Assessment of the Relationships among Catchments’ Morphometric Parameters and Hydrologic Indices
Author(s)
Sotirios Karalis*,
Efthimios Karymbalis,
Kanella Valkanou,
Christos Chalkias,
Petros Katsafados,
Kleomenis Kalogeropoulos,
Vasileios Batzakis,
Antonios Bofilios
ABSTRACT
In Greece the hydrological analysis of ephemeral streams has been especially difficult due to the lack of precipitation and discharge gauges. This study focuses on the investigation of possible relationship between morphometric characteristics of small to medium drainage basins and hydrological indices in order to discover morphometric parameters “predictors” of flash flood potential of ungauged catchments. Twenty-two morphometric parameters of twenty-seven drainage basins (ranging in area between 3.6 km2 and 330.5 km2) located in the northern part of the Peloponnese in southern Greece were calculated utilizing GIS software ArcGIS10. Hydrological modeling was performed using a simplified Matlab implementation of TOPMODEL, a conceptual model based on the principle of variable contributing area to runoff production through saturated overland flow, and LISEM, a physically based hydrologic and soil erosion model. Rainfall-runoff simulations were performed for an extreme precipitation event. The simulations outcomes, which include the peak discharge, time to peak and the percentage runoff, were correlated with the morphometric parameters of the catchments. Results were not consistent between the two models, probably due to their different structure, with the LISEM results being closer to what is anticipated. The results demonstrate that area, length of the basin, perimeter and compactness factor appear better correlated with the peak discharge (Qpeak) of the catchment. The same parameters as well as Melton’s number correlate with percentage runoff (C), while “celerity” of the flood wave (length of the basin/time to peak) is better correlated with relief, indicating that as the relief becomes greater, the response of the basin becomes fastest.
In Greece the hydrological analysis of ephemeral streams has been especially difficult due to the lack of precipitation and discharge gauges. This study focuses on the investigation of possible relationship between morphometric characteristics of small to medium drainage basins and hydrological indices in order to discover morphometric parameters “predictors” of flash flood potential of ungauged catchments. Twenty-two morphometric parameters of twenty-seven drainage basins (ranging in area between 3.6 km2 and 330.5 km2) located in the northern part of the Peloponnese in southern Greece were calculated utilizing GIS software ArcGIS10. Hydrological modeling was performed using a simplified Matlab implementation of TOPMODEL, a conceptual model based on the principle of variable contributing area to runoff production through saturated overland flow, and LISEM, a physically based hydrologic and soil erosion model. Rainfall-runoff simulations were performed for an extreme precipitation event. The simulations outcomes, which include the peak discharge, time to peak and the percentage runoff, were correlated with the morphometric parameters of the catchments. Results were not consistent between the two models, probably due to their different structure, with the LISEM results being closer to what is anticipated. The results demonstrate that area, length of the basin, perimeter and compactness factor appear better correlated with the peak discharge (Qpeak) of the catchment. The same parameters as well as Melton’s number correlate with percentage runoff (C), while “celerity” of the flood wave (length of the basin/time to peak) is better correlated with relief, indicating that as the relief becomes greater, the response of the basin becomes fastest.
Cite this paper
Karalis, S. , Karymbalis, E. , Valkanou, K. , Chalkias, C. , Katsafados, P. , Kalogeropoulos, K. , Batzakis, V. and Bofilios, A. (2014) Assessment of the Relationships among Catchments’ Morphometric Parameters and Hydrologic Indices. International Journal of Geosciences, 5, 1571-1583. doi: 10.4236/ijg.2014.513128.
Karalis, S. , Karymbalis, E. , Valkanou, K. , Chalkias, C. , Katsafados, P. , Kalogeropoulos, K. , Batzakis, V. and Bofilios, A. (2014) Assessment of the Relationships among Catchments’ Morphometric Parameters and Hydrologic Indices. International Journal of Geosciences, 5, 1571-1583. doi: 10.4236/ijg.2014.513128.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0372-8854/2012/S-00072 [5] Cooke, R.U. and Doornkamp, J.C. (1990) Geomorphology in Environmental Management. 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford. [6] Post, D.A. and Jakeman, A.J. (1996) Relationships between Catchment Attributes and Hydrological Response Characteristics in Small Australian Mountain Ash Catchments. Hydrological Processes, 10, 877-892. [7] Post, D.A. and Jakeman, A.J. (1999) Predicting the Daily Streamflow of Ungauged Catchments in SE Australia By Regionalizing the Parameters of a Mumped Conceptual Rainfall-Runoff Model. Ecological Modelling, 123, 91-104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3800(99)00125-8 [8] Runge, J. and Nguimalet, C.R. (2005) Physiogeographic Features of the Oubangui Catchment and Environmental Trends Reflected in Discharge and Floods at Bangui 1911-1999, Central African Republic. Geomorphology, 70, 311-324. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.02.010 [9] Zavoianu, I. (1985) Morphometry of Drainage Basis, Developments in Water Science, 20. Elsevier Publications, Amsterdam, 4-5. [10] Moore, I.D., Grayson, R.B. and. Ladson, A.R. (1991) Digital Terrain Modelling: A Review of Hydrological, Geomorphological and Biological Applications. Hydrological Processes, 5, 3-30.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.3360050103 [11] Armijo, R., Meyer, B., King, G., Rigo, A. and Papanastassiou, D. (1996) Quaternary Evolution of the Corinth Rift and Its Implications for the Late Cenozoic Evolution of the Aegean. Geophysical Journal International, 126, 11-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.1996.tb05264.x [12] McNeil, L. and Collier, R. (2004) Uplift and Slip Rates of the Eastern Eliki Fault Segment, Gulf of Corinth, Greece, Inferred from Holocene and Pleistocene Terraces. Journal of the Geological Society, 161, 81-92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/0016-764903-029 [13] Bornovas, I. and Rondoyanni, Th. (1983) Geological Map of Greece, Scale 1:500,000. Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Athens. [14] Katsafados, P., Kalogirou, S., Papadopoulos, A. and Korres, G. (2012) Mapping Long-Term Atmospheric Variables over Greece. Journal of Maps, 8, 181-184.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2012.694273 [15] Strahler, A.N. (1957) Quantitative Analysis of Watershed Geomorphology. Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 38, 913-920. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/TR038i006p00913 [16] Horton, R.E. (1945) Erosional Development of Streams and Their Drainage Basins: Hydrophysical Approach to Quantitative Morphology. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 56, 275-370.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1945)56[275:EDOSAT]2.0.CO;2 [17] Roche, M. (1963) Hydrology de Surface. Gauthier-Villars, Paris. [18] Strahler, A.N. (1952) Dynamic Basis of Geomorphology. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 63, 923-938. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1952)63[923:DBOG]2.0.CO;2 [19] Black, P.E. (1996) Watershed Hydrology. 2nd Edition, Ann Arbor Press, Chelsea. [20] Schumm, S.A. (1956) Evolution of Drainage Systems and Slopes in Badlands at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 67, 597-646. [21] Melton, M.A. (1965) The Geomorphic and Palaeoclimatic Significance of Alluvial Deposits in Southern Arizona. Journal of Geology, 73, 1-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/627044 [22] Church, M. and Mark, D.M. (1980) On Size and Scale in Geomorphology. Progress in Physical Geography, 4, 342-390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/030913338000400302 [23] Miller, V.C. (1953) A Quantitative Geomorphic Study of Drainage Basin Characteristics in the Clinch Mountain Area, Virginia and Tennessee. Department of Geology Columbia University, New York, 389-402. [24] Gravelius, H. (1914) Grundrifi der gesamten Gewcisserkunde. Band I: Flufikunde (Compendium of Hydrology, Vol. I. Rivers, in German). Goschen, Berlin. [25] Strahler, A.N. (1968) Quantitative Geomorphology. In: Fairbridge, R.W., Ed., The Encyclopedia of Geomorphology, Reinhold Book Crop., New York. [26] Hornberger, G.M., Raffensperger, J.P., Wiberg, P.L. and Eshleman, K.N. (1998) Elements of Physical Hydrology. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London. [27] Beven, K.J. and Kirkby, M.J. (1979) A Physically Based Variable Contributing Area Model of Basin Hydrology. Hydrological Sciences Bulletin, 24, 43-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02626667909491834 [28] Beven, K. (1997) TOPMODEL: A Critique. Hydrological Processes, 11, 1069-1085.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199707)11:9<1069::AID-HYP545>3.0.CO;2-O [29] De Roo, A.P.J., Wesseling, C.G. and Ritsema, C.J. (1996) LISEM: A Single Event Physically-Based Hydrologic and Soil Erosion Model for Drainage Basins: I. Theory, Input and Output. Hydrological Processes, 10, 1107-1117.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199608)10:8<1107::AID-HYP415>3.0.CO;2-4 [30] De Roo, A.P.J., Offermans, R.J.E. and Cremers, N.H.D.T. (1996) LISEM: A Single Event Physically-Based Hydrologic and Soil Erosion Model for Drainage Basins: II. Sensitivity Analysis, Validation and Application. Hydrological Processes, 10, 1119-1126.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199608)10:8<1119::AID-HYP416>3.0.CO;2-V [31] Van Deursen, W.P.A. and Wesseling, C.G. (1992) The PC-Raster Package. Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University. http://www.pcraster.nl [32] Chow, V.T., Maidment, D. and Mays, L. (1988) Applied Hydrology. McGraw Hill International Editions, New York.
[1] Karymbalis, E., Chalkias, C., Ferentinou, M. and Maistrali, A. (2011) Flood Hazard Evaluation in Small Catchments Based on Quantitative Geomorphology and GIS Modeling: The Case of Diakoniaris Torrent (W. Peloponnese, Greece). In: Lambrakis, N., Stournaras, G. and Katsanou, K., Ed., Advances in the Research of Aquatic Environment, Environmental Earth Sciences, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 137-145. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19902-8_15 [2] Gregory, K.J. and Walling, D.E. (1973) Drainage Basin. Form and Process: A Geomorphological Approach. Edward Arnold, London. [3] Howard, A.D. (1990) Role of Hypsometry and Planform in Basin Hydrologic Response. Hydrological Processes, 4, 373-385. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.3360040407 [4] Karymbalis, E., Katsafados, P., Chalkias, C. and Gaki-Papanastassiou, K. (2012) An Integrated Study for the Evaluation of Natural and Anthropogenic Causes of Flooding in Small Catchments Based on Geomorphological and Meteorological Data and Modeling Techniques: The Case of the Xerias Torrent (Corinth, Greece). Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, 56, 045-067.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0372-8854/2012/S-00072 [5] Cooke, R.U. and Doornkamp, J.C. (1990) Geomorphology in Environmental Management. 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford. [6] Post, D.A. and Jakeman, A.J. (1996) Relationships between Catchment Attributes and Hydrological Response Characteristics in Small Australian Mountain Ash Catchments. Hydrological Processes, 10, 877-892. [7] Post, D.A. and Jakeman, A.J. (1999) Predicting the Daily Streamflow of Ungauged Catchments in SE Australia By Regionalizing the Parameters of a Mumped Conceptual Rainfall-Runoff Model. Ecological Modelling, 123, 91-104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3800(99)00125-8 [8] Runge, J. and Nguimalet, C.R. (2005) Physiogeographic Features of the Oubangui Catchment and Environmental Trends Reflected in Discharge and Floods at Bangui 1911-1999, Central African Republic. Geomorphology, 70, 311-324. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.02.010 [9] Zavoianu, I. (1985) Morphometry of Drainage Basis, Developments in Water Science, 20. Elsevier Publications, Amsterdam, 4-5. [10] Moore, I.D., Grayson, R.B. and. Ladson, A.R. (1991) Digital Terrain Modelling: A Review of Hydrological, Geomorphological and Biological Applications. Hydrological Processes, 5, 3-30.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.3360050103 [11] Armijo, R., Meyer, B., King, G., Rigo, A. and Papanastassiou, D. (1996) Quaternary Evolution of the Corinth Rift and Its Implications for the Late Cenozoic Evolution of the Aegean. Geophysical Journal International, 126, 11-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.1996.tb05264.x [12] McNeil, L. and Collier, R. (2004) Uplift and Slip Rates of the Eastern Eliki Fault Segment, Gulf of Corinth, Greece, Inferred from Holocene and Pleistocene Terraces. Journal of the Geological Society, 161, 81-92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/0016-764903-029 [13] Bornovas, I. and Rondoyanni, Th. (1983) Geological Map of Greece, Scale 1:500,000. Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Athens. [14] Katsafados, P., Kalogirou, S., Papadopoulos, A. and Korres, G. (2012) Mapping Long-Term Atmospheric Variables over Greece. Journal of Maps, 8, 181-184.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2012.694273 [15] Strahler, A.N. (1957) Quantitative Analysis of Watershed Geomorphology. Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 38, 913-920. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/TR038i006p00913 [16] Horton, R.E. (1945) Erosional Development of Streams and Their Drainage Basins: Hydrophysical Approach to Quantitative Morphology. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 56, 275-370.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1945)56[275:EDOSAT]2.0.CO;2 [17] Roche, M. (1963) Hydrology de Surface. Gauthier-Villars, Paris. [18] Strahler, A.N. (1952) Dynamic Basis of Geomorphology. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 63, 923-938. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1952)63[923:DBOG]2.0.CO;2 [19] Black, P.E. (1996) Watershed Hydrology. 2nd Edition, Ann Arbor Press, Chelsea. [20] Schumm, S.A. (1956) Evolution of Drainage Systems and Slopes in Badlands at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 67, 597-646. [21] Melton, M.A. (1965) The Geomorphic and Palaeoclimatic Significance of Alluvial Deposits in Southern Arizona. Journal of Geology, 73, 1-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/627044 [22] Church, M. and Mark, D.M. (1980) On Size and Scale in Geomorphology. Progress in Physical Geography, 4, 342-390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/030913338000400302 [23] Miller, V.C. (1953) A Quantitative Geomorphic Study of Drainage Basin Characteristics in the Clinch Mountain Area, Virginia and Tennessee. Department of Geology Columbia University, New York, 389-402. [24] Gravelius, H. (1914) Grundrifi der gesamten Gewcisserkunde. Band I: Flufikunde (Compendium of Hydrology, Vol. I. Rivers, in German). Goschen, Berlin. [25] Strahler, A.N. (1968) Quantitative Geomorphology. In: Fairbridge, R.W., Ed., The Encyclopedia of Geomorphology, Reinhold Book Crop., New York. [26] Hornberger, G.M., Raffensperger, J.P., Wiberg, P.L. and Eshleman, K.N. (1998) Elements of Physical Hydrology. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London. [27] Beven, K.J. and Kirkby, M.J. (1979) A Physically Based Variable Contributing Area Model of Basin Hydrology. Hydrological Sciences Bulletin, 24, 43-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02626667909491834 [28] Beven, K. (1997) TOPMODEL: A Critique. Hydrological Processes, 11, 1069-1085.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199707)11:9<1069::AID-HYP545>3.0.CO;2-O [29] De Roo, A.P.J., Wesseling, C.G. and Ritsema, C.J. (1996) LISEM: A Single Event Physically-Based Hydrologic and Soil Erosion Model for Drainage Basins: I. Theory, Input and Output. Hydrological Processes, 10, 1107-1117.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199608)10:8<1107::AID-HYP415>3.0.CO;2-4 [30] De Roo, A.P.J., Offermans, R.J.E. and Cremers, N.H.D.T. (1996) LISEM: A Single Event Physically-Based Hydrologic and Soil Erosion Model for Drainage Basins: II. Sensitivity Analysis, Validation and Application. Hydrological Processes, 10, 1119-1126.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199608)10:8<1119::AID-HYP416>3.0.CO;2-V [31] Van Deursen, W.P.A. and Wesseling, C.G. (1992) The PC-Raster Package. Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University. http://www.pcraster.nl [32] Chow, V.T., Maidment, D. and Mays, L. (1988) Applied Hydrology. McGraw Hill International Editions, New York.