Abstract
Flood early warning systems are crucial for disaster risk reduction strategies, enabling communities to take timely action against threats. However, the effectiveness of these systems depends on accurate and timely hydrological data, particularly river discharge and water level measurements. Unfortunately, many regions, face significant challenges in obtaining hydrological data, especially discharge data due to outdated rating curves, high equipment costs, and logistical constraints. Water level measurements, by contrast, offer reduced uncertainty and are often more accessible, providing an alternative for hydrological modeling in data-scarce regions. To address these limitations, we developed and validated the Discharge-to-Water Level Conversion Using Monthly Duration Curves (DWL-MDC) method to transform discharge simulations from the GEOGLOWS ECMWF Global Hydrological Model into water level predictions, using ground-based and satellite-derived data from over 7,400 and 11,700 gauging stations, respectively. The results indicate that the water levels generated by DWL-MDC closely align with the observed water levels, especially when using satellite-based measurements, which offer a valuable alternative when ground-based data is scarce. Despite quality issues such as spikes and zero-level inconsistencies in ground-based data and temporal limitations such as short monitoring periods and infrequent measurements challenging satellite-based data, the methodology shows promising potential for large-scale and local hydrological applications. This work supports future efforts in flood forecasting and water resource management, highlighting water level as an effective variable in hydrological modeling.
Degree
MS
College and Department
Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering
Rights
https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Rojas Lesmes, Darlly Judith, "Discharge-to-Water Level Conversion Using Monthly Duration Curves (DWL-MDC): Enhancing the Utility of the GEOGLOWS ECMWF Hydrological Model" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 11097.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/11097
Date Submitted
2024-12-16
Document Type
Thesis
Keywords
GEOGLOWS, ECMWF, Global Hydrologic Modeling, Discharge-to-water level conversion, Duration curves, water level values
Language
english