PREDICTION OF STORM-RUNOFF USING PHYSICALLY BASED HYDROLOGICAL MODEL FOR BURHANPUR WATERSHED, INDIA

This paper develops a framework for continuous time scale Rainfall-Runoff modelling that integrates several years precipitation, GIS knowledge, and a hydrological model. The Burhanpur watershed (about 8527 km 2 ) covered in inter-states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra-India, is the domain of the study because it is a region subject to frequent occurrences of severe rains. The model consists of a Rainfall–Runoff model (ArcSWAT) that converts precipitation excess to overland flow and channel runoff. What ever the mechanism placed in estimation of runoff, water balance is the primary force governing the equations. Soil Conservation Services-Curve Number (SCS-CN) method is the governing equation for estimation of infiltration characteristics of the catchment, based on landuse and soil properties. The watershed parameters are developed using spatial and non-spatial data as input for the model to predict a good simulation of Rainfall-Runoff for 21 sub-basins. The simulation gives a moderate results of an average of 75% is predicted when compared to observed runoff at outlet point of Burhanpur watershed. The modelling framework presented in this study incorporates a portion of the recently developed GIS tool that has been created from physically based parameters on a continuous time scale. The results of this research will benefit in future modelling efforts by providing a tool for hydrological forecasts of storm-runoff and watershed management engineers.