Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.04.035
Title (Primary) A weighted, multi-method approach for accurate basin-wide streamflow estimation in an ungauged watershed
Author Shope, C.L.; Bartsch, S.; Kim, K.; Kim, B.; Tenhunen, J.; Peiffer, S.; Park, J.-H.; Ok, Y.S.; Fleckenstein, J.H.; Koellner, T.
Source Titel Journal of Hydrology
Year 2013
Department HDG
Volume 494
Page From 72
Page To 82
Language englisch
Keywords TERRECO; Korea; Discharge; Baseflow; Topography; River
UFZ wide themes RU2;
Abstract

River discharge is a commonly measured hydrologic variable; however, estimate uncertainty is often higher than acceptable limits. To quantify method limitations and spatiotemporal variability, a multi-year hydrologic flow partitioning investigation was completed under monsoonal conditions in the ungauged complex terrain of the Haean Catchment, South Korea. Our results indicate that sediment transport from a single annual monsoonal event can significantly modify the channel cross-sectional area resulting in inaccurate stage-discharge rating curves. We compare six discharge measurement methods at 13 locations that vary in slope from 1% to 80%, with discharge ranging up to four orders in magnitude, which enabled us to weight the accuracy of each method over a specific range in discharge. The most accurate discharge estimation methods are the weir, the acoustic Doppler current profiler, and the in-stream velocity area method; however, under certain conditions each of these methods is less desirable than other methods. The uncertainty in the three methods is on average 0.4%, 4.7%, and 6.1% of the total discharge, respectively. The accuracy of the discharge estimates has a direct influence on the characterization of basin-wide hydrologic partitioning, which can lead to significant variability in sediment erosion rates and nutrient fate and transport.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=13923
Shope, C.L., Bartsch, S., Kim, K., Kim, B., Tenhunen, J., Peiffer, S., Park, J.-H., Ok, Y.S., Fleckenstein, J.H., Koellner, T. (2013):
A weighted, multi-method approach for accurate basin-wide streamflow estimation in an ungauged watershed
J. Hydrol. 494 , 72 - 82 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.04.035