Introduction
The kinematic runoff and erosion model KINEROS is an event oriented, physically based model describing the processes of interception, infiltration, surface runoff and erosion from small agricultural and urban watersheds. The watershed is represented by a cascade of planes and channels; the partial differential equations describing overland flow, channel flow, erosion and sediment transport are solved by finite difference techniques. The spatial variation of rainfall, infiltration, runoff, and erosion parameters can be accomodated. KINEROS may be used to determine the effects of various artificial features such as urban developments, small detention reservoirs, or lined channels on flood hydrographs and sediment yield.Basic Features of KINEROS
KINEROS uses one-dimensional kinematic equations to simulate flow over rectangular planes and through trapezoidal open channels, circular conduits and small detention ponds:
KINEROS is a distributed model.
Multi-gage rainfall input is distributed by assigning rain gages to overland flow planes.
The infiltration algorithm is dynamic, interacting with both rainfall and surface water in transit:
Multi-gage rainfall input is distributed by assigning rain gages to overland flow planes.
The infiltration algorithm is dynamic, interacting with both rainfall and surface water in transit:
Channel transmission losses are also included.
Rain splash and hydraulic erosion are an option for overland flow planes; hydraulic erosion for channels.
Eroded sediment may be routed through any type of element, even those with noneroding surfaces.
The infiltration algorithm will handle a two-layer soil profile and incorporates a new method, based on soil physics, to redistribute soil water during rainfall interruptions.
Sediment
Soil and sediment are characterized by a distribution of up to five particle size classes rather than a single median particle size:
Rain splash and hydraulic erosion are an option for overland flow planes; hydraulic erosion for channels.
Eroded sediment may be routed through any type of element, even those with noneroding surfaces.
New Features in KINEROS2
InfiltrationThe infiltration algorithm will handle a two-layer soil profile and incorporates a new method, based on soil physics, to redistribute soil water during rainfall interruptions.
Sediment
Soil and sediment are characterized by a distribution of up to five particle size classes rather than a single median particle size:
Detention Pond
The detention pond model accounts for seepage through the wetted area, rainfall on the pond itself, and initial storage.
Compound Channel
The open channel algorithm has been extended to allow a compound cross section with an overbank level where hydraulic and infiltration parameters can differ from those in the main section.
The detention pond model accounts for seepage through the wetted area, rainfall on the pond itself, and initial storage.
Compound Channel
The open channel algorithm has been extended to allow a compound cross section with an overbank level where hydraulic and infiltration parameters can differ from those in the main section.
Base flows can be specified for open channels.
Rainfall Input
KINEROS2 will automatically interpolate multi-gage rainfall intensity input to each routing element based on the spatial relationship between the element's areal centroid and the rain gage network. Data from the nearest three gages which enclose the centroid determine a plane in (x, y, z) space, where z is accumulated depth, for each time, from which the intensity at the centroid is computed. If the centroid lies outside of the network, and certain geometric criteria are met, two gages are used. Otherwise, data from the closest gage alone is used.
Flow Injection
Time varying inflow from sources outside the model, such as measured flows or output from other models, can be injected into the model system at any point.
Application Example
The following example illustrates application of KINEROS to simulate runoff from a 6.3 sq. km semiarid experimental watershed near Tombstone, Arizona. The watershed is characterized as mixed grass and low shrub, with broad swales contributing to a network of incised channels, and is instrumented with ten weighing-type recording rain gages. A substantial portion of the eastern half seldom contributes runoff because of two livestock watering ponds:
Rainfall Input
KINEROS2 will automatically interpolate multi-gage rainfall intensity input to each routing element based on the spatial relationship between the element's areal centroid and the rain gage network. Data from the nearest three gages which enclose the centroid determine a plane in (x, y, z) space, where z is accumulated depth, for each time, from which the intensity at the centroid is computed. If the centroid lies outside of the network, and certain geometric criteria are met, two gages are used. Otherwise, data from the closest gage alone is used.
Flow Injection
Time varying inflow from sources outside the model, such as measured flows or output from other models, can be injected into the model system at any point.
Application Example
The following example illustrates application of KINEROS to simulate runoff from a 6.3 sq. km semiarid experimental watershed near Tombstone, Arizona. The watershed is characterized as mixed grass and low shrub, with broad swales contributing to a network of incised channels, and is instrumented with ten weighing-type recording rain gages. A substantial portion of the eastern half seldom contributes runoff because of two livestock watering ponds:
The first step is to subdivide the watershed into overland flow and open
channel elements, typically using a topographic map. One begins by
determining the extent of the channel network to be modeled, which also
determines the minimal number of overland flow elements. The figure
above shows the minimum number of overland flow elements required to
support the chosen channel network. They can then be further
subdivided to reflect substantial variations in soils, slope, vegetation,
land use, etc. This in turn may require further refinement of the
channel network, as each channel segment can have only two lateral
contributors, one on each side. Each channel segment can support up
to ten upstream elements.
Each element is then assigned appropriate parameter values describing its geometric, hydraulic, infiltrative and erosive characteristics, as well as its connections to neighboring elements.
Each element is then assigned appropriate parameter values describing its geometric, hydraulic, infiltrative and erosive characteristics, as well as its connections to neighboring elements.
When measured outflow data is available, the model is commonly
calibrated/validated by splitting the available data into independent
calibration/validation sets.
