JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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As unit hydrograph is an important item in flood estimation of the rivers and since flood hydrograph and simultaneous rainfall hyetograph is needed to derive a unit hydrograph, hydrologists recommend synthetic unit hydrographs for areas lacking these hydrometeorological data. A research was conducted in the Zayandehrud-dam watershed (Pelasjan sub-basin) to test the efficiency of synthetic unit hydrographs (Snyder, SCS, and Triangular methods) in hydrological evaluations. For the purposes of this study, natural and synthetic unit hydrographs were determined and compared, using all morphologic, hydrometric and rainfall data. The results showed that Triangular and SCS methods fit natural unit hydrographs better than Snyder method does, but peak instantaneous flow is estimated to be higher than the observed flow. So, the constant 2.083 in peak flow equation is recommended to be changed to 1.74 in this watershed. The Snyder method predicts good peak flows, compared with the other two methods. Generally, it is concluded that Triangular, SCS, and Snyder methods are ranked 1 to 3 for determination of synthetic unit hydrographs in this watershed.

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Designers of hydraulic structures are often faced with the problem of estimating flood frequencies at stream sites, where little or no flow information is available. A regional regression model is widely used which relates physical and climatological parameters to flow characteristics. In this study, a new method is used which is based on the station-year technique and combined records for several stream-flow gaging stations to make a single composite sample. This method, named ‘hybrid’, was proposed by Hjalmarson and Thomas (1992). It was applied to a group of records from 17 apparently homogeneous stream gaging stations to determine regional flood frequency equations. The study area consists of two adjacent basins, Gavkhoony and North Karoon in the central part of Iran. Using area and mean elevation of the catchments as the most important criteria in relation to peak discharge, the interactive process of the hybrid method was performed, resulting in two-parameter models of regional flood frequency. The performance of the hybrid method was evaluated by comparison with the regional relations determined from a multivariate regression. The comparison revealed that the accuracy of the hybrid method was significantly better than the regression method for low return periods.

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Peak discharge is one of the basic parameters in the design of hydraulic structures. There are various methods for peak discharge determination. Regional flood frequency analysis is based on physical, climatological and hydrological characteristics of basins. The objective of this study is to examine different models for the estimation of quantiles for some catchments in western Iran (namely: Gharehsoo, Gamasiab, Kashkan, Seimareh, Sezar and Abshineh) for which only maximum daily mean discharge data exist. In this research, peak and maximum daily mean discharges for 11 stream gauging stations were collected for a 21-year period. The ratio of these two discharges (R) and mean and standard deviations of peak discharges and maximum daily mean discharges were computed. Catchment characteristics including catchment area, catchment perimeter, main channel length, mean elevation, mean slope equivalent rectangle length, circular ratio, Gravelius coefficient, drainage density, time of concentration, relief ratio and diameter of the circle having equal area with the catchment were computed. Linear regression analysis was performed between independent variables of the catchments and mean standard deviation of the parameter “R” to develop a relation. The results of this study can be applied to the estimation of extreme flow values for non-recording stream gauging stations (daily reading sites).

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Bridge abutments are usually located in the floodplain zone of rivers where velocity and shear stress are not uniformly distributed. The influence of channel geometry and lateral momentum transfer in compound flow field on the scouring phenomenon has not been fully investigated and understood yet. The impact of lateral momentum transfer on the local scour at abutments terminating in the floodplain of a compound channel is presented in this paper.

It is shown that, by accounting for lateral momentum transfer at small floodplain/main channel depth ratios (λ_a/H<0.3), estimates of maximum local scour depth are increased by up to 30%. Therefore, ignoring the influence of the lateral momentum transfer, in such circumstances, might result in unrealistic estimation of the scour depth. To draw a more general conclusion, more data are required to assess the influence of different parameters affecting the phenomenon in compound flow conditions.

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Flood is one of the catastrophic events that has attracted the hydrologists’ attention. In this research one of the important flood indices, i.e. maximum-daily mean-discharge, was determined for several western Iran watersheds, namely, in the catchments of Gamasiab, Qarasou, Saimare, Kashkan, Sezar and Abshineh. Daily data were prepared from stream-gauging stations and a 30-year concurrent period was selected.

 Flood frequency analysis was performed using HYFA and TR computer programs and optimum distributions were chosen by goodness of fit tests. Extreme flow values having different return periods of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 years were calculated. Modeling was done with regional analysis using multiple regression technique between maximum-daily mean-discharge and physiographic characteristics of the basins. The most important parameter for the selection of the model was the adjusted coefficient of determination while significant level, standard error and observed discharger vs. computed discharge plot acted as controlling parameters. Finally, different models with different parameters were selected from power, exponential, linear and logarithmic forms. The results showed the power model to be the best among the four types. The main channel length, drainage density and time of concentration were the most effective parameters on flow. After analyzing the errors, it appeared that increasing the return period would cause an increase in the model error. At 1000-year return period, the error reached 32.2%.

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Numerous methods are used in the investigation of floods in catchments such as regional flood frequency analysis. Regional flood frequency analysis relies on physical, climatic and ecological characteristics of catchments and applies statistical methods to study flow records. Hosking and Wallis developed Probability Weighted Moments and presented L-moments statistics as a new tool for flood frequency analysis. In this paper, the theory of L-moments was used to study the flood frequency of central catchments of Iran. A number of 27 sites each with more than 5 years of observed data were studied. In the first step, the diagram of L-kurtosis versus L-skewness was used and proper distributions for each site were applied. In order to eliminate the heterogeneous sites, homogeneous tests based on D, H₁, H₂ and H₃ criteria were performed indicating that two sites appeared to be heterogenous. Next, using Goodness of Fit Test, the best regional distributions were determined which are GL, GEV, GN, PE3 and GPA, respectively. Finally, quantile estimates for distributions accepted at a 90% level were presented.

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A major limitation for higher yield of rice plant is water availability. Water use efficient varieties tolerant to upland conditions could help to relax this limitation. Three separate experiments were conducted to study the effects of water regimes on growth, aerenchyma formation, and nutrient absorption of Iranian rice varieties. In the first experiment, five varieties of rice were grown under three different irrigation levels. The second experiment involved the study of nutrient uptake by Sazandagee and Tarom varieties under four different water regimes, and in the third experiment, the effect of aeration on growth characteristics of Sazandagee rice was assessed in a hydroponics system. Results of the first experiment showed that submerged conditions continuously or after four weeks of initial growth had a significant effect on plant growth. Aerenchyma formation was affected by rice varieties and was less affected by irrigation status. In the second experiment, plant growth characteristics were affected similar to experiment one. Also it was shown that nutrients such as P, Mg, and Fe were absorbed with higher efficiency under submerged conditions. Results of the third experiment revealed that aeration had no significant effect on plant growth characteristics. Based on the results of these three experiments, it can be concluded that better performance of rice plant under continuous or partial flooding is mainly related to higher absorption of some macro - and micronutrients. Therefore, this parameter should be considered in water management programs for rice.

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Of the applications of remote sensing and satellite images in natural resources is distinguishing and detection of changes in land surface. The image classification using Maximum Likelihood (MLC) is one the prevalent method which is used in a study of the application of TM and ETM+ satellite images to detect sediment deposition on an implemented floodwater spreading scheme. In order to implement the research, field sampling and checking were done using transect networking method by selection of 30 sample points in floodwater spreading area as well as another 30 control points in the study area. The results of the study are shown that detection of sediment deposition using MLC method by application of LANDSAT TM and ETM+ can lead to increase the precision of change detection up to 82 percent. Furthermore, the results also show that the trend and changes due to sediment deposition on water spreading area can be precisely detected. Considering the present and potential applicability of the applied method in distinguishing changes due to sediment deposition on land surface which is absorbed on 450 hectares of water spreading area in this research study, it can be pointed out that the use of this method in larger area could be tend to increase the precision of change detection and to decrease the required time.

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The potential of artificial neural network models for simulating the hydrologic behaviour of catchments is presented in this paper. The main purpose is the modeling of river flow in a multi-gauging station catchment and real time prediction of peak flow downstream. The study area covers the Upper Derwent River catchment located in River Trent basin. The river flow has been predicted (at Whatstandwell gauging station) using upstream measured data. Three types of ANN were used for this application: Multi-layer perceptron, Recurrent and Time lag recurrent neural networks. Data with different lengths (1 month, 6 months and 3 years) have been used, and flow with 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours lead-time has been predicted. In general, although ANN shows a good capability to model river flow and predict downstream discharge by using only upstream flow data, however, the type of ANN as well as the characteristics of the training data was found as very important factors affecting the efficiency of the results.

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  Discharge routing as a mathematic process to forecast the changes of greatness, speed and form of flood wave is function of time in one or more points along drainage, canal or reservoir. Hydrologic and hydraulic methods are used to accomplish the flood routing. Although hydrologic method is less accurate than hydraulic methods but it is simpler to use in flood control and designing works with acceptable confidence. This study has been conducted for flood routing in Lighvan River from Lighvam hydrometric station to Hervy hydrometric station in eastern Azerbaijan Province in a distance the 12 Km. The discharge for different return periods (2, 10, 20, 50 and 100 years) was calculated by using upstream stations data. Then routing of every flood discharge was studied with different return periods by Muskingum and Muskingum-Cunge methods. Results showed significant difference between calculated discharges routing by two methods with discharge values to relate that return period in Hervy hydrometric station. The reasons of exist this different, is numerous for example mountain location this area and to exist sub drainage in between two stations and etc.

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Overtopping is one of the main factors responsible for dam failure. To avoid overtopping, dam is equipped with one or some spillways to release the water impounded in the reservoir. The number and size of these spillways are determined on the basis of design flood. Determination of design flood of dam spillway can be formulated as a multiobjective risk problem. This problem can be solved by Quantitative Risk Analysis Methods. Here, four economical design methods which are based on risk analysis including, United States National Research Council (NRC), US Civil Engineering, Unit Curve and Partitioned Multiobjective Risk (PMR) were studied. In order to compare these methods, Risk Analysis was performed for re-determining design flood of Pishin Dam Spillway. This Dam has been constructed on the Sarbaz River. Owing to the fact that the integrals of the expected damage relations in the two methods, i.e., Civil Engineering, and Partitioned Multiobjective Risk are analytically unsolvable, Romberg numerical integration technique and Excel software were utilized for the related calculations and drawing graphs. Also, in order to select suitable distribution, the flood analysis was done using Smada software. The findings of the study indicated that design flood determined by the three methods, i.e., Civil Engineering, National Research Council and Unit Curve was almost the same, and that the amount of flood was less than the 10,000-year-old flood while design flood determined by Partitioned Multiobjective Risk Method, was larger than the 10,000- year-old flood.

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The Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) known as the dominant mode of tropical and extratropical intraseasonal variability has an important role in the coupled ocean-atmosphere system. This study investigates the eastward propagation of the MJO and its impact on monthly (February-April) maximum and minimum precipitation in Fars Province. The positive and negative phases of MJO were categorized for the period 1979-2002. The maximum and minimum values of monthly precipitation was then determined for each phase as well as for the entire length of records. The given results have indicated that, in February, both maximum and minimum precipitation during negative phase were significantly greater than the corresponding values during the positive phase. This implies that the enhanced February precipitation and flood events are associated to the negative MJO phase. On the other hand, severe water shotage in February was linked with prevalence of the positive phase. The results for April were mostly found to be similar to February except that minimum precipitation was not significantly associated to the positive phase. In contrast to February, minimum monthly precipitation in March was found to coincide with the negative MJO phase. Maximum precipitation, however, could coincide with neither of extreme phases of MJO.

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Floodwater Spreading (FS) plays an effective role in improving soil fertility, ground water recharge, vegetation cover, and desertification control. The soil fertility might increase as a result of a suitable suspended sediment material transferred to the downstream by flood events. To define a relevant FS method which increases the efficiency of the FS projects, it is necessary to study the quality and quantity of transported sediment material, spatially and temporarily. In this research, this subject was investigated by taking soil samples throughout 13 FS stations for physical and chemical analysis over 5 years. Within each of the 13 selected stations in the three first flooded dikes, soil sampling was carried out using random-systematic method. The total Nitrogen, absorbed Phosphorous and Potassium, and Organic Carbon of each sample were analyzed. Because of the abnormality of data, nonparametric test was adopted to compare means. All stations were classified into three groups using cluster analysis method. Based on the results, the variations of fertility factors are irregular between the dikes and amongst years. This could have been affected by several factors such as the quality and quantity of diverted flood, the characteristic of FS sites, and irregularity of sediment material deposited on the sites. Despite the low quality of soil fertility prior to the construction of these stations, in general, FS has a considerable role in improving the soil fertility. However, desirable objectives may be achieved in long term through occurrence of diverse flood events and suitable maintenance of the stations.

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Estimation of flood hydrograph is of necessities in hydrological studies such as flood mitigation projects. This estimation in un-gauged watersheds is usually taken place using geomorphological characteristics of watersheds. The objective of this research is to estimate synthetic unit hydrograph using regional flood frequency analysis and geomorphological parameters of watersheds. 1-hour and 2-hour hydrographs of two watersheds, Kanisavaran and Maranj Watersheds, were generated using maximum discharge data based on regional flood frequency analysis. Estimated hydrographs were compared with observed data and the efficiency of the model was evaluated using Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient, absolute and bias errors. The results showed that multiple regression models give more acceptable results among others for the computation of synthetic unit hydrograph (higher coefficient of determination). The Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient was 0.98 for 1-hour hydrograph while it was 0.93 for the 2-hour hydrograph. The absolute error in 1-hour hydrograph and 2-hour hydrograph was 0.13 and 1.2, respectively. The bias error was close to zero for both hydrographs, indicating that the proposed model is efficient. The model may be used for estimation of synthetic unit hydrograph in similar un-gauged watersheds.

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Development of precise and simple methods in flood simulation has greatly reduced financial damage and life loss. Various methods and procedures have been implemented based on Saint-Venant's one-dimensional equation governing unsteady flows. To simplify the solution for these flows, analytical and numerical methods have been used. In the present study, a new method that provides the optimal outcome is introduced using non-linear programming. Penalty function has also been used to convert nonlinear programming (NLP) constrained problems into unconstrained optimal issues. To verify the accuracy of decision variables, the study covered 60 cross-sections of Gharasu River and 25-year flood hydrographs. After determining the model correctness, the 50 and 100-year flood hydrograph were routed in 18 Kilometers. The results were statistically compared with hydraulic and Muskingum hydrological methods. To sum up the routed hydrographs introduced by NLP method were very close to the hydrographs produced by dynamic wave method. The R2 of calculated discharge of routed hydrograph by NLP and dynamic wave method were 0.948, 0.990, and 0.989, respectively, with the return period of 25, 50 and 100-year flood being 0.989. It can be concluded that NLP method is more accurate than Muskingum method, especially when predicting the peak discharge of flood hydrograph.

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Flooding and fire are important phevent which could impact the forests of north of Iran periodically. These phenomena could have undesirable effects on properties and quality of soil. This study was conducted in order to investigative the effects of flooding and fire on some soil properties in Lakan forest, Guilan province. Soil sampling was carried out on three replicates from three depths 0-3, 3-6 and 6-9 cm in flooding, burned and intact regions. Results of this study indicated that clay, silt, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), Na and K values (in all of depths), organic carbon (OC) and N values (in second and third depths) significantly increased and sand content (in all depths) significantly decreased in flooding soils in comparison with intact soils. In burned soils, pH values (in first and second depths), EC, K and P values (in first depth) significantly increased and clay, OC and N values (in first depth) significantly decreased in comparison with intact soils. Soil water retention capacity showed that the flooding and burned soils had maximum and minimum levels soil moisture that can be related to clay and OC changes. Results of WDPT test showed the water repellency in the first depth in burned soils. Generally, flooding and fire phenomena significantly affected physical and chemical properties.

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Check dams are considered as main measures for flood and sediment control in watersheds, and their uses have been rapidly increased from 1990 onward in Iran. This research is done in Darjazin watershed in north of semnan city. The check dams have been constructed from 15 years ago in two sub basins of the watershed for flood control in Mahdishar. More than 650 check dams were evaluated for effects on flood. The collected data in the field was fed to ArcGIS software. The effects of these structures on flood reduction were evaluated by HEC-GeoHMS extension and HEC-HMS model. Because of homogeneity of watershed management projects in the basin due to building more check-dams in different watercourses, any flood discharge is related to check dams. Evaluating the effects of check dams on flood by t-test showed significant differences between flood discharge before and after construction of check dams at 5 percent level. So, check dams have been able to reduce flood discharge by 16.7 percent on average.

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The occurrence trend of floods in recent years shows that the most of Iran regions located in attacks of destructive floods and loss of life and property of flood damages is increasing. Watershed management practices (WMPs) are one of the superior and appropriate solutions for flood hazards mitigation. The impact of WMPs can be investigated using different approaches. In this study, the direct impact of WMPs was investigated using quantitative evaluation of flood characteristics for two periods, pre and post periods of measures implementation. Therefore, daily hydrograph of investigated periods and the results of flood analyses including number of floods occurrence, flood frequency percent in the different months and seasons were determined in Hajighoshan and Tamar hydrometery stations. Also, the mean continuing, rise and subsidence time of floods and maximum peak discharge of observed floods were investigated. The research results showed that the occurrence trend of floods had relatively increased. The number of floods has increased in post periods of measures implementation in two hydrometery stations, while WMPs effect on all flood characteristics were positive, as the continuing time of floods has increased with 0.5%, rise and subsidence time of floods and maximum peak discharge of floods have decreased with 7.9%, 21.98% and 70%, respectively. Totally, if WMPs volume pre watershed area isn't low, WMPs effect on flood characteristics will be positive.

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Determine appropriate locations with accuracy and speed required is for Floodwater spreading very important. The main objective of this research, preparation, use and evaluation decision support systems is based on GIS and RS techniques to identify and prioritization appropriate areas Floodwater spreading in the study area. In this study area suitable for flood water spreading were selected based on major criteria four, sub criteria eight and index twentyfour. Finally five scenario will be provide and assessment (a scenario based on the relative values for the criteria four, and different scenarios four based on the obvious one of the main criteria). Comparison desirability average among the scenarios five indicate that it is Sub watershed (1) In the scenario third (infilteration preferred, water application preference and equality of all the main criteria) had a higher average desirability therefore between Sub watershed 2 in this scenario is preferred more than the other Sub. Of between the two sub watershed ivar region considering that the desirability average, sub watershed (1) and implemented of between scenarios, scenario (1) (infilteration major criteria preferred) were selected as first priority. Second priority for Floodwater spreading site selection is belong to sub watershed 2, and with scenario (1).

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Flood irrigation after planting induces wetting and drying cycles in arable soils. For this reason, the effect of this process on load-bearing capacity (pre-compaction stress pc) of a fine textured soil (silty clay) was studied. In this research, large air-dry disturbed soil specimens were prepared and some of them were exposed to five wetting and drying cycles. Next, the large soil specimens with/without wetting and drying cycles were compressed under three preloads (0, 100 or 200 kPa) and then the centre section of the preloaded soil specimen was firstly submitted to a plate sinkage test (PST). Then immediately one cylindrical sample was cored for confined compression test (CCT). The results showed that for reconstructed soil samples without wetting-drying cycles, the predicted pc using PST didn't significantly differ from the applied preload. Therefore, the PST can be used to determine the load-support capacity of the tilled soils. In PST, with an increase in soil water content from 0.9PL to 1.1PL, the amount of over-prediction in pc decreased. However, wetting-drying process significantly increased over-prediction in pc at the same water content. Hence, soil compressibility does not simply depend on the actual soil water content but also on the previous history of water content changes (i.e., wetting-drying cycles).