Articles | Volume 19, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-691-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-691-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
04 Feb 2015
Research article |
| 04 Feb 2015
On the sensitivity of urban hydrodynamic modelling to rainfall spatial and temporal resolution
G. Bruni
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
R. Reinoso
Department of Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
N. C. van de Giesen
Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
F. H. L. R. Clemens
Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Deltares, Delft, the Netherlands
J. A. E. ten Veldhuis
Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Related authors
Auguste Gires, Ioulia Tchiguirinskaia, Daniel Schertzer, Susana Ochoa-Rodriguez, Patrick Willems, Abdellah Ichiba, Li-Pen Wang, Rui Pina, Johan Van Assel, Guendalina Bruni, Damian Murla Tuyls, and Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 2361–2375, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2361-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2361-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Data from 10 urban or peri-urban catchments located in five EU countries are used to analyze the imperviousness distribution and sewer network geometry. Consistent scale invariant features are retrieved for both (fractal dimensions can be defined), which enables to define a level of urbanization. Imperviousness representation in operational model is also found to exhibit scale-invariant features (even multifractality). The research was carried out as part of the UE INTERREG IV RainGain project.
Magali Ponds, Sarah Hanus, Harry Zekollari, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, Gerrit Schoups, Roland Kaitna, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-260, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-260, 2024
Preprint under review for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
This research examines how future climate changes impact root zone storage, a crucial hydrological model parameter. Root zone storage—the soil water accessible to plants—adapts to climate but is often treated as constant in models. We estimated climate-adapted storage for six Austrian Alps catchments. Although storage increased, streamflow projections showed minimal change, indicating that dynamic root zone representation is less critical in humid regions but warrants more study in arid areas.
Henry M. Zimba, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Kawawa E. Banda, Petra Hulsman, Nick van de Giesen, Imasiku A. Nyambe, and Hubert H. G. Savenije
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 3633–3663, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3633-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3633-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The fall and flushing of new leaves in the miombo woodlands co-occur in the dry season before the commencement of seasonal rainfall. The miombo species are also said to have access to soil moisture in deep soils, including groundwater in the dry season. Satellite-based evaporation estimates, temporal trends, and magnitudes differ the most in the dry season, most likely due to inadequate understanding and representation of the highlighted miombo species attributes in simulations.
Jessica A. Eisma, Gerrit Schoups, Jeffrey C. Davids, and Nick van de Giesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3565–3579, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3565-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3565-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Citizen scientists often submit high-quality data, but a robust method for assessing data quality is needed. This study develops a semi-automated program that characterizes the mistakes made by citizen scientists by grouping them into communities of citizen scientists with similar mistake tendencies and flags potentially erroneous data for further review. This work may help citizen science programs assess the quality of their data and can inform training practices.
Cynthia Maan, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, and Bas J. H. van de Wiel
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2341–2355, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2341-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2341-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Their flexible growth provides the plants with a strong ability to adapt and develop resilience to droughts and climate change. But this adaptability is badly included in crop and climate models. To model plant development in changing environments, we need to include the survival strategies of plants. Based on experimental data, we set up a simple model for soil-moisture-driven root growth. The model performance suggests that soil moisture is a key parameter determining root growth.
Jerom P.M. Aerts, Jannis M. Hoch, Gemma Coxon, Nick C. van de Giesen, and Rolf W. Hut
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1156, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1156, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrological model performance involves comparing simulated states and fluxes with observed counterparts. Often, it is overlooked that there is inherent uncertainty surrounding the observations. This can significantly impact the results. In this publication, we emphasize the significance of accounting for observation uncertainty in model comparison. We propose a practical method that is applicable for any observational time series with available uncertainty estimations.
Henry Zimba, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Kawawa Banda, Bart Schilperoort, Nick van de Giesen, Imasiku Nyambe, and Hubert H. G. Savenije
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1695–1722, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1695-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1695-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Miombo woodland plants continue to lose water even during the driest part of the year. This appears to be facilitated by the adapted features such as deep rooting (beyond 5 m) with access to deep soil moisture, potentially even ground water. It appears the trend and amount of water that the plants lose is correlated more to the available energy. This loss of water in the dry season by miombo woodland plants appears to be incorrectly captured by satellite-based evaporation estimates.
Jerom P. M. Aerts, Rolf W. Hut, Nick C. van de Giesen, Niels Drost, Willem J. van Verseveld, Albrecht H. Weerts, and Pieter Hazenberg
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4407–4430, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4407-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4407-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In recent years gridded hydrological modelling moved into the realm of hyper-resolution modelling (<10 km). In this study, we investigate the effect of varying grid-cell sizes for the wflow_sbm hydrological model. We used a large sample of basins from the CAMELS data set to test the effect that varying grid-cell sizes has on the simulation of streamflow at the basin outlet. Results show that there is no single best grid-cell size for modelling streamflow throughout the domain.
Rolf Hut, Niels Drost, Nick van de Giesen, Ben van Werkhoven, Banafsheh Abdollahi, Jerom Aerts, Thomas Albers, Fakhereh Alidoost, Bouwe Andela, Jaro Camphuijsen, Yifat Dzigan, Ronald van Haren, Eric Hutton, Peter Kalverla, Maarten van Meersbergen, Gijs van den Oord, Inti Pelupessy, Stef Smeets, Stefan Verhoeven, Martine de Vos, and Berend Weel
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 5371–5390, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-5371-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-5371-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
With the eWaterCycle platform, we are providing the hydrological community with a platform to conduct their research that is fully compatible with the principles of both open science and FAIR science. The eWatercyle platform gives easy access to well-known hydrological models, big datasets and example experiments. Using eWaterCycle hydrologists can easily compare the results from different models, couple models and do more complex hydrological computational research.
Henry Zimba, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Kawawa Banda, Petra Hulsman, Nick van de Giesen, Imasiku Nyambe, and Hubert Savenije
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-114, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-114, 2022
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
We compare performance of evaporation models in the Luangwa Basin located in a semi-arid and complex Miombo ecosystem in Africa. Miombo plants changes colour, drop off leaves and acquire new leaves during the dry season. In addition, the plant roots go deep in the soil and appear to access groundwater. Results show that evaporation models with structure and process that do not capture this unique plant structure and behaviour appears to have difficulties to correctly estimating evaporation.
Paul C. Vermunt, Susan C. Steele-Dunne, Saeed Khabbazan, Jasmeet Judge, and Nick C. van de Giesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1223–1241, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1223-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1223-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the use of hydrometeorological sensors to reconstruct variations in internal vegetation water content of corn and relates these variations to the sub-daily behaviour of polarimetric L-band backscatter. The results show significant sensitivity of backscatter to the daily cycles of vegetation water content and dew, particularly on dry days and for vertical and cross-polarizations, which demonstrates the potential for using radar for studies on vegetation water dynamics.
Punpim Puttaraksa Mapiam, Monton Methaprayun, Thom Bogaard, Gerrit Schoups, and Marie-Claire Ten Veldhuis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 775–794, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-775-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-775-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The density of rain gauge networks plays an important role in radar rainfall bias correction. In this work, we aimed to assess the extent to which daily rainfall observations from a dense network of citizen scientists improve the accuracy of hourly radar rainfall estimates in the Tubma Basin, Thailand. Results show that citizen rain gauges significantly enhance the performance of radar rainfall bias adjustment up to a range of about 40 km from the center of the citizen rain gauge network.
Vassilis Aschonitis, Dimos Touloumidis, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, and Miriam Coenders-Gerrits
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 163–177, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-163-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-163-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This work provides a global database of correction coefficients for improving the performance of the temperature-based Thornthwaite potential evapotranspiration formula and aridity indices (e.g., UNEP, Thornthwaite) that make use of this formula. The coefficients were produced using as a benchmark the ASCE-standardized reference evapotranspiration formula (formerly FAO-56) that requires temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, and relative humidity data.
Wouter Dorigo, Irene Himmelbauer, Daniel Aberer, Lukas Schremmer, Ivana Petrakovic, Luca Zappa, Wolfgang Preimesberger, Angelika Xaver, Frank Annor, Jonas Ardö, Dennis Baldocchi, Marco Bitelli, Günter Blöschl, Heye Bogena, Luca Brocca, Jean-Christophe Calvet, J. Julio Camarero, Giorgio Capello, Minha Choi, Michael C. Cosh, Nick van de Giesen, Istvan Hajdu, Jaakko Ikonen, Karsten H. Jensen, Kasturi Devi Kanniah, Ileen de Kat, Gottfried Kirchengast, Pankaj Kumar Rai, Jenni Kyrouac, Kristine Larson, Suxia Liu, Alexander Loew, Mahta Moghaddam, José Martínez Fernández, Cristian Mattar Bader, Renato Morbidelli, Jan P. Musial, Elise Osenga, Michael A. Palecki, Thierry Pellarin, George P. Petropoulos, Isabella Pfeil, Jarrett Powers, Alan Robock, Christoph Rüdiger, Udo Rummel, Michael Strobel, Zhongbo Su, Ryan Sullivan, Torbern Tagesson, Andrej Varlagin, Mariette Vreugdenhil, Jeffrey Walker, Jun Wen, Fred Wenger, Jean Pierre Wigneron, Mel Woods, Kun Yang, Yijian Zeng, Xiang Zhang, Marek Zreda, Stephan Dietrich, Alexander Gruber, Peter van Oevelen, Wolfgang Wagner, Klaus Scipal, Matthias Drusch, and Roberto Sabia
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5749–5804, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5749-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5749-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The International Soil Moisture Network (ISMN) is a community-based open-access data portal for soil water measurements taken at the ground and is accessible at https://ismn.earth. Over 1000 scientific publications and thousands of users have made use of the ISMN. The scope of this paper is to inform readers about the data and functionality of the ISMN and to provide a review of the scientific progress facilitated through the ISMN with the scope to shape future research and operations.
Didier de Villiers, Marc Schleiss, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, Rolf Hut, and Nick van de Giesen
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 5607–5623, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-5607-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-5607-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Ground-based rainfall observations across the African continent are sparse. We present a new and inexpensive rainfall measuring instrument (the intervalometer) and use it to derive reasonably accurate rainfall rates. These are dependent on a fundamental assumption that is widely used in parameterisations of the rain drop size distribution. This assumption is tested and found to not apply for most raindrops but is still useful in deriving rainfall rates. The intervalometer shows good potential.
Moctar Dembélé, Bettina Schaefli, Nick van de Giesen, and Grégoire Mariéthoz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 5379–5406, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5379-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5379-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This study evaluates 102 combinations of rainfall and temperature datasets from satellite and reanalysis sources as input to a fully distributed hydrological model. The model is recalibrated for each input dataset, and the outputs are evaluated with streamflow, evaporation, soil moisture and terrestrial water storage data. Results show that no single rainfall or temperature dataset consistently ranks first in reproducing the spatio-temporal variability of all hydrological processes.
Justus G. V. van Ramshorst, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Bart Schilperoort, Bas J. H. van de Wiel, Jonathan G. Izett, John S. Selker, Chad W. Higgins, Hubert H. G. Savenije, and Nick C. van de Giesen
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 5423–5439, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-5423-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-5423-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
In this work we present experimental results of a novel actively heated fiber-optic (AHFO) observational wind-probing technique. We utilized a controlled wind-tunnel setup to assess both the accuracy and precision of AHFO under a range of operational conditions (wind speed, angles of attack and temperature differences). AHFO has the potential to provide high-resolution distributed observations of wind speeds, allowing for better spatial characterization of fine-scale processes.
Jeffrey C. Davids, Martine M. Rutten, Anusha Pandey, Nischal Devkota, Wessel David van Oyen, Rajaram Prajapati, and Nick van de Giesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1045–1065, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1045-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1045-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Wise management of water resources requires data. Nevertheless, the amount of water data being collected continues to decline. We evaluated potential citizen science approaches for measuring flows of headwater streams and springs. After selecting salt dilution as the preferred approach, we partnered with Nepali students to cost-effectively measure flows and water quality with smartphones at 264 springs and streams which provide crucial water supplies to the rapidly expanding Kathmandu Valley.
Tim van Emmerik, Susan Steele-Dunne, Pierre Gentine, Rafael S. Oliveira, Paulo Bittencourt, Fernanda Barros, and Nick van de Giesen
Biogeosciences, 15, 6439–6449, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-6439-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-6439-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Trees are very important for the water and carbon cycles. Climate and weather models often assume constant vegetation parameters because good measurements are missing. We used affordable accelerometers to measure tree sway of 19 trees in the Amazon rainforest. We show that trees respond very differently to the same weather conditions, which means that vegetation parameters are dynamic. With our measurements trees can be accounted for more realistically, improving climate and weather models.
Elena Cristiano, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, Santiago Gaitan, Susana Ochoa Rodriguez, and Nick van de Giesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2425–2447, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2425-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2425-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
In this work we investigate the influence rainfall and catchment scales have on hydrological response. This problem is quite relevant in urban areas, where the response is fast due to the high degree of imperviousness. We presented a new approach to classify rainfall variability in space and time and use this classification to investigate rainfall aggregation effects on urban hydrological response. This classification allows the spatial extension of the main core of the storm to be identified.
Koen Hilgersom, Marcel Zijlema, and Nick van de Giesen
Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 521–540, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-521-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-521-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This study models the local inflow of groundwater at the bottom of a stream with large density gradients between the groundwater and surface water. Modelling salt and heat transport in a water body is very challenging, as it requires large computation times. Due to the circular local groundwater inflow and a negligible stream discharge, we assume axisymmetry around the inflow, which is easily implemented in an existing model, largely reduces the computation times, and still performs accurately.
Hubertus M. Coerver, Martine M. Rutten, and Nick C. van de Giesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 831–851, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-831-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-831-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Global hydrological models aim to model hydrological processes, like flows in a river, on a global scale, as opposed to traditional models which are regional. A big challenge in creating these models is the inclusion of impacts on the hydrological cycle caused by humans, for example by the operation of large (hydropower) dams. The presented study investigates a new way to include these impacts by dams into global hydrological models.
Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, Zhengzheng Zhou, Long Yang, Shuguang Liu, and James Smith
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 417–436, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-417-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-417-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The effect of storm scale and movement on runoff flows in urban catchments remains poorly understood due to the complexity of urban land use and man-made infrastructure. In this study, interactions among rainfall, urbanisation and peak flows were analyzed based on 15 years of radar rainfall and flow observations. We found that flow-path networks strongly smoothed rainfall peaks. Unexpectedly, the storm position relative to impervious cover within the basins had little effect on flow peaks.
Christian Bouwens, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, Marc Schleiss, Xin Tian, and Jerôme Schepers
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-751, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-751, 2018
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
Urban drainage systems are challenged by both urbanization and climate change, intensifying flooding impacts by rainfall. We performed this study to better understand and predict this process. The paper provides an approach to analyze the functioning of an urban drainage system without the need to run hydrodynamic models. Rainfall thresholds for urban flood prediction were derived, which surprisingly are only approximately half of the theoretical drainage system design capacity.
Abdellah Ichiba, Auguste Gires, Ioulia Tchiguirinskaia, Daniel Schertzer, Philippe Bompard, and Marie-Claire Ten Veldhuis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 331–350, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-331-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-331-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This paper proposes a two-step investigation to illustrate the extent of scale effects in urban hydrology. First, fractal tools are used to highlight the scale dependency observed within GIS data inputted in urban hydrological models. Then an intensive multi-scale modelling work was carried out to confirm effects on model performances. The model was implemented at 17 spatial resolutions ranging from 100 to 5 m. Results allow the understanding of scale challenges in hydrology modelling.
Natalie C. Ceperley, Theophile Mande, Nick van de Giesen, Scott Tyler, Hamma Yacouba, and Marc B. Parlange
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4149–4167, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4149-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4149-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We relate land cover (savanna forest and agriculture) to evaporation in Burkina Faso, west Africa. We observe more evaporation and temperature movement over the savanna forest in the headwater area relative to the agricultural section of the watershed. We find that the fraction of available energy converted to evaporation relates to vegetation cover and soil moisture. From the results, evaporation can be calculated where ground-based measurements are lacking, frequently the case across Africa.
Matthieu Spekkers, Viktor Rözer, Annegret Thieken, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, and Heidi Kreibich
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1337–1355, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-1337-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-1337-2017, 2017
Elena Cristiano, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, and Nick van de Giesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3859–3878, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3859-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3859-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
In the last decades, new instruments were developed to measure rainfall and hydrological processes at high resolution. Weather radars are used, for example, to measure how rainfall varies in space and time. At the same time, new models were proposed to reproduce and predict hydrological response, in order to prevent flooding in urban areas. This paper presents a review of our current knowledge of rainfall and hydrological processes in urban areas, focusing on their variability in time and space.
Auguste Gires, Ioulia Tchiguirinskaia, Daniel Schertzer, Susana Ochoa-Rodriguez, Patrick Willems, Abdellah Ichiba, Li-Pen Wang, Rui Pina, Johan Van Assel, Guendalina Bruni, Damian Murla Tuyls, and Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 2361–2375, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2361-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2361-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Data from 10 urban or peri-urban catchments located in five EU countries are used to analyze the imperviousness distribution and sewer network geometry. Consistent scale invariant features are retrieved for both (fractal dimensions can be defined), which enables to define a level of urbanization. Imperviousness representation in operational model is also found to exhibit scale-invariant features (even multifractality). The research was carried out as part of the UE INTERREG IV RainGain project.
Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis and Marc Schleiss
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1991–2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1991-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1991-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper we analysed flow measurements from 17 watersheds in a (semi-)urban region, to characterise flow patterns according to basin features. Instead of sampling flows at fixed time intervals, we looked at how fast given amounts of flow were accumulated. By doing so, we could identify patterns of flow regulation in urban streams and quantify flashiness of hydrological response. We were able to show that in this region, higher urbanisation was clearly associated with lower basin flashiness.
Søren Thorndahl, Thomas Einfalt, Patrick Willems, Jesper Ellerbæk Nielsen, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, Karsten Arnbjerg-Nielsen, Michael R. Rasmussen, and Peter Molnar
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1359–1380, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1359-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1359-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This paper reviews how weather radar data can be used in urban hydrological applications. It focuses on three areas of research: (1) temporal and spatial resolution of rainfall data, (2) rainfall estimation, radar data adjustment and data quality, and (3) nowcasting of radar rainfall and real-time applications. Moreover, the paper provides examples of urban hydrological applications which can benefit from radar rainfall data in comparison to tradition rain gauge measurements of rainfall.
Rolf Hut, Niels Drost, Maarten van Meersbergen, Edwin Sutanudjaja, Marc Bierkens, and Nick van de Giesen
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2016-225, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2016-225, 2016
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
A system that predicts the amount of water flowing in each river on earth, 9 days ahead, is build using existing parts of open source computer code build by different researchers in other projects.
The glue between all pre-existing parts are all open interfaces which means that the pieces system click together like a house of LEGOs. It is easy to remove a piece (a brick) and replace it with another, improved, piece.
The resulting predictions are available online at forecast.ewatercycle.org
Koen Hilgersom, Tim van Emmerik, Anna Solcerova, Wouter Berghuijs, John Selker, and Nick van de Giesen
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 5, 151–162, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-5-151-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-5-151-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Fibre optic distributed temperature sensing allows one to measure temperature patterns along a fibre optic cable with resolutions down to 25 cm. In geosciences, we sometimes wrap the cable to a coil to measure temperature at even smaller scales. We show that coils with narrow bends affect the measured temperatures. This also holds for the object to which the coil is attached, when heated by solar radiation. We therefore recommend the necessity to carefully design such distributed temperature probes.
K. E. R. Pramana, M. W. Ertsen, and N. C. van de Giesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-12-9489-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-12-9489-2015, 2015
Revised manuscript not accepted
J. Hoogeveen, J.-M. Faurès, L. Peiser, J. Burke, and N. van de Giesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3829–3844, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3829-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3829-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
GlobWat is a freely distributed, global soil water balance model that is used by FAO to assess water use in irrigated agriculture, the main factor behind scarcity of freshwater in an increasing number of regions. The model is based on spatially distributed high-resolution data sets that are consistent at global level and is calibrated and validated against information published in global databases. The paper describes methodology, input and output data, calibration and validation of the model.
S. Gaitan and J. A. E. ten Veldhuis
Proc. IAHS, 370, 9–14, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-370-9-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-370-9-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
The objective of this paper is to outline opportunities for multivariate analysis of open spatial datasets to characterize urban flooding risks. To that end, a cluster analysis is performed. Results indicate that incidence of
rainfall-related impacts is higher in areas characterized by older infrastructure and higher population density.
M. H. Spekkers, F. H. L. R. Clemens, and J. A. E. ten Veldhuis
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 261–272, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-15-261-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-15-261-2015, 2015
S. A. P. de Jong, J. D. Slingerland, and N. C. van de Giesen
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 335–339, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-335-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-335-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
By using two cylindrical thermometers with different diameters, one can determine what temperature a zero diameter thermometer would have. Such a virtual thermometer would not be affected by solar heating and would take on the temperature of the surrounding air. We applied this principle to atmospheric temperature measurements with fiber optic cables using distributed temperature sensing (DTS). With two unshielded cable pairs, one black pair and one white pair, good results were obtained.
M. H. Spekkers, M. Kok, F. H. L. R. Clemens, and J. A. E. ten Veldhuis
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 2531–2547, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-14-2531-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-14-2531-2014, 2014
S. V. Weijs, N. van de Giesen, and M. B. Parlange
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 3171–3187, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3171-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3171-2013, 2013
O. A. C. Hoes, R. W. Hut, N. C. van de Giesen, and M. Boomgaard
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/nhessd-1-417-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhessd-1-417-2013, 2013
Revised manuscript has not been submitted
M. H. Spekkers, M. Kok, F. H. L. R. Clemens, and J. A. E. ten Veldhuis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 913–922, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-913-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-913-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject: Urban Hydrology | Techniques and Approaches: Modelling approaches
Simulation of spatially distributed sources, transport, and transformation of nitrogen from fertilization and septic systems in a suburban watershed
Combining statistical and hydrodynamic models to assess compound flood hazards from rainfall and storm surge: a case study of Shanghai
Exploring the driving factors of compound flood severity in coastal cities: a comprehensive analytical approach
Enhancing generalizability of data-driven urban flood models by incorporating contextual information
An optimized long short-term memory (LSTM)-based approach applied to early warning and forecasting of ponding in the urban drainage system
A deep-learning-technique-based data-driven model for accurate and rapid flood predictions in temporal and spatial dimensions
Impact of urban geology on model simulations of shallow groundwater levels and flow paths
Technical note: Modeling spatial fields of extreme precipitation – a hierarchical Bayesian approach
Intersecting near-real time fluvial and pluvial inundation estimates with sociodemographic vulnerability to quantify a household flood impact index
Forecasting green roof detention performance by temporal downscaling of precipitation time-series projections
Evaluating different machine learning methods to simulate runoff from extensive green roofs
Modeling and interpreting hydrological responses of sustainable urban drainage systems with explainable machine learning methods
The impact of the spatiotemporal structure of rainfall on flood frequency over a small urban watershed: an approach coupling stochastic storm transposition and hydrologic modeling
Space variability impacts on hydrological responses of nature-based solutions and the resulting uncertainty: a case study of Guyancourt (France)
Urban surface water flood modelling – a comprehensive review of current models and future challenges
Resampling and ensemble techniques for improving ANN-based high-flow forecast accuracy
Event selection and two-stage approach for calibrating models of green urban drainage systems
Modeling the high-resolution dynamic exposure to flooding in a city region
Drainage area characterization for evaluating green infrastructure using the Storm Water Management Model
Critical scales to explain urban hydrological response: an application in Cranbrook, London
Increase in flood risk resulting from climate change in a developed urban watershed – the role of storm temporal patterns
Patterns and comparisons of human-induced changes in river flood impacts in cities
Scale effect challenges in urban hydrology highlighted with a distributed hydrological model
Comparison of the impacts of urban development and climate change on exposing European cities to pluvial flooding
Spatial and temporal variability of rainfall and their effects on hydrological response in urban areas – a review
Hydrodynamics of pedestrians' instability in floodwaters
Formulating and testing a method for perturbing precipitation time series to reflect anticipated climatic changes
Using rainfall thresholds and ensemble precipitation forecasts to issue and improve urban inundation alerts
Enhancing the T-shaped learning profile when teaching hydrology using data, modeling, and visualization activities
Precipitation variability within an urban monitoring network via microcanonical cascade generators
Estimation of peak discharges of historical floods
Indirect downscaling of hourly precipitation based on atmospheric circulation and temperature
Assessing the hydrologic restoration of an urbanized area via an integrated distributed hydrological model
Using the Storm Water Management Model to predict urban headwater stream hydrological response to climate and land cover change
Evaluating scale and roughness effects in urban flood modelling using terrestrial LIDAR data
Contribution of directly connected and isolated impervious areas to urban drainage network hydrographs
Thermal management of an unconsolidated shallow urban groundwater body
Online multistep-ahead inundation depth forecasts by recurrent NARX networks
A statistical analysis of insurance damage claims related to rainfall extremes
Joint impact of rainfall and tidal level on flood risk in a coastal city with a complex river network: a case study of Fuzhou City, China
Urbanization and climate change impacts on future urban flooding in Can Tho city, Vietnam
Multi-objective optimization for combined quality–quantity urban runoff control
Development of flood probability charts for urban drainage network in coastal areas through a simplified joint assessment approach
Auto-control of pumping operations in sewerage systems by rule-based fuzzy neural networks
Coupling urban event-based and catchment continuous modelling for combined sewer overflow river impact assessment
Dynamic neural networks for real-time water level predictions of sewerage systems-covering gauged and ungauged sites
Ruoyu Zhang, Lawrence E. Band, Peter M. Groffman, Laurence Lin, Amanda K. Suchy, Jonathan M. Duncan, and Arthur J. Gold
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4599–4621, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4599-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4599-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Human-induced nitrogen (N) from fertilization and septic effluents is the primary N source in urban watersheds. We developed a model to understand how spatial and temporal patterns of these loads affect hydrologic and biogeochemical processes at the hillslope level. The comparable simulations to observations showed the ability of our model to enhance insights into current water quality conditions, identify high-N-retention locations, and plan future restorations to improve urban water quality.
Hanqing Xu, Elisa Ragno, Sebastiaan N. Jonkman, Jun Wang, Jeremy D. Bricker, Zhan Tian, and Laixiang Sun
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 3919–3930, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3919-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3919-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
A coupled statistical–hydrodynamic model framework is employed to quantitatively evaluate the sensitivity of compound flood hazards to the relative timing of peak storm surges and rainfall. The findings reveal that the timing difference between these two factors significantly affects flood inundation depth and extent. The most severe inundation occurs when rainfall precedes the storm surge peak by 2 h.
Yan Liu, Ting Zhang, Yi Ding, Aiqing Kang, Xiaohui Lei, and Jianzhu Li
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-100, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-100, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
In coastal cities, rainfall and storm surges cause compound flooding. This study quantifies the contributions of rainfall and tides to compound flooding and analyzes interactions between different flood types. Findings show rainfall has a greater effect on flooding compared to tidal levels. The interaction between fluvial and pluvial flooding exacerbates the flood disaster. Notably, tidal levels have the most significant impact during the interaction phase of these flood types.
Tabea Cache, Milton Salvador Gomez, Tom Beucler, Jovan Blagojevic, João Paulo Leitao, and Nadav Peleg
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-63, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-63, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
We introduce a new deep-learning model that addresses limitations of existing urban flood models in handling varied terrains and rainfall events. Our model subdivides the city into small patches and presents a novel approach to incorporate broader spatial information. It accurately predicts high-resolution flood maps across diverse rainfall events and cities (on a minutes and meters scale) that haven’t been seen by the model, which offers valuable insights for urban flood mitigation strategies.
Wen Zhu, Tao Tao, Hexiang Yan, Jieru Yan, Jiaying Wang, Shuping Li, and Kunlun Xin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2035–2050, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2035-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2035-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
To provide a possibility for early warning and forecasting of ponding in the urban drainage system, an optimized long short-term memory (LSTM)-based model is proposed in this paper. It has a remarkable improvement compared to the models based on LSTM and convolutional neural network (CNN) structures. The performance of the corrected model is reliable if the number of monitoring sites is over one per hectare. Increasing the number of monitoring points further has little impact on the performance.
Qianqian Zhou, Shuai Teng, Zuxiang Situ, Xiaoting Liao, Junman Feng, Gongfa Chen, Jianliang Zhang, and Zonglei Lu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1791–1808, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1791-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1791-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
A deep-learning-based data-driven model for flood predictions in temporal and spatial dimensions, with the integration of a long short-term memory network, Bayesian optimization, and transfer learning is proposed. The model accurately predicts water depths and flood time series/dynamics for hyetograph inputs, with substantial improvements in computational time. With transfer learning, the model was well applied to a new case study and showed robust compatibility and generalization ability.
Ane LaBianca, Mette H. Mortensen, Peter Sandersen, Torben O. Sonnenborg, Karsten H. Jensen, and Jacob Kidmose
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1645–1666, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1645-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1645-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The study explores the effect of Anthropocene geology and the computational grid size on the simulation of shallow urban groundwater. Many cities are facing challenges with high groundwater levels close to the surface, yet urban planning and development seldom consider its impact on the groundwater resource. This study illustrates that the urban subsurface infrastructure significantly affects the groundwater flow paths and the residence time of shallow urban groundwater.
Bianca Rahill-Marier, Naresh Devineni, and Upmanu Lall
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5685–5695, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5685-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5685-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present a new approach to modeling extreme regional rainfall by considering the spatial structure of extreme events. The developed models allow a probabilistic exploration of how the regional drainage network may respond to extreme rainfall events and provide a foundation for how future risks may be better estimated.
Matthew Preisser, Paola Passalacqua, R. Patrick Bixler, and Julian Hofmann
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3941–3964, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3941-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3941-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
There is rising concern in numerous fields regarding the inequitable distribution of human risk to floods. The co-occurrence of river and surface flooding is largely excluded from leading flood hazard mapping services, therefore underestimating hazards. Using high-resolution elevation data and a region-specific social vulnerability index, we developed a method to estimate flood impacts at the household level in near-real time.
Vincent Pons, Rasmus Benestad, Edvard Sivertsen, Tone Merete Muthanna, and Jean-Luc Bertrand-Krajewski
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2855–2874, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2855-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2855-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Different models were developed to increase the temporal resolution of precipitation time series to minutes. Their applicability under climate change and their suitability for producing input time series for green infrastructure (e.g. green roofs) modelling were evaluated. The robustness of the model was validated against a range of European climates in eight locations in France and Norway. The future hydrological performances of green roofs were evaluated in order to improve design practice.
Elhadi Mohsen Hassan Abdalla, Vincent Pons, Virginia Stovin, Simon De-Ville, Elizabeth Fassman-Beck, Knut Alfredsen, and Tone Merete Muthanna
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5917–5935, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5917-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5917-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigated the potential of using machine learning algorithms as hydrological models of green roofs across different climatic condition. The study provides comparison between conceptual and machine learning algorithms. Machine learning models were found to be accurate in simulating runoff from extensive green roofs.
Yang Yang and Ting Fong May Chui
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5839–5858, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5839-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5839-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study uses explainable machine learning methods to model and interpret the statistical correlations between rainfall and the discharge of urban catchments with sustainable urban drainage systems. The resulting models have good prediction accuracies. However, the right predictions may be made for the wrong reasons as the model cannot provide physically plausible explanations as to why a prediction is made.
Zhengzheng Zhou, James A. Smith, Mary Lynn Baeck, Daniel B. Wright, Brianne K. Smith, and Shuguang Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4701–4717, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4701-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4701-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The role of rainfall space–time structure in flood response is an important research issue in urban hydrology. This study contributes to this understanding in small urban watersheds. Combining stochastically based rainfall scenarios with a hydrological model, the results show the complexities of flood response for various return periods, implying the common assumptions of spatially uniform rainfall in urban flood frequency are problematic, even for relatively small basin scales.
Yangzi Qiu, Igor da Silva Rocha Paz, Feihu Chen, Pierre-Antoine Versini, Daniel Schertzer, and Ioulia Tchiguirinskaia
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3137–3162, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3137-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3137-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Our original research objective is to investigate the uncertainties of the hydrological responses of nature-based solutions (NBSs) that result from the multiscale space variability in both the rainfall and the NBS distribution. Results show that the intersection effects of spatial variability in rainfall and the spatial arrangement of NBS can generate uncertainties of peak flow and total runoff volume estimations in NBS scenarios.
Kaihua Guo, Mingfu Guan, and Dapeng Yu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2843–2860, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2843-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2843-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a comprehensive review of models and emerging approaches for predicting urban surface water flooding driven by intense rainfall. It explores the advantages and limitations of existing models and identifies major challenges. Issues of model complexities, scale effects, and computational efficiency are also analysed. The results will inform scientists, engineers, and decision-makers of the latest developments and guide the model selection based on desired objectives.
Everett Snieder, Karen Abogadil, and Usman T. Khan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2543–2566, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2543-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2543-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Flow distributions are highly skewed, resulting in low prediction accuracy of high flows when using artificial neural networks for flood forecasting. We investigate the use of resampling and ensemble techniques to address the problem of skewed datasets to improve high flow prediction. The methods are implemented both independently and in combined, hybrid techniques. This research presents the first analysis of the effects of combining these methods on high flow prediction accuracy.
Ico Broekhuizen, Günther Leonhardt, Jiri Marsalek, and Maria Viklander
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 869–885, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-869-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-869-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Urban drainage models are usually calibrated using a few events so that they accurately represent a real-world site. This paper compares 14 single- and two-stage strategies for selecting these events and found significant variation between them in terms of model performance and the obtained values of model parameters. Calibrating parameters for green and impermeable areas in two separate stages improved model performance in the validation period while making calibration easier and faster.
Xuehong Zhu, Qiang Dai, Dawei Han, Lu Zhuo, Shaonan Zhu, and Shuliang Zhang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3353–3372, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3353-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3353-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Urban flooding exposure is generally investigated with the assumption of stationary disasters and disaster-hit bodies during an event, and thus it cannot satisfy the increasingly elaborate modeling and management of urban floods. In this study, a comprehensive method was proposed to simulate dynamic exposure to urban flooding considering human mobility. Several scenarios, including diverse flooding types and various responses of residents to flooding, were considered.
Joong Gwang Lee, Christopher T. Nietch, and Srinivas Panguluri
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2615–2635, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2615-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2615-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This paper demonstrates an approach to spatial discretization for analyzing green infrastructure (GI) using SWMM. Besides DCIA, pervious buffers should be identified for GI modeling. Runoff contributions from different spatial components and flow pathways would impact GI performance. The presented approach can reduce the number of calibration parameters and apply scale–independently to a watershed scale. Hydrograph separation can add insights for developing GI scenarios.
Elena Cristiano, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, Santiago Gaitan, Susana Ochoa Rodriguez, and Nick van de Giesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2425–2447, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2425-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2425-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
In this work we investigate the influence rainfall and catchment scales have on hydrological response. This problem is quite relevant in urban areas, where the response is fast due to the high degree of imperviousness. We presented a new approach to classify rainfall variability in space and time and use this classification to investigate rainfall aggregation effects on urban hydrological response. This classification allows the spatial extension of the main core of the storm to be identified.
Suresh Hettiarachchi, Conrad Wasko, and Ashish Sharma
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2041–2056, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2041-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2041-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The study examines the impact of higher temperatures expected in a future climate on how rainfall varies with time during severe storm events. The results show that these impacts increase future flood risk in urban environments and that current design guidelines need to be adjusted so that effective adaptation measures can be implemented.
Stephanie Clark, Ashish Sharma, and Scott A. Sisson
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1793–1810, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1793-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1793-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates global patterns relating urban river flood impacts to socioeconomic development and changing hydrologic conditions, and comparisons are provided between 98 individual cities. This paper condenses and communicates large amounts of information to accelerate the understanding of relationships between local urban conditions and global processes, and to potentially motivate knowledge transfer between decision-makers facing similar circumstances.
Abdellah Ichiba, Auguste Gires, Ioulia Tchiguirinskaia, Daniel Schertzer, Philippe Bompard, and Marie-Claire Ten Veldhuis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 331–350, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-331-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-331-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This paper proposes a two-step investigation to illustrate the extent of scale effects in urban hydrology. First, fractal tools are used to highlight the scale dependency observed within GIS data inputted in urban hydrological models. Then an intensive multi-scale modelling work was carried out to confirm effects on model performances. The model was implemented at 17 spatial resolutions ranging from 100 to 5 m. Results allow the understanding of scale challenges in hydrology modelling.
Per Skougaard Kaspersen, Nanna Høegh Ravn, Karsten Arnbjerg-Nielsen, Henrik Madsen, and Martin Drews
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4131–4147, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4131-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4131-2017, 2017
Elena Cristiano, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, and Nick van de Giesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3859–3878, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3859-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3859-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
In the last decades, new instruments were developed to measure rainfall and hydrological processes at high resolution. Weather radars are used, for example, to measure how rainfall varies in space and time. At the same time, new models were proposed to reproduce and predict hydrological response, in order to prevent flooding in urban areas. This paper presents a review of our current knowledge of rainfall and hydrological processes in urban areas, focusing on their variability in time and space.
Chiara Arrighi, Hocine Oumeraci, and Fabio Castelli
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 515–531, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-515-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-515-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
In developed countries, the majority of fatalities during floods occurs as a consequence of inappropriate high-risk behaviour such as walking or driving in floodwaters. This work addresses pedestrians' instability in floodwaters. It analyses both the contribution of flood and human physical characteristics in the loss of stability highlighting the key role of subject height (submergence) and flow regime. The method consists of a re-analysis of experiments and numerical modelling.
Hjalte Jomo Danielsen Sørup, Stylianos Georgiadis, Ida Bülow Gregersen, and Karsten Arnbjerg-Nielsen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 345–355, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-345-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-345-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we propose a methodology changing present-day precipitation time series to reflect future changed climate. Present-day time series have a much finer resolution than what is provided by climate models and thus have a much broader application range. The proposed methodology is able to replicate most expectations of climate change precipitation. These time series can be used to run fine-scale hydrological and hydraulic models and thereby assess the influence of climate change on them.
Tsun-Hua Yang, Gong-Do Hwang, Chin-Cheng Tsai, and Jui-Yi Ho
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 4731–4745, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4731-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4731-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Taiwan continues to suffer from floods. This study proposes the integration of rainfall thresholds and ensemble precipitation forecasts to provide probabilistic urban inundation forecasts. Utilization of ensemble precipitation forecasts can extend forecast lead times to 72 h, preceding peak flows and allowing response agencies to take necessary preparatory measures. This study also develops a hybrid of real-time observation and rainfall forecasts to improve the first 24 h inundation forecasts.
Christopher A. Sanchez, Benjamin L. Ruddell, Roy Schiesser, and Venkatesh Merwade
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 1289–1299, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-1289-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-1289-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The use of authentic learning activities is especially important for place-based geosciences like hydrology, where professional breadth and technical depth are critical for practicing hydrologists. The current study found that integrating computerized learning content into the learning experience, using only a simple spreadsheet tool and readily available hydrological data, can effectively bring the "real world" into the classroom and provide an enriching educational experience.
P. Licznar, C. De Michele, and W. Adamowski
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 485–506, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-485-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-485-2015, 2015
J. Herget, T. Roggenkamp, and M. Krell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 4029–4037, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4029-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4029-2014, 2014
F. Beck and A. Bárdossy
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4851–4863, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4851-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4851-2013, 2013
D. H. Trinh and T. F. M. Chui
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4789–4801, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4789-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4789-2013, 2013
J. Y. Wu, J. R. Thompson, R. K. Kolka, K. J. Franz, and T. W. Stewart
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4743–4758, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4743-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4743-2013, 2013
H. Ozdemir, C. C. Sampson, G. A. M. de Almeida, and P. D. Bates
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4015–4030, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4015-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4015-2013, 2013
Y. Seo, N.-J. Choi, and A. R. Schmidt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 3473–3483, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3473-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3473-2013, 2013
J. Epting, F. Händel, and P. Huggenberger
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1851–1869, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1851-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1851-2013, 2013
H.-Y. Shen and L.-C. Chang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 935–945, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-935-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-935-2013, 2013
M. H. Spekkers, M. Kok, F. H. L. R. Clemens, and J. A. E. ten Veldhuis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 913–922, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-913-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-913-2013, 2013
J. J. Lian, K. Xu, and C. Ma
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 679–689, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-679-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-679-2013, 2013
H. T. L. Huong and A. Pathirana
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 379–394, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-379-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-379-2013, 2013
S. Oraei Zare, B. Saghafian, and A. Shamsai
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 4531–4542, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-4531-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-4531-2012, 2012
R. Archetti, A. Bolognesi, A. Casadio, and M. Maglionico
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 3115–3122, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-3115-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-3115-2011, 2011
Y.-M. Chiang, L.-C. Chang, M.-J. Tsai, Y.-F. Wang, and F.-J. Chang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 185–196, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-185-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-185-2011, 2011
I. Andrés-Doménech, J. C. Múnera, F. Francés, and J. B. Marco
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 2057–2072, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-2057-2010, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-2057-2010, 2010
Yen-Ming Chiang, Li-Chiu Chang, Meng-Jung Tsai, Yi-Fung Wang, and Fi-John Chang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 1309–1319, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-1309-2010, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-1309-2010, 2010
Cited articles
Balmforth, D. J. and Dibben, P.: A modelling tool for assessing flood risk, Water Practice & Technology, 1, 1, https://doi.org/10.2166/WPT.2006008, 2006.
Bell, V. A. and Moore, R. J.: The sensitivity of catchment runoff models to rainfall data at different spatial scales, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 4, 653–667, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-4-653-2000, 2000.
Berne, A., Delrieu, G., Creutin, J.-D., and Obled, C.: Temporal and spatial resolution of rainfall measurements required for urban hydrology, J. Hydrol., 299, 166-179, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.08.002, 2004.
Blanchet, F., Brunelle, D., and Guillon, A.: "Influence of the spatial heterogeneity of precipitation upon the hydrologic response of an urban catchment", 2nd Int. Symp. Hydrological Applications of Weather Radar, Hannover, p. 8, Preprint, 1992.
Dawdy, D. R. and Bergmann, J. M.: Effect of rainfall variability on streamflow simulation, Water Resour. Res., 5, 958–966, 1969.
Deltares: Sobek, Hydrodynamics, Rainfall Runoff and Real Time Control, User Manual. Version: 1.00.34157, 3 June 2014. Copyright\textsuperscript© 2014 Deltares, Delft, NL, 2014.
Einfalt, T., Arnbjerg-Nielsen, K., Golz, C., Jensen, N.-E., Quirmbach, M., Vaes, G., and Vieux, B.: Towards a roadmap for use of radar rainfall data in urban drainage, J. Hydrol., 299, 186–202, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.08.004, 2004.
Emmanuel, I., Andrieu, H., Leblois, E., and Flahaut, B.: Temporal and spatial variability of rainfall at the urban hydrological scale, J. Hydrol., 430–431, 162–172, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.02.013, 2012.
Gires, A., Onof, C., Maksimovic, C., Schertzer, D., Tchiguirinskaia, I., and Simoes, N.: Quantifying the impact of small scale unmeasured rainfall variability on urban runoff through multifractal downscaling: A case study, J. Hydrol., 442–443, 117–128, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.04.005, 2012.
Gires, A., Tchiguirinskaia, I., Schertzer, D., and Lovejoy, S.: Multifractal analysis of a semi-distributed urban hydrological model, Urban Water J., 10, 195–208, https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2012.716447, 2013.
Goovaerts, P.: Geostatistical approaches for incorporating elevation into the spatial interpolation of rainfall, J. Hydrol., 228, 113–129, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(00)00144-X, 2000.
Haberlandt, U.: Geostatistical interpolation of hourly precipitation from rain gauges and radar for a large-scale extreme rainfall event, J. Hydrol., 332, 144–157, 2007.
Jensen, N. E. and Pedersen, L.: Spatial variability of rainfall: Variations within a single radar pixel, Atmos. Res., 77, 269–277, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2004.10.029, 2005.
Johnson, J. T., MacKeen, P. L., Witt, A., Mitchell, E. D. W., Stumpf, G. J., Eilts, M. D., and Thomas, K. W.: The storm cell identification and tracking algorithm: An enhanced WSR-88D algorithm, Weather Forecast., 13, 263–276, 1998.
Koren, V., Finnerty, B., Schaake, J., Smith, M., Seo, D.-J., and Duan, Q.-Y.: Scale dependencies of hydrologic models to spatial variability of precipitation, J. Hydrol., 217, 285–302, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(98)00231-5, 1999.
Krajewski, W. F., Lakshmi, V., Georgakakos, K. P., and Jain, S. C.: A Monte Carlo study of rainfall sampling effect on a distributed catchment model, Water Resour. Res., 27, 119–128, 1991.
Leijnse, H., Uijlenhoet, R., van de Beek, C. Z., Overeem, A., Otto, T., Unal, C. M. H., Dufournet, Y., Russchenberg, H. W. J., Figueras i Ventura, J., Klein Baltink, H., and Holleman, I.: Precipitation Measurement at CESAR, the Netherlands, J. Hydrometeorol., 11, 1322–1329, https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JHM1245.1, 2010.
Liguori, S., Rico-Ramirez, M. A., Schellart, A. N. A., and Saul, A. J.: Using probabilistic radar rainfall nowcasts and NWP forecasts for flow prediction in urban catchments, Atmos. Res., 103, 80–95, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2011.05.004, 2012.
Matheron, G.: Principles of geostatistics, Econom. Geol., 58, 1246–1266, 1963.
Neal, J., Villanueva, I., Wright, N., Willis, T., Fewtrell, T., and Bates, P.: How much physical complexity is needed to model flood inundation?, Hydrol. Process., 26, 2264–2282, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8339, 2012.
Obled, C., Wendling, J., and Beven, K.: The sensitivity of hydrological models to spatial rainfall patterns: an evaluation using observed data, J. Hydrol., 159, 305–333, 1994.
Ogden, F. L. and Julien, P. Y.: Runoff model sensitivity to radar rainfall resolution, J. Hydrol., 158, 1–18, 1994.
Otto, T. and Russchenberg, H. W. J.: Estimation of Specific Differential Phase and Differential Backscatter Phase From Polarimetric Weather Radar Measurements of Rain, IEEE Geosci. Remote Sens. Lett., 8, 988–992, https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2011.2145354, 2011.
Ozdemir, H., Sampson, C. C., de Almeida, G. A. M., and Bates, P. D.: Evaluating scale and roughness effects in urban flood modelling using terrestrial LIDAR data, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4015–4030, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4015-2013, 2013.
Parker, D. J., Priest, S. J., and McCarthy, S. S.: Surface water flood warnings requirements and potential in England and Wales, Appl. Geogr., 31, 891–900, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2011.01.002, 2011.
Pathirana, A., Tsegaye, S., Gersonius, B., and Vairavamoorthy, K.: A simple 2-D inundation model for incorporating flood damage in urban drainage planning, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 2747–2761, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-2747-2011, 2011.
Priest, S. J., Parker, D. J., Hurford, A. P., Walker, J., and Evans, K.: Assessing options for the development of surface water flood warning in England and Wales, J. Environ. Manage., 92, 3038–3048, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.06.041, 2011.
Schellart, A. N. A., Shepherd, W. J., and Saul, A. J.: Influence of rainfall estimation error and spatial variability on sewer flow prediction at a small urban scale, Adv. Water Resour., 45, 65–75, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2011.10.012, 2012.
Schmitt, T. G., Thomas, M., and Ettrich, N.: Analysis and modeling of flooding in urban drainage systems, J. Hydrol., 299, 300–311, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.08.012, 2004.
Segond, M.-L., Wheater, H. S., and Onof, C.: The significance of spatial rainfall representation for flood runoff estimation: A numerical evaluation based on the Lee catchment, UK, J. Hydrol., 347, 116–131, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.09.040, 2007.
Seliga, T. A., Aron, G., Aydin, K., and White, E.: Storm runoff simulation using radar-estimated rainfall rates and a Unit Hydrograph model (SYN-HYD) applied to the GREVE watershed, in: Am. Meteorol. Soc., 25th Int. Conf. on Radar Hydrology, 587–590, preprint, 1992.
Stichting RIONED: Rioleringsberekeningen, hydraulisch functioneren, Leidraad Riolering (Dutch Guidelines for sewer systems computations and hydraulic functioning), Stichting RIONED – National centre of expertise in sewer management and urban drainage in the Netherlands, The Netherlands, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2011.10.012, 2004 (in Dutch).
Storm, B. A., Parker, M. D., and Jorgensen, D. P.: A convective line with leading stratiform precipitation from BAMEX, Mon. Weather Rev., 135, 1769–1785, 2007.
Vaes, G., Willems, P., and Berlamont, J.: Rainfall input requirements for hydrological calculations, Urban Water, 3, 107–112, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1462-0758(01)00020-6, 2001.
Vieux, B. E. and Imgarten, J. M.: On the scale-dependent propagation of hydrologic uncertainty using high-resolution X-band radar rainfall estimates, Atmos. Res., 103, 96–105, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2011.06.009, 2012.
Weisman, M. L. and Rotunno, R.: "A theory for strong long-lived squall lines" revisited, J. Atmos. Sci., 61, 361–382, 2004.
Winchell, M., Gupta, H. V., and Sorooshian, S.: On the simulation of infiltration and saturation excess runoff using radar based rainfall estimates: Effects of algorithm uncertainty and pixel aggregation, Water Resour. Res., 34, 2655–2670, 1998.
Wood, S. J., Jones, D. A., and Moore, R. J.: Static and dynamic calibration of radar data for hydrological use, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 4, 545–554, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-4-545-2000, 2000.
Special issue