Accuracy of synthetic hydrographs derived from representative basins la précision des hydrogrammes synthétiques dérivés des bassins représentatifs

Abstract

This study was undertaken to test methods by which a representative basin could be used to develop a synthetic unit hydrograph for an ungauged basin within its hydrological region. Three synthetic hydrograph methods were tested in two hydrological regions using three basins in each region. The methods tested were: (1) a modified Snyder method, (2) Commons' dimensionless hydrograph, and (3) Soil Conservation Service dimensionless hydrograph.The synthetic unit hydrographs were compared with unit hydrographs derived from actual storm data. The Snyder method proved reasonably accurate for the basins studied producing synthetic hydrographs within the range of the individual storm hydrographs. The dimensionless graphs did not consistently overpredict or underpredict a hydrograph peak or give an accurate description of the unit hydrograph shape. © 1977 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.