An Analytically Derived Distribution Function for Flood Volume

by Van-Thanh-Van Nguyen, McGill Univ, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
Huynh-Ngoc Phien, McGill Univ, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
Nophadol In-na, McGill Univ, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Engineering Hydrology

Abstract:

A general stochastic model is proposed to determine analytically the distribution function for flood volume. A flood event in this study is defined as an unbroken sequence of consecutive daily flows above a given base level. Accordingly, the volume of a flood could be considered as the sum of all exceedances within its total duration. Analytic expressions for the distribution of flood volume are then derived by assuming that the flow exceedances and flood duration are exponentially distributed random variables. The stochastic model proposed seems to have several advantages over empirical fitting approaches because it could take into account different stochastic properties of the underlying daily stream flow process. Results of a numerical application have demonstrated the adequacy of the analytical approach suggested.

Subject Headings: Floods | Stochastic processes | Distribution functions | Mathematical models | Streamflow | Numerical models | Hydrologic models

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