Keywords
ground-based measurements, large rainfall-runoff event, flood processes, grand-duchy of luxembourg
Start Date
1-7-2004 12:00 AM
Abstract
Hydro-meteorological data of high spatio-temporal resolution have been exploited since the mid- 1990s for environmental research in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Examples of ongoing field observations are given in this paper, with a special emphasis on the large hydro-meteorological event of January 2003, which generated severe inundations in the floodplains of the main Luxembourgish tributaries (Alzette and Sûre rivers) of the upper Mosel river. The large rainfall-runoff event of January 2003 was well documented through a single hydro-meteorological database collected via dense rain- and stream-gauge networks, set up by three institutions of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (Public Research Center-Gabriel Lippmann, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Agriculture). Different maps, derived from ground-based measurements of the January 2003 flood, illustrate the relationship between the spatio-temporal distribution of rainfall intensities, runoff contributing areas, as well as the propagation of flood waves in the channel network. Of particular interest is a better estimation of flood peaks related to heavy rainfall intensities, as well as an enhanced understanding of the influence of the geological substrate on the rainfall-runoff relationship with high antecedent saturated conditions. However, monitoring streamflow during such a large event, remains a difficult task owing to the uncertainty related to the rating-curves for high water stages.
Monitoring of Severe Floods in the Upper Mosel Basin: the Need for a High Spatio-Temporal Density Experimental Network
Hydro-meteorological data of high spatio-temporal resolution have been exploited since the mid- 1990s for environmental research in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Examples of ongoing field observations are given in this paper, with a special emphasis on the large hydro-meteorological event of January 2003, which generated severe inundations in the floodplains of the main Luxembourgish tributaries (Alzette and Sûre rivers) of the upper Mosel river. The large rainfall-runoff event of January 2003 was well documented through a single hydro-meteorological database collected via dense rain- and stream-gauge networks, set up by three institutions of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (Public Research Center-Gabriel Lippmann, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Agriculture). Different maps, derived from ground-based measurements of the January 2003 flood, illustrate the relationship between the spatio-temporal distribution of rainfall intensities, runoff contributing areas, as well as the propagation of flood waves in the channel network. Of particular interest is a better estimation of flood peaks related to heavy rainfall intensities, as well as an enhanced understanding of the influence of the geological substrate on the rainfall-runoff relationship with high antecedent saturated conditions. However, monitoring streamflow during such a large event, remains a difficult task owing to the uncertainty related to the rating-curves for high water stages.
