Application of developed Grid-GA distributed hydrologic model in semi-humid and semi-arid basin

Abstract

A grid and Green-Ampt based(Grid-GA)distributed hydrologic physical model was developed for flood simulation and forecasting in semi-humid and semi-arid basin. Based on topographical information of each grid cell extracted from the digital elevation model (DEM) and Green-Ampt infiltration method, the Grid-GA model takes into consideration the redistribution of water content, and consists of vegetation and root interception, evapotranspiration, runoff generation via the excess infiltration mechanism, runoff concentration, and flow routing. The downslope redistribution of soil moisture is explicitly calculated on a grid basis, and water exchange among grids within runoff routing along the river drainage networks is taken into consideration. The proposed model and Xin’anjiang model were applied to the upper Lushi basin in the Luohe River, a tributary of the Yellow River, with an area of 4 716 km² for flood simulation. Results show that both models perform well in flood simulation and can be used for flood forecasting in semi-humid and semi-arid region.

Keywords

distributed hydrologic model / digital elevation model (DEM) / Green-Ampt / redistribution / excess infiltration mechanism / semi-humid and semi-arid basin

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