Estimation of Equivalent Rainfall for Ungauged Reservoir Using Satellite-Based High-Resolution Terrain Data

Abstract

Equivalent rainfall refers to the amount of precipitation required to reach a specific water level from the current water level in a reservoir. It serves as a flood forecasting and warning system that allows for the rapid assessment of the reservoir’s maximum water level at the moment of rainfall forecast. In reservoirs where terrain and survey data can be obtained, deriving equivalent rainfall is not difficult. However, without terrain data, satellite imagery and global topographic data are the only available options. In this study, high-resolution topographic data based on satellites were utilized to estimate the equivalent rainfall in the ungauged reservoir, Hwanggang Dam, located in the upper stream of the Imjin River in North Korea. To calculate the inflow into the reservoir, the Natural Resources Conservation Service-Curve Number method was used to determine the effective rainfall, taking into account the antecedent conditions, as the inflow into the reservoir can be changed for the same amount of rainfall depending on the soil moisture content of the watershed.

Keywords

• equivalent rainfall
• ungauged reservoir
• imjin river;
• hwanggang dam
• digital surface model