Regional applicability of synthetic rainfall distributions for hydrologic modeling

Author

Joseph Paul Wilson

Abstract

"Synthetic temporal rainfall distributions derived by Huff (1967), Keifer and Chu (1957), Pilgrim and Cordery (1975) and Yen and Chow (1980) were evaluated for their applicability to hydrologic modeling for the southwestern Missouri area. First, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers HEC-1 Flood Hydrograph Package was used to compute peak flows resulting from the ten largest rainfalls of one hour, two hour, three hour, four hour, and six hour durations recorded in Springfield and surrounding National Weather Service Stations from January 1956 to October 1988. Then the synthetic distributions were calculated to characterize rainfall for the total precipitation depths and HEC-1 was used to compute peak flows. Runoff computations were compared to those resulting from the observed natural rainfall events.

Results of this study indicate that on the average the Pilgrim and Cordery Distribution is slightly conservative (overestimates by an average of 14 percent) and would be most appropriate for use in the design of storm water improvements. Huff’s 2nd Quartile and Yen and Chow's distributions underestimate peak flows. Keifer and Chu's Chicago Method overestimates peak flows significantly"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Westphal, Jerome A.

Committee Member(s)

Morris, Charles Darwin
Barr, David J.
Stevens, Glendon Taylor, 1927-

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Civil Engineering

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

Spring 1992

Pagination

vii, 104 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 102-103).

Geographic Coverage

Springfield, Missouri

Rights

© 1992 Joseph Paul Wilson, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Hydrologic models -- Evaluation
Rain and rainfall -- Missouri -- Computer simulation
Runoff -- Computer simulation

Thesis Number

T 6391

Print OCLC #

26652915

Electronic OCLC #

963861375

Link to Catalog Record

Electronic access to the full-text of this document is restricted to Missouri S&T users. Otherwise, request this publication directly from Missouri S&T Library or contact your local library.

Recommended Citation

Wilson, Joseph Paul, "Regional applicability of synthetic rainfall distributions for hydrologic modeling" (1992). Masters Theses. 1096.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/1096