COMPARISON OF TWO MATHEMATICAL MODELS OF SURFACE RUNOFF

A comparative assessment of two mathematical models of surface runoff is made by applying them to 21 terraced and unterraced natural agricultural basins located in two geographically different regions. The models include a nonlinear kinematic wave model based on the converging section geometry (CONV) and Nash's linear model (NASH). The criteria for comparison include prediction of (a) hydrograph peak, (b) hydrograph peak time and (c) the entire hydrograph, and some elementary statistical tests. It is shown that CONV has a tendency to overpredict both peak discharge and its time to occurence; while NASH has a tendency to underpredict them. It is also shown that because of its nonlinear character CINV is more sensitive to errors in the input than NASH. Furthermore, one model cannot be uniformly better than the other. The choice of a particular model much depends on the criterion of comparison.

• Corporate Authors:

  International Association of Hydrological Sciences

  Institute of Hydrology, 1909 K Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20006
• Authors:
  • Singh, V P
• Publication Date: 1976-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 285-299
• Serial:
  • Hydrological Sciences Bulletin
  • Volume: 21
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: International Association of Hydrological Sciences

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Hydrographs; Mathematical models; Peak discharge; Runoff
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00142043
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 16 1977 12:00AM