Articles | Volume 22, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4725-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4725-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
10 Sep 2018
Research article |
| 10 Sep 2018
| 10 Sep 2018
Including effects of watershed heterogeneity in the curve number method using variable initial abstraction
Vijay P. Santikari
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
Lawrence C. Murdoch
Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
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Cited
20 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Identification of the Relationship between Rainfall and the CN Parameter in Western Carpathian Mountain Catchments in Poland D. Młyński & A. Wałęga 10.3390/su12229317
- Identifying the risk of urban nonpoint source pollution using an index model based on impervious-pervious spatial pattern Y. Liao et al. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125619
- Statistical and Type II Error Assessment of a Runoff Predictive Model in Peninsula Malaysia L. Ling et al. 10.3390/math9080812
- Rainstorm‐generated sediment yield model based on soil moisture proxies (SMP) S. Gupta et al. 10.1002/hyp.13789
- Improving the forecasting accuracy of monthly runoff time series of the Brahmani River in India using a hybrid deep learning model S. Swagatika et al. 10.2166/wcc.2023.487
- Evaluation of the tabulated, NEH4, least squares and asymptotic fitting methods for the CN estimation of urban watersheds M. Galbetti et al. 10.1080/1573062X.2021.1992639
- Can slope adjusted Curve Number models compensate runoff underestimation in steep watersheds?: A study over experimental plots in India I. Sharma et al. 10.1016/j.pce.2022.103185
- Estimating Point and Nonpoint Source Pollutant Flux by Integrating Various Models, a Case Study of the Lake Hawassa Watershed in Ethiopia’s Rift Valley Basin S. Lencha et al. 10.3390/w14101569
- On the Role of Hydrological Losses in Estimating Event Runoff Coefficients Using the NRCS Method Z. Eslami et al. 10.1007/s11269-023-03550-9
- Application of the SCS–CN Method to the Hancheon Basin on the Volcanic Jeju Island, Korea M. Kang & C. Yoo 10.3390/w12123350
- Development and performance evaluation of SCS-CN based hybrid model P. Upreti & C. Ojha 10.2166/wst.2022.145
- Influence of Initial Abstraction Ratios in NRCS-CN Model on Runoff Estimation of Permeable Brick Pavement Affected by Clogging X. Du et al. 10.1007/s11269-023-03498-w
- Variability of the Initial Abstraction Ratio in an Urban and an Agroforested Catchment A. Krajewski et al. 10.3390/w12020415
- Effects of initial abstraction ratios in SCS-CN method on runoff prediction of green roofs in a semi-arid region W. Liu et al. 10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127331
- Formulation of Parsimonious Urban Flash Flood Predictive Model with Inferential Statistics L. Ling et al. 10.3390/math10020175
- Changes and controls of runoff generation in a watershed with substantial environmental change in China’s Loess Plateau M. Wang et al. 10.1007/s12665-025-12578-6
- Activation soil moisture accounting (ASMA) for runoff estimation using soil conservation service curve number (SCS-CN) method S. Verma et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125114
- Accounting for Spatiotemporal Variations of Curve Number Using Variable Initial Abstraction and Antecedent Moisture V. Santikari & L. Murdoch 10.1007/s11269-018-2124-0
- A runoff trading system to meet watershed-level stormwater reduction goals with parcel-level green infrastructure installation X. Fu et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.439
- Validating the Curve Number estimation approaches: A case study of an urbanizing watershed from Western Maharashtra, India G. Deshpande & A. Amit Dhorde 10.1007/s40808-023-01855-7
20 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Identification of the Relationship between Rainfall and the CN Parameter in Western Carpathian Mountain Catchments in Poland D. Młyński & A. Wałęga 10.3390/su12229317
- Identifying the risk of urban nonpoint source pollution using an index model based on impervious-pervious spatial pattern Y. Liao et al. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125619
- Statistical and Type II Error Assessment of a Runoff Predictive Model in Peninsula Malaysia L. Ling et al. 10.3390/math9080812
- Rainstorm‐generated sediment yield model based on soil moisture proxies (SMP) S. Gupta et al. 10.1002/hyp.13789
- Improving the forecasting accuracy of monthly runoff time series of the Brahmani River in India using a hybrid deep learning model S. Swagatika et al. 10.2166/wcc.2023.487
- Evaluation of the tabulated, NEH4, least squares and asymptotic fitting methods for the CN estimation of urban watersheds M. Galbetti et al. 10.1080/1573062X.2021.1992639
- Can slope adjusted Curve Number models compensate runoff underestimation in steep watersheds?: A study over experimental plots in India I. Sharma et al. 10.1016/j.pce.2022.103185
- Estimating Point and Nonpoint Source Pollutant Flux by Integrating Various Models, a Case Study of the Lake Hawassa Watershed in Ethiopia’s Rift Valley Basin S. Lencha et al. 10.3390/w14101569
- On the Role of Hydrological Losses in Estimating Event Runoff Coefficients Using the NRCS Method Z. Eslami et al. 10.1007/s11269-023-03550-9
- Application of the SCS–CN Method to the Hancheon Basin on the Volcanic Jeju Island, Korea M. Kang & C. Yoo 10.3390/w12123350
- Development and performance evaluation of SCS-CN based hybrid model P. Upreti & C. Ojha 10.2166/wst.2022.145
- Influence of Initial Abstraction Ratios in NRCS-CN Model on Runoff Estimation of Permeable Brick Pavement Affected by Clogging X. Du et al. 10.1007/s11269-023-03498-w
- Variability of the Initial Abstraction Ratio in an Urban and an Agroforested Catchment A. Krajewski et al. 10.3390/w12020415
- Effects of initial abstraction ratios in SCS-CN method on runoff prediction of green roofs in a semi-arid region W. Liu et al. 10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127331
- Formulation of Parsimonious Urban Flash Flood Predictive Model with Inferential Statistics L. Ling et al. 10.3390/math10020175
- Changes and controls of runoff generation in a watershed with substantial environmental change in China’s Loess Plateau M. Wang et al. 10.1007/s12665-025-12578-6
- Activation soil moisture accounting (ASMA) for runoff estimation using soil conservation service curve number (SCS-CN) method S. Verma et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125114
- Accounting for Spatiotemporal Variations of Curve Number Using Variable Initial Abstraction and Antecedent Moisture V. Santikari & L. Murdoch 10.1007/s11269-018-2124-0
- A runoff trading system to meet watershed-level stormwater reduction goals with parcel-level green infrastructure installation X. Fu et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.439
- Validating the Curve Number estimation approaches: A case study of an urbanizing watershed from Western Maharashtra, India G. Deshpande & A. Amit Dhorde 10.1007/s40808-023-01855-7
Discussed (final revised paper)
Latest update: 12 Oct 2025
Short summary
The curve number (CN) method is the most widely used approach for estimating runoff from rainfall. Despite its popularity, there is a conceptual flaw where CN varies with rainfall although it is assumed to be constant. In this paper, we describe theoretical analyses that show how this behavior is due to watershed heterogeneity, and we then provide simple modifications to the method to improve its runoff predictions. The findings will benefit hydrologists and watershed models that use CN method.
The curve number (CN) method is the most widely used approach for estimating runoff from...
