Article: River discharge estimation in the Punatshangchu River Basin, Bhutan using an integrated flood analysis system Journal: International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology (IJHST) 2024 Vol.17 No.2 pp.117 - 133 Abstract: Predicting river discharge is essential for managing water resources, contributing to the economy, and minimising associated hydrologic risks. Despite the manifold importance of a sound understanding of river discharge, the rugged geography of Bhutan makes installing sophisticated water discharge measuring equipment challenging. Using an integrated flood analysis system - a non-structural method - is used to calculate the river discharge of the Punatshangchu River Basin. The two-tank configuration hydrologic model was applied through parameterisation, calibration, and validation and was forced using rainfall data. The maximum observed discharge was 1,532 m3/s and the minimum was 58 m3/s. The validated simulation model showed a maximum discharge of 1,522 m3/s and a minimum discharge of 138 m3/s, respectively. The simulated result overestimates the low flow and underestimates the high flow. A Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.7626 was achieved, indicating a satisfactory level of estimation. The study found that the IFAS model can predict river discharge in a data-scarce environment. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: River discharge estimation in the Punatshangchu River Basin, Bhutan using an integrated flood analysis system

Authors: Damudar Dahal; Parmanand Kumar; Ramesh Chhetri; Rocky Talchabhadel; Chandra Man Rai

Addresses: College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Punakha, Bhutan ' Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Forest Research Institute, P.O. New Forest, Dehradun-248006, Uttarakhand, India ' Kali Gandaki Polytechnic Institute, CTEVT, Ghiring 1, Tanahun 33900, Gandaki Pradesh, Nepal ' Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, El Paso, TX, 79927, USA ' College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Punakha, Bhutan

Abstract: Predicting river discharge is essential for managing water resources, contributing to the economy, and minimising associated hydrologic risks. Despite the manifold importance of a sound understanding of river discharge, the rugged geography of Bhutan makes installing sophisticated water discharge measuring equipment challenging. Using an integrated flood analysis system - a non-structural method - is used to calculate the river discharge of the Punatshangchu River Basin. The two-tank configuration hydrologic model was applied through parameterisation, calibration, and validation and was forced using rainfall data. The maximum observed discharge was 1,532 m³/s and the minimum was 58 m³/s. The validated simulation model showed a maximum discharge of 1,522 m³/s and a minimum discharge of 138 m³/s, respectively. The simulated result overestimates the low flow and underestimates the high flow. A Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.7626 was achieved, indicating a satisfactory level of estimation. The study found that the IFAS model can predict river discharge in a data-scarce environment.

Keywords: integrated flood analysis system; IFAS; model calibration; Punatshangchu River Basin; PRB; river discharge; simulation; Bhutan.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2024.136458

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2024 Vol.17 No.2, pp.117 - 133

Received: 29 Dec 2021
Accepted: 16 Aug 2022
Published online: 02 Feb 2024 *

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Title: River discharge estimation in the Punatshangchu River Basin, Bhutan using an integrated flood analysis system

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