Cornell University
Library
Cornell UniversityLibrary

eCommons

Help
Log In(current)
  1. Home
  2. Cornell University Graduate School
  3. Cornell Theses and Dissertations
  4. Improving Risk Estimates Of Runoff Producing Areas: Formulating Variable Source Areas As A Bivariate Process

Improving Risk Estimates Of Runoff Producing Areas: Formulating Variable Source Areas As A Bivariate Process

File(s)
xc224.pdf (1.83 MB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/31506
Collections
Cornell Theses and Dissertations
Author
Cheng, Xiaoya
Abstract

Predicting runoff producing areas and corresponding risks is important for protecting water quality from nonpoint source pollution. However, the currently proposed engineering methods to do this do not account for antecedent soil wetness status, which may substantially impact risk estimates, especially where variable source area hydrology is a dominate storm runoff process. In this study, I developed a bivariate approach to estimate spatially-distributed risks of runoff production by incorporating both rainfall and antecedent soil moisture conditions into a method based on the Natural Resource Conservation Service-Curve Number equation. I used base flow immediately preceding storm events as an index of antecedent soil wetness status. Using the data from a study hillslope near Ithaca, NY, I demonstrated that my estimates agreed with independent field-observations. I further applied the proposed approach to the Upper Susquehanna River Basin and mapped predicted saturated areas with a Geographic Information System using a Soil Topographic Index.

Date Issued
2012-05-27
Committee Chair
Walter, Michael Todd
Committee Member
DeGloria, Stephen Daniel
Degree Discipline
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Degree Name
M.S., Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Degree Level
Master of Science
Type
dissertation or thesis

Site Statistics | Help

About eCommons | Policies | Terms of use | Contact Us

copyright © 2002-2026 Cornell University Library | Privacy | Web Accessibility Assistance