenia Koltsida and Andreas Kallioras

Hydrology 2022, 9(7), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9070112 - 21 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2876

Abstract

In this study, monthly streamflow and satellite-based actual evapotranspiration data (AET) were used to evaluate the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for the calibration of an experimental sub-basin with mixed land-use characteristics in Athens, Greece. Three calibration scenarios were performed using [...] Read more.

In this study, monthly streamflow and satellite-based actual evapotranspiration data (AET) were used to evaluate the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for the calibration of an experimental sub-basin with mixed land-use characteristics in Athens, Greece. Three calibration scenarios were performed using streamflow (i.e., single variable), AET (i.e., single variable), and streamflow–AET data together (i.e., multi-variable) to provide insights into how different calibration scenarios affect the hydrological processes of a catchment with complex land use characteristics. The actual evapotranspiration data were obtained from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The calibration was achieved with the use of the SUFI-2 algorithm in the SWAT-CUP program. The results suggested that the single variable calibrations showed moderately better performance than the multi-variable calibration. However, the multi-variable calibration scenario displayed acceptable outcomes for both streamflow and actual evapotranspiration and indicated reasonably good streamflow estimations (NSE = 0.70; R² = 0.86; PBIAS = 6.1%). The model under-predicted AET in all calibration scenarios during the dry season compared to MODIS satellite-based AET. Overall, this study demonstrated that satellite-based AET data, together with streamflow data, can enhance model performance and be a good choice for watersheds lacking sufficient spatial data and observations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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33 pages, 7522 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supercritical Flow over a Submerged Vertical Negative Step

by Eugene Retsinis and Panos Papanicolaou

Hydrology 2022, 9(5), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9050074 - 28 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2420

Abstract

The transition from supercritical to subcritical flow around a fully submerged abrupt negative step in a horizontal rectangular open channel has been investigated. In a laboratory experiment the one-dimensional energy and the momentum conservation equations were studied by means of depth and pressure [...] Read more.

The transition from supercritical to subcritical flow around a fully submerged abrupt negative step in a horizontal rectangular open channel has been investigated. In a laboratory experiment the one-dimensional energy and the momentum conservation equations were studied by means of depth and pressure measurements by piezometers installed along the bottom and the step face. Froude number varied in the range 1.9 to 5.8 while the step height to critical depth ratio was in the range 1.34 to 2.56. The results are presented in dimensionless form using mainly a characteristic length scale that is the sum of critical depth and step height and the Froude number of the supercritical flow upstream. Five different types of rapidly varying flow are observed when the subcritical downstream tailwater depth varied. The supercritical water jet at the top of the step either strikes the bottom downstream of the step when the maximum pressure head is greater, or moves to the surface of the flow when it is lower than tailwater depth, and the separation of the two flow regimes occurs when the tailwater depth to the characteristic length scale is around 1.05. The normalized energy loss and a closure parameter for the momentum equation are presented in dimensionless diagrams for practical use by the design engineer. Finally, the one-dimensional equations of motion including Boussinesq terms are solved numerically and the results found are congruent to the experimental findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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16 pages, 4374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Skin Friction Factor in Gravel Bed Rivers: Considering the Effect of Large-Scale Topographic Forms in Non-Uniform Flows

by Masoud Kazem, Hossein Afzalimehr, Mohammad Nazari-Sharabian and Moses Karakouzian

Hydrology 2022, 9(4), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9040058 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2238

Abstract

Determination of skin friction factor has been a controversial topic, particularly in gravel-bed rivers where total flow resistance is influenced by the existence of small-scale skin roughness and large-scale topographic forms. The accuracy of existing models predicting skin friction factors in conditions where [...] Read more.

Determination of skin friction factor has been a controversial topic, particularly in gravel-bed rivers where total flow resistance is influenced by the existence of small-scale skin roughness and large-scale topographic forms. The accuracy of existing models predicting skin friction factors in conditions where small-scale skin roughness and large-scale topographic forms exist is very low. The objective of this study is to develop a modified model that improves the accuracy of the determination of skin friction factors in gravel-bed rivers. To this end, 100 velocity profile data obtained from eight gravel-bed rivers were utilized to develop an analytical method that considers the momentum thickness of the boundary layer and its deviation in large-scale topographic bedforms in a 1D force-balance model. The results show that the accuracy of the skin friction factors is enhanced when (1) the model is in the form of an exponential function of energy slope, and (2) the deviation of momentum thickness is considered in the model. The proposed model results in high accuracy of the predicted skin friction factors for energy slopes between 0.001 and 0.1, which exist in most gravel-bed rivers with different morphologies. Additionally, this study model was used to modify the classic Einstein–Strickler equation. The modified equation resulted in improved accuracy of the predicted skin friction factors in non-uniform flow conditions even when velocity profiles and energy slope were not available. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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36 pages, 89456 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Precipitation and Maximum Flows in Devil’s Creek, Tacna, Peru

by Edwin Pino-Vargas, Eduardo Chávarri-Velarde, Eusebio Ingol-Blanco, Fabricio Mejía, Ana Cruz and Alissa Vera

Hydrology 2022, 9(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9010010 - 5 Jan 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5097

Abstract

Global projections of climate change indicate negative impacts on hydrological systems, with significant changes in precipitation and temperature in many parts of the world. As a result, floods and droughts are expected. This article discusses the potential effects of climate change and variability [...] Read more.

Global projections of climate change indicate negative impacts on hydrological systems, with significant changes in precipitation and temperature in many parts of the world. As a result, floods and droughts are expected. This article discusses the potential effects of climate change and variability on the maximum precipitation, temperature, and hydrological regime in Devil’s Creek, Tacna, Peru. The outputs of precipitation and daily temperature of fifteen regional climate models were used for the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emission scenarios. The methodology used includes the bias correction and downscaling of meteorological variables using the quintiles mapping technique, hydrological modeling, the evaluation of two emission scenarios, and its effect on the maximum flows of the stream. The results of the multi-model ensemble show that the maximum annual precipitation will probably increase by more than 30% for the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios for the 2021–2050 period relative to the 1981–2005 period. Likewise, as expected, the maximum flows could increase by 220% and 154% for the RCP4.5 scenarios for the 2021–2050 and 2051–2080 terms, respectively, and 234% and 484% for the RCP8.5 scenarios and for the 2021–2050 and 2051–2080 terms, respectively, concerning the recorded historical value, increasing the probability of flood events and damage in populations located downstream. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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19 pages, 3916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Trend Analysis of Temperature and Rainfall over Ziway Lake Basin, Ethiopia

by Aster Tesfaye Hordofa, Olkeba Tolessa Leta, Tane Alamirew and Abebe Demissie Chukalla

Hydrology 2022, 9(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9010002 - 22 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3764

Abstract

Rainfall and temperature trends detection is vital for water resources management and decision support systems in agro-hydrology. This study assessed the historical (1983–2005) and future (2026–2100) rainfall, maximum temperature (T_max), and minimum temperature (T_min) trends of the Ziway Lake [...] Read more.

Rainfall and temperature trends detection is vital for water resources management and decision support systems in agro-hydrology. This study assessed the historical (1983–2005) and future (2026–2100) rainfall, maximum temperature (T_max), and minimum temperature (T_min) trends of the Ziway Lake Basin (Ethiopia). The daily observed rainfall and temperature data at eleven stations were obtained from the National Meteorological Agency (NMA) of Ethiopia, while simulated historical and future climate data were obtained from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) datasets under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) of 4.5 and 8.5. The CMIP5 datasets were statistically downscaled by using the climate model data for hydrologic modeling (CMhyd) tool and bias corrected using the distribution mapping method available in the CMhyd tool. The performance of simulated rainfall, T_max, and T_min of the CMIP5 models were statistically evaluated using observation datasets at eleven stations. The results showed that the selected CMIP5 models can reasonably simulate the monthly rainfall, T_max, and T_min at the majority of the stations. Modified Mann–Kendall trend test were applied to estimate the trends of annual rainfall, T_max, and T_min in the historical and future periods. We found that rainfall experienced no clear trends, while T_max, and T_min showed consistently significant increasing trends under both RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. However, the warming is expected to be greater under RCP 8.5 than RCP 4.5 by the end of the 21st century, resulting in an increasing trend of T_max and T_min at all stations. The greatest warming occurred in the central part of the basin, with statistically significant increases largely seen by the end of the 21st century, which is expected to exacerbate the evapotranspiration demand of the area that could negatively affect the freshwater availability within the basin. This study increases our understanding of historic trends and projected future change effects on rainfall- and evapotranspiration-related climate variables, which can be used to inform adaptive water resource management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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25 pages, 11769 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Improving Operational Short- to Medium-Range (SR2MR) Streamflow Forecasts in the Upper Zambezi Basin and Its Sub-Basins Using Variational Ensemble Forecasting

by Rodrigo Valdés-Pineda, Juan B. Valdés, Sungwook Wi, Aleix Serrat-Capdevila and Tirthankar Roy

Hydrology 2021, 8(4), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8040188 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2667

Abstract

The combination of Hydrological Models and high-resolution Satellite Precipitation Products (SPPs) or regional Climatological Models (RCMs), has provided the means to establish baselines for the quantification, propagation, and reduction in hydrological uncertainty when generating streamflow forecasts. This study aimed to improve operational real-time [...] Read more.

The combination of Hydrological Models and high-resolution Satellite Precipitation Products (SPPs) or regional Climatological Models (RCMs), has provided the means to establish baselines for the quantification, propagation, and reduction in hydrological uncertainty when generating streamflow forecasts. This study aimed to improve operational real-time streamflow forecasts for the Upper Zambezi River Basin (UZRB), in Africa, utilizing the novel Variational Ensemble Forecasting (VEF) approach. In this regard, we describe and discuss the main steps required to implement, calibrate, and validate an operational hydrologic forecasting system (HFS) using VEF and Hydrologic Processing Strategies (HPS). The operational HFS was constructed to monitor daily streamflow and forecast them up to eight days in the future. The forecasting process called short- to medium-range (SR2MR) streamflow forecasting was implemented using real-time rainfall data from three Satellite Precipitation Products or SPPs (The real-time TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis TMPA-RT, the NOAA CPC Morphing Technique CMORPH, and the Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed data using Artificial Neural Networks, PERSIANN) and rainfall forecasts from the Global Forecasting System (GFS). The hydrologic preprocessing (HPR) strategy considered using all raw and bias corrected rainfall estimates to calibrate three distributed hydrological models (HYMOD_DS, HBV_DS, and VIC 4.2.b). The hydrologic processing (HP) strategy considered using all optimal parameter sets estimated during the calibration process to increase the number of ensembles available for operational forecasting. Finally, inference-based approaches were evaluated during the application of a hydrological postprocessing (HPP) strategy. The final evaluation and reduction in uncertainty from multiple sources, i.e., multiple precipitation products, hydrologic models, and optimal parameter sets, was significantly achieved through a fully operational implementation of VEF combined with several HPS. Finally, the main challenges and opportunities associated with operational SR2MR streamflow forecasting using VEF are evaluated and discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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17 pages, 9924 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Improving Hillslope Link Model Performance from Non-Linear Representation of Natural and Artificially Drained Subsurface Flows

by Nicolás Velásquez, Ricardo Mantilla, Witold Krajewski, Morgan Fonley and Felipe Quintero

Hydrology 2021, 8(4), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8040187 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2425

Abstract

This study evaluates the potential for a newly proposed non-linear subsurface flux equation to improve the performance of the hydrological Hillslope Link Model (HLM). The equation contains parameters that are functionally related to the hillslope steepness and the presence of tile drainage. As [...] Read more.

This study evaluates the potential for a newly proposed non-linear subsurface flux equation to improve the performance of the hydrological Hillslope Link Model (HLM). The equation contains parameters that are functionally related to the hillslope steepness and the presence of tile drainage. As a result, the equation provides better representation of hydrograph recession curves, hydrograph timing, and total runoff volume. The authors explore the new parameterization’s potential by comparing a set of diagnostic and prognostic setups in HLM. In the diagnostic approach, they configure 12 different scenarios with spatially uniform parameters over the state of Iowa. In the prognostic case, they use information from topographical maps and known locations of tile drainage to distribute parameter values. To assess performance improvements, they compare simulation results to streamflow observations during a 17-year period (2002–2018) at 140 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauging stations. The operational setup of the HLM model used at the Iowa Flood Center (IFC) serves as a benchmark to quantify the overall improvement of the model. In particular, the new equation provides better representation of recession curves and the total streamflow volumes. However, when comparing the diagnostic and prognostic setups, the authors found discrepancies in the spatial distribution of hillslope scale parameters. The results suggest that more work is required when using maps of physical attributes to parameterize hydrological models. The findings also demonstrate that the diagnostic approach is a useful strategy to evaluate models and assess changes in their formulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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13 pages, 3050 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Hydraulic Analysis of Shock Wave Generation Mechanism on Flat Spillway Chutes through Physical Modeling

by Muhammad Kaleem Sarwar, Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq, Rashid Farooq, Hafiz Kamran Jaleel Abbasi, Faraz Ul Haq, Ijaz Ahmad, Muhammad Izhar Shah, Anne. W. M. Ng and Nitin Muttil

Hydrology 2021, 8(4), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8040186 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2366

Abstract

Shock waves are generated downstream of spillways during flood operations, which have adverse effects on spillway operations. This paper presents the physical model study of shock waves at the Mohmand Dam Spillway project, Pakistan. In this study, hydraulic analysis of shock waves was [...] Read more.

Shock waves are generated downstream of spillways during flood operations, which have adverse effects on spillway operations. This paper presents the physical model study of shock waves at the Mohmand Dam Spillway project, Pakistan. In this study, hydraulic analysis of shock waves was carried out to investigate its generation mechanism. Different experiments were performed to analyze the rooster tail on a flat spillway chute and to examine the factors affecting the characteristics of the rooster tail. The study results show that shock wave height is influenced by spillway chute slope, pier shape, and flow depth. Moreover, the height of the shock wave can be minimized by installing a semi-elliptical pier on the tail part of the main pier. Further modifications in the geometry of the extended tail part of the pier are recommended for the elimination of the shock wave. Based on observed data collected from the model study, an empirical equation was developed to estimate the shock wave height generated on the flat slope spillway chutes (5° to 10°). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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17 pages, 4272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Remote and In-Situ Data to Assess the Hydrological Response of a Post-Fire Watershed

by Luca Folador, Alessio Cislaghi, Giorgio Vacchiano and Daniele Masseroni

Hydrology 2021, 8(4), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8040169 - 12 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2849

Abstract

Forest fire is a common concern in Mediterranean watersheds. Fire-induced canopy mortality may cause the degradation of chemical–physical properties in the soil and influence hydrological processes within and across watersheds. However, the prediction of the pedological and hydrological effect of forest fires with [...] Read more.

Forest fire is a common concern in Mediterranean watersheds. Fire-induced canopy mortality may cause the degradation of chemical–physical properties in the soil and influence hydrological processes within and across watersheds. However, the prediction of the pedological and hydrological effect of forest fires with heterogenous severities across entire watersheds remains a difficult task. A large forest fire occurred in 2017 in northern Italy providing the opportunity to test an integrated approach that exploits remote and in-situ data for assessing the impact of forest fires on the hydrological response of semi-natural watersheds. The approach is based on a combination of remotely-sensed information on burned areas and in-situ measurements of soil infiltration in burned areas. Such collected data were used to adapt a rainfall–runoff model over an experimental watershed to produce a comparative evaluation of flood peak and volume of runoff in pre- and post-fire conditions. The model is based on a semi-distributed approach that exploits the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) and lag-time methods for the estimation of hydrological losses and runoff propagation, respectively, across the watershed. The effects of fire on hydrological losses were modeled by adjusting the CN values for different fire severities. Direct infiltration measurements were carried out to better understand the effect of fire on soil infiltration capacity. We simulated the hydrological response of the burned watershed following one of the most severe storm events that had hit the area in the last few years. Fire had serious repercussions in regard to the hydrological response, increasing the flood peak and the runoff volume up to 125% and 75%, respectively. Soil infiltration capacity was seriously compromised by fire as well, reducing unsaturated hydraulic conductivity up to 75% compared with pre-fire conditions. These findings can provide insights into the impact of forest fires on the hydrological response of a whole watershed and improve the assessment of surface runoff alterations suffered by a watershed in post-fire conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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15 pages, 2718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation of Flow in Parshall Flume Using Selected Nonlinear Turbulence Models

by Mehdi Heyrani, Abdolmajid Mohammadian and Ioan Nistor

Hydrology 2021, 8(4), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8040151 - 10 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2262

Abstract

This study uses a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach to simulate flows in Parshall flumes, which are used to measure flowrates in channels. The numerical results are compared with the experimental data, which show that choosing the right turbulence model, e.g., [...] Read more.

This study uses a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach to simulate flows in Parshall flumes, which are used to measure flowrates in channels. The numerical results are compared with the experimental data, which show that choosing the right turbulence model, e.g.,

v^{2} - f

and LC, is the key element in accurately simulating Parshall flumes. The Standard Error of Estimate (SEE) values were very low, i.e., 0.76% and 1.00%, respectively, for the two models mentioned above. The Parshall flume used for this experiment is a good example of a hydraulic structure for which the design can be more improved by implementing a CFD approach compared with a laboratory (physical) modeling approach, which is often costly and time-consuming. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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24 pages, 6978 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrological Modeling in Agricultural Intensive Watershed: The Case of Upper East Fork White River, USA

by George Bariamis and Evangelos Baltas

Hydrology 2021, 8(3), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8030137 - 10 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2967

Abstract

Identifying the core hydrological processes of catchments is a critical step for operative hydrological modeling. This study attempts to assess the long-term alterations in streamflow in three adjacent catchments of Upper East Fork White River, Indiana USA, by employing the SWAT hydrological model. [...] Read more.

Identifying the core hydrological processes of catchments is a critical step for operative hydrological modeling. This study attempts to assess the long-term alterations in streamflow in three adjacent catchments of Upper East Fork White River, Indiana USA, by employing the SWAT hydrological model. The model simulations are spanning from 1980 up to 2015 and distributed in three configurations periods to identify monthly alterations in streamflow. For this purpose, water abstraction, land use, tillage, and agricultural field drainage practices have been incorporated in the model to provide accurate data input. The model setup also integrates spatially disaggregated sectorial water use data from surface and groundwater resources integrating the significant increases of water abstractions mainly for agricultural and public water supply purposes. The land cover of the study area is governed by rotating crops, while agricultural practices and tile drainage are crucial model parameters affecting the regional hydrological balance. Streamflow prediction is based on the SUFI-2 algorithm and the SWAT-CUP interface has been used for the monthly calibration and validation phases of the model. The evaluation of model simulations indicate a progressively sufficient hydrological model setup for all configuration periods with NSE (0.87, 0.88, and 0.88) and PBIAS (14%, −7%, and −2.8%) model evaluation values at the Seymour outlet. Surface runoff/precipitation as well as percolation/precipitation ratios have been used as indicators to identify trends to wetter conditions. Model outputs for the upstream areas, are successful predictions for streamflow assessment studies to test future implications of land cover and climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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17 pages, 4457 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Reinvestigating the Parabolic-Shaped Eddy Viscosity Profile for Free Surface Flows

by Rafik Absi

Hydrology 2021, 8(3), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8030126 - 20 Aug 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4977

Abstract

The flow in rivers is turbulent. The main parameter related to turbulence in rivers is the eddy viscosity, which is used to model a turbulent flow and is involved in the determination of both velocities and sediment concentrations. A well-known and largely used [...] Read more.

The flow in rivers is turbulent. The main parameter related to turbulence in rivers is the eddy viscosity, which is used to model a turbulent flow and is involved in the determination of both velocities and sediment concentrations. A well-known and largely used vertical distribution of eddy viscosity in free surface flows (open channels and rivers) is given by the parabolic profile that is based on the logarithmic velocity profile assumption and is valid therefore only in the log-law layer. It was improved thanks to the log-wake law velocity profile. These two eddy viscosities are obtained from velocity profiles, and the main shortcoming of the log-wake profile is the empirical Coles’ parameter. A more rigorous and reliable analytical eddy viscosity model is needed. In this study, we present two analytical eddy viscosity models based on the concepts of velocity and length scales, which are related to the exponentially decreasing turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) function and mixing length, namely, (1) the exponential-type profile of eddy viscosity and (2) an eddy viscosity based on an extension of von Karman’s similarity hypothesis. The eddy viscosity from the second model is

{Re}_{*}

-independent, while the eddy viscosity from the first model is

{Re}_{*}

-dependent (where

{Re}_{*}

is the friction Reynolds number). The proposed analytical models were validated through computation of velocity profiles, obtained from the resolution of the momentum equation and comparisons to experimental data. With an additional correction function related to the damping effect of turbulence near the free surface, both models are similar to the log-wake-modified eddy viscosity profile but with different values of the Coles’ parameter, i.e.,

Π = 0.2

for the first model and

Π = 0.15

for the second model. These values are similar to those found in open-channel flow experiments. This provides an explanation about the accuracy of these two analytical models in the outer part of free surface flows. For large values of

{Re}_{*}

(

{Re}_{*}

> 2000), the first model becomes

{Re}_{*}

independent, and the two coefficients reach asymptotic values. Finally, the two proposed eddy viscosity models are validated by experimental data of eddy viscosity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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19 pages, 29723 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Simulation of Dam Breaks on Dry Bed Using Finite Volume Roe-TVD Method

by Ebrahim Alamatian, Sara Dadar and Bojan Đurin

Hydrology 2021, 8(2), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8020088 - 3 Jun 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3047

Abstract

Dams are one of the most important hydraulic structures. In view of unrecoverable damages occurring after a dam failure, analyzing a dams’ break is necessary. In this study, a dam located in Iran is considered. According to adjacent tourist and entertainment zones, the [...] Read more.

Dams are one of the most important hydraulic structures. In view of unrecoverable damages occurring after a dam failure, analyzing a dams’ break is necessary. In this study, a dam located in Iran is considered. According to adjacent tourist and entertainment zones, the breaking of the dam could lead to severe problems for the area and bridges downstream of the river. To investigate the issue, a numerical FORTRAN code based on the 2D finite volume Roe-TVD method on a fixed bed is provided to assess the effects of the dam break. Turbulence terms and dry bed conditions were considered in the code. A numerical wave tank (NWT) with a triangular barrier in the bed was numerically modeled and compared with analytical models to verify the capability of the code. Comparing numerical, experimental and analytical results showed that estimated water level and mass conservation in the numerical model is in good agreement with the experimental data and analytical solutions. The 2D approach used has reduced the cost of computing compared to a 3D approach while obtaining accurate results. The code is finally applied to a full-scale dam-break flood. Six KM of the natural river downstream of the dam, including two bridges, B1 and B2, is considered. Flood flow hydrographs and water level variations at bridges B1 and B2 are presented. The results denoted that bridges B1 and B2 will be flooded after 12 and 21 min, respectively, and are at risk of the potential break. Thus, it is necessary to announce and possibly evacuate the resort area alongside the dam in order to decrease losses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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14 pages, 3260 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Modeling of the Geological Probability Procedure for the Prediction of High Flows in Small Streams, Case Study of Medvednica Mt., Croatia

by Vedran Sudar, Tomislav Malvić, Tatjana Vujnović and Josip Ivšinović

Hydrology 2021, 8(2), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8020083 - 19 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2147

Abstract

Floods are defined by maximum water levels or flow of high-water waves. Here, we defined the deterministic method for the calculation of the probability of a high discharge event, named as the Probability Of Success (POS). The POS method previously developed for petroleum [...] Read more.

Floods are defined by maximum water levels or flow of high-water waves. Here, we defined the deterministic method for the calculation of the probability of a high discharge event, named as the Probability Of Success (POS). The POS method previously developed for petroleum subsurface systems has been modified for the surface hydrological system with the purpose of flood prediction. The case study of this research is the small basin of Kašina Stream on Medvednica Mt. (NW Croatia). The data are obtained upstream from the hydrological station Gornja Kašina. The POS model is defined by four categories. Each geological category is described with accompanied events and probabilities. Floods are defined by four categories: total precipitation, total water flow, basement, and maximal water capacity in soil. The categories total precipitation and basement were divided into two sub-categories each: quantity and duration; porosity and soil depth. Data are collected for a hydrometeorological event, namely an intensive convective storm on 24–25 July 2020, when Zagreb was locally hit by heavy urban floods. The presented probability method yielded a probability of 1.76% that such an event could happen to the station. However, the flooding was not recorded. A comparison of the real event and the predicted probability supported the adequacy and applicability of the method, showing it has high reliability. The presented probability model could be easily applied, with small modifications, to the entire area of Northern Croatia for the prediction of small basin flooding events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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12 pages, 4163 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of River Discharge and Sediment Load on Sediment Plume Behaviors in a Coastal Region: The Yukon River, Alaska and the Bering Sea

by Kazuhisa A. Chikita, Tomoyuki Wada, Isao Kudo, Sei-Ichi Saitoh and Mitsuhiro Toratani

Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010045 - 12 Mar 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2175

Abstract

In the Bering Sea around and off the Yukon River delta, surface sediment plumes are markedly formed by glacier-melt and rainfall sediment runoffs of the Yukon River, Alaska, in June– September. The discharge and sediment load time series of the Yukon River were [...] Read more.

In the Bering Sea around and off the Yukon River delta, surface sediment plumes are markedly formed by glacier-melt and rainfall sediment runoffs of the Yukon River, Alaska, in June– September. The discharge and sediment load time series of the Yukon River were obtained at the lowest gauging station of US Geological Survey in June 2006–September 2010. Meanwhile, by coastal observations on boat, it was found out that the river plume plunges at a boundary between turbid plume water and clean marine water at the Yukon River sediment load of more than ca. 2500 kg/s. Grain size analysis with changing salinity (‰) for the river sediment indicated that the suspended sediment becomes coarse at 2 to 5‰ by flocculation. Hence, the plume’s plunging probably occurred by the flocculation of the Yukon suspended sediment in the brackish zone upstream of the plunging boundary, where the differential settling from the flocculation is considered to have induced the turbid water intrusion into the bottom layer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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17 pages, 39079 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Numerical Modeling of Venturi Flume

by Mehdi Heyrani, Abdolmajid Mohammadian, Ioan Nistor and Omerul Faruk Dursun

Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010027 - 4 Feb 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4805

Abstract

In order to measure flow rate in open channels, including irrigation channels, hydraulic structures are used with a relatively high degree of reliance. Venturi flumes are among the most common and efficient type, and they can measure discharge using only the water level [...] Read more.

In order to measure flow rate in open channels, including irrigation channels, hydraulic structures are used with a relatively high degree of reliance. Venturi flumes are among the most common and efficient type, and they can measure discharge using only the water level at a specific point within the converging section and an empirical discharge relationship. There have been a limited number of attempts to simulate a venturi flume using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools to improve the accuracy of the readings and empirical formula. In this study, simulations on different flumes were carried out using a total of seven different models, including the standard k–ε, RNG k–ε, realizable k–ε, k–ω, and k–ω SST models. Furthermore, large-eddy simulation (LES) and detached eddy simulation (DES) were performed. Comparison of the simulated results with physical test data shows that among the turbulence models, the k–ε model provides the most accurate results, followed by the dynamic k LES model when compared to the physical experimental data. The overall margin of error was around 2–3%, meaning that the simulation model can be reliably used to estimate the discharge in the channel. In different cross-sections within the flume, the k–ε model provides the lowest percentage of error, i.e., 1.93%. This shows that the water surface data are well calculated by the model, as the water surface profiles also follow the same vertical curvilinear path as the experimental data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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16 pages, 4957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Impacts of Climate Change on Tile Discharge and Nitrogen Yield Using the DRAINMOD Model

by Golmar Golmohammadi, Ramesh P. Rudra, Gary W. Parkin, Priyantha B. Kulasekera, Merrin Macrae and Pradeep K. Goel

Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010001 - 26 Dec 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3903

Abstract

The detrimental impacts of agricultural subsurface tile flows and their associated pollutants on water quality is a major environmental issue in the Great Lakes region and many other places globally. A strong understanding of water quality indicators along with the contribution of tile-drained [...] Read more.

The detrimental impacts of agricultural subsurface tile flows and their associated pollutants on water quality is a major environmental issue in the Great Lakes region and many other places globally. A strong understanding of water quality indicators along with the contribution of tile-drained agriculture to water contamination is necessary to assess and reduce a significant source of non-point source pollution. In this study, DRAINMOD, a field-scale hydrology and water quality model, was applied to assess the impact of future climatic change on depth to water table, tile flow and associated nitrate loss from an 8.66 ha agricultural field near Londesborough, in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The closest available climate data from a weather station approximately 10 km from the field site was used by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) to generate future predictions of daily precipitation and maximum and minimum air temperatures required to create the weather files for DRAINMOD. Of the 28 models applied by MNRF, three models (CGCM3T47-Run5, GFDLCM2.0, and MIROC3.2hires) were selected based on the frequency of the models recommended for use in Ontario with SRA1B emission scenario. Results suggested that simulated tile flows and evapotranspiration (ET) in the 2071–2100 period are expected to increase by 7% and 14% compared to 1960–1990 period. Results also suggest that under future climates, significant increases in nitrate losses (about 50%) will occur along with the elevated tile flows. This work suggests that climate change will have a significant effect on field hydrology and water quality in tile-drained agricultural regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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12 pages, 1855 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Assessment of the Recent Evolution of the Streamflow in a Near-Natural System: A Case Study in the Headwaters of the Mero Basin (Galicia, Spain)

by M. L. Rodríguez-Blanco, M. M. Taboada-Castro and M. T. Taboada-Castro

Hydrology 2020, 7(4), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology7040097 - 8 Dec 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2166

Abstract

Observational trend analysis is fundamental for documenting changes in river flows and placing extreme events in their longer-term historical context. Observations from near-natural catchments, i.e., with little or no alteration by humans, are of great importance in detecting and attributing streamflow trends. The [...] Read more.

Observational trend analysis is fundamental for documenting changes in river flows and placing extreme events in their longer-term historical context. Observations from near-natural catchments, i.e., with little or no alteration by humans, are of great importance in detecting and attributing streamflow trends. The purpose of this study is to analyze the annual and seasonal trends of stream discharge (mean, low and high flows) in a headwater catchment in NW Spain, i.e., in the wettest corner of the Iberian Peninsula. The results showed no significant decrease in the mean annual stream discharge. However, significantly lower summer and autumn mean stream discharge and an increase in low flow period were detected, in addition to lesser autumn high flow. The rainfall pattern followed an upward trend, but was not significant. This different pattern shown by rainfall and discharge indicates that is not sufficient to explain the observed trend in stream discharge. Air temperature, most notably by enhancing evapotranspiration, may explain the altered patterns of stream discharge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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14 pages, 5586 KiB

Open AccessTechnical Note

WaterbalANce, a WebApp for Thornthwaite–Mather Water Balance Computation: Comparison of Applications in Two European Watersheds

by Elisa Mammoliti, Davide Fronzi, Adriano Mancini, Daniela Valigi and Alberto Tazioli

Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010034 - 20 Feb 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4838

Abstract

Nowadays, the balance between incoming precipitation and stream or spring discharge is a challenging aspect in many scientific disciplines related to water management. In this regard, although advances in the methodologies for water balance calculation concerning each component of the water cycle have [...] Read more.

Nowadays, the balance between incoming precipitation and stream or spring discharge is a challenging aspect in many scientific disciplines related to water management. In this regard, although advances in the methodologies for water balance calculation concerning each component of the water cycle have been achieved, the Thornthwaite–Mather method remains one of the most used, especially for hydrogeological purposes. In fact, in contrast to physical-based models, which require many input parameters, the Thornthwaite–Mather method is a simple, empirical, data-driven procedure in which the error associated with its use is smaller than that associated with the measurement of input data. The disadvantage of this method is that elaboration times can be excessively long if a classical MS Excel file is used for a large amount of data. Although many authors have attempted to automatize the procedure using simple algorithms or graphical user interfaces, some bugs have been detected. For these reasons, we propose a WebApp for monthly water balance calculation, called WaterbalANce. WaterbalANce was written in Python and is driven by a serverless computing approach. Two respective European watersheds are selected and presented to demonstrate the application of this method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flow Modeling for Water Resources and Hydrological Engineering)

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