Research Paper
RUNOFF ESTIMATION FROM SCS-CN: A CRITICAL REVIEW
Author: Kailash Narayan*,, Sabita Madhvi Singh*, P. K. S. Dikshit**
Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Email: kailash.narayan@gmail.com
*Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Email: sabitamadhvi@yahoo.co.in
**Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Email: pk_sd@yahoo.com
{PUBLISHED RESEARCH PAPER}
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Abstract
One of the popular methods for estimating the depth of surface runoff, water recharge, stream flow, infiltration, soil moisture content, and landfill leachate production from precipitation for a given rainfall event is the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN)method. Of late, several inconsistencies in its soil moisture accounting procedure have been pointed and a more rational procedure suggested. Recently, a modification incorporating an expression for estimation of initial soil moisture store level, a crucial parameter, was suggested. The modifiedSCS-CN perform better than all other versions in all classified applications based on land use, soil type, combinations of land use and soil type, and precipitation regimes.Accurate surface runoff estimation techniques suitable for ungauged watersheds are relevant to areas such as India where hydrologic gauging stations are not widely available. The natural resources conservation services curve number (NRCS-CN) method is one of the most widely used methods for quick and accurate estimation of surface runoff from ungauged watersheds.
