Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute, Iran
Abstract
Climatic conditions in arid and semi-arid regions, poor vegetation cover and mountainous conditions of watersheds concentrates surface water as floodwater and cause vital and financial damages in industrial, urban and rural areas. Runoff threshold is one of most important factors in accurately estimation of flood volume and intensity for designing and securing constructive projects which saves expenses and leads to optimum dimensions of structures. In this research, rainfall simulator was used to investigate the effective factors on runoff threshold. Rainfall intensities of eight to 40 mm/h in periods of 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes were simulated and runoff thresholds were measured. Acceptable methods for estimation of runoff threshold were introduced based on rainfall characteristics and pedology and geology parameters using measured data and multivariable linear and nonlinear regression methods. Results demonstrated that the rainfall volume and intensity as climatic factors, vegetation cover and slope as terrain factors and soil texture as pedologic factors are the most effective ones in runoff threshold. The relation of independent factors and their partnership in runoff threshold is statistically acceptable for the research area. The results showed a significant correlation (R2=0.98) between estimated and viewed runoff threshold.
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