Determination of the direct runoff using the soil conservation service curve number method and its applicability to Lüleburgaz Sub-Basin (Thrace Region)

Abstract

Lüleburgaz Sub-basin, located within the Ergene Basin in the Thrace Region which is designated by the State Hydraulic Works. The Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) Method was used to determine the runoff for the basin. In basins where flow values are not recorded for a long period, the SCS-CN is frequently used to obtain the flow indirectly. For this investigation, the land cover data was sourced from the Corine Cover Database, while the hydrological soil groups were acquired from the ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center for Biogeochemical Dynamics. Daily precipitation data were obtained from Lüleburgaz Meteorological Station for the years 2013-2017. All values were entered as data into the geographic information system-based software and analyzed with raster calculation. The SCS-CN method was employed to calculate the average runoff value for the basin, yielding a result of 157.6x106 m³/year. Meanwhile, at the Lüleburgaz flow observation station, the average runoff was recorded as 135.8x106 m³/year in between 2013 and 2017. It was determined that the runoff measured by the SCS-CN method was merely 1.16 times greater than the runoff recorded at the flow observation station. This shows that the SCS-CN method may be suitable for use in basins with similar characteristics where there is no flow observation station.

Keywords

• Thrace Region
• Ergene Basin
• SCS-CN method
• Runoff
• Soil

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