Efficiency of the geomorphologic instantaneous unit hydrograph method in flood hydrograph simulation

Abstract Several methods and models to simulate rainfall-runoff processes have been presented, and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. In the present study, different methods were applied to simulate the rainfall–runoff process over the Kasilian Watershed located in northern Iran, including Snyder, SCS, Trianglar, Rosso and Geomorphoclimatic unit hydrographs. The study was intended to compare the accuracy and reliability of a geomorphologic model with Snyder, SCS, Trianglar, Rosso and Geomorphoclimatic Unit hydrographs. In addition, this study attempted to determine the shape and dimensions of outlet runoff hydrographs in a 68.8 km 2 area in the Kasilian Basin, which is located in the Mazandaran Province of Iran. The first twenty-one equivalent rainfall–runoff events were selected, and a hydrograph of outlet runoff was calculated for each. The peak time and peak flow of outlet runoff in the models were then compared, and the model that most efficiently estimated hydrograph of outlet flow for similar regions was determined. The comparison of calculated and observed hydrographs showed that the geomorphologic model had the most direct agreement for the parameters of peak time and peak flow of direct runoff. Statistical analyses of the models demonstrated that the geomorphological model had the smallest main relative and square error. The study's results confirm the high efficiency of the Geomorphoclimatic Unit Hydrograph and its ability to increase simulation accuracy for runoff and hydrographs.