Estimation of the Velocity Parameter of the Geomorphologic Instantaneous Unit Hydrograph

The problem of estimation of the velocity parameter in the exponential distribution geomorphological instantaneous unit hydrograph (ED-GIUH) is investigated in this study. The main difficulty in applying the ED-GIUH model is the estimation of this parameter. In the present study, the ED-GIUH model is applied to six watersheds in Indiana, U.S.A. The relationships between the velocity parameter and climatic as well as basin geomorphologic parameters are investigated. The results of the study indicate that the velocity parameter is related to effective rainfall depth, total basin area and cumulative slope; it does not depend on runoff characteristics. Therefore, the ED-GIUH model can be used for estimating discharge hydrographs from ungauged watersheds. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1997