Synoptic-scale assessment of surface runoff: Final report for period July 1, 1984-September 30, 1986

Technical Report · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6795827

White, D A; Petersen, G W; Eyton, J R; Knight, C G

The development and validation of a methodological approach to predicting surface runoff over large regions is considered. The Soil Conservation Service runoff curve number procedure was modified to allow for areal variation of land use and land cover, soils, and rainfall over a regular-gridded network. Ten rainfall events, from the period 1973-1980, were selected to estimate runoff for the Mahantango Creek watershed (162 sq. mi) in south-central Pennsylvania. It was found that in large magnitude events, runoff was severely underestimated, while in smaller events both over- and underestimation occurred. Error sources arising from both data input and model structure are qualitatively assessed. It is concluded that the synoptic methodology is useful for providing an initial assessment of high runoff areas for further detailed hydrologic investigation.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Office for Remote Sensing of Earth Resources
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-84ER60262
• OSTI ID: 6795827
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/60262-1; ON: DE87008613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500100* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DATA COVARIANCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FORECASTING
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
RUNOFF