Urban stormwater capture curve using three-parameter mixed exponential probability density function and NRCS runoff curve number method

Water Environ Res. 2010 Jan;82(1):43-50.

Abstract

Most related literature regarding designing urban non-point-source management systems assumes that precipitation event-depths follow the 1-parameter exponential probability density function to reduce the mathematical complexity of the derivation process. However, the method of expressing the rainfall is the most important factor for analyzing stormwater; thus, a better mathematical expression, which represents the probability distribution of rainfall depths, is suggested in this study. Also, the rainfall-runoff calculation procedure required for deriving a stormwater-capture curve is altered by the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (Washington, D.C.) (NRCS) runoff curve number method to consider the nonlinearity of the rainfall-runoff relation and, at the same time, obtain a more verifiable and representative curve for design when applying it to urban drainage areas with complicated land-use characteristics, such as occurs in Korea. The result of developing the stormwater-capture curve from the rainfall data in Busan, Korea, confirms that the methodology suggested in this study provides a better solution than the pre-existing one.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cities
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Rain*
  • Time Factors
  • Water Movements*
  • Water Supply*