Areally-Averaged Overland Flow Equations at Hillslope Scale

Abstract

Microscale-averaged inter-rill area sheet flow and rill flow equations (Tayfur and Kavvas, 1994) are averaged along the inter-rill area length and rill length to obtain local areally-averaged inter-rill area sheet flow and rill flow equations (local-scale areal averaging). In this averaging, the local areally-averaged flow depths are related to the microscale-averaged flow depths at the outlet sections (downstream ends) of a rill and an inter-rill area by the assumption that the flow in these sections has the profile of a sine function. The resulting local areally-averaged flow equations become time dependent only. To minimize computational efforts and economize on the number of model parameters, local areally-averaged flow equations are then averaged over a whole hillslope section (hillslope-scale areal averaging). The expectations of the terms containing more than one variable are obtained by the method of regular perturbation. Comparison of model results with observed data is satisfactory. The comparison of the model results with those of previously developed models which use point-scale and large-scale (transectionally) averaged technology indicates the superiority of this model over them. Microscale-averaged inter-rill area sheet flow and rill flow equations (Tayfur & Kavvas, 1994) are averaged along the inter-rill area length and rill length to obtain local areally-averaged inter-rill area sheet flow and rill flow equations (local-scale areal averaging). In this averaging, the local areally-averaged flow depths are related to the microscale-averaged flow depths at the outlet sections (downstream ends) of a rill and an inter-rill area by the assumption that the flow in these sections has the profile of a sine function. The resulting local areally-averaged flow equations become time dependent only. To minimize computational efforts and economize on the number of model parameters, local areally-averaged flow equations are then averaged over a whole hillslope section (hillslope-scale areal averaging). The expectations of the terms containing more than one variable are obtained by the method of regular perturbation. Comparison of model results with observed data is satisfactory. The comparison of the model results with those of previously developed models which use point-scale and large-scale (transectionally) averaged technology indicates the superiority of this model over them