Improved River Forecasting Techniques: A One-Dimensional Unsteady Flow Model for the Red River of the North.
Location
CSU
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Donald Friend
Mentor's Department
Geography
Mentor's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
The 1997 flood of the Red River of the North illustrated the shortcomings of traditional empirical river routings and forecasting models in predicting river levels at flows and levels above those previously recorded. The Red River of the North is characterized by a low gradient, which contributes to a variable loop rating curve of peak flows at specific gaged locations. As the river rose out of its banks, physical obstructions began to influence the discharge and stage of the river at discrete locations. In the 1997 flood, nowhere was this more evident than in the communities of Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Bridges, buildings, and roadway embankments became obstructions to the river flow as the Red River breached the levees in the communities and continued rising to unprecedented levels. The National Weather Service is implementing a one-dimensional unsteady flow forecasting model (FLDWAV) for the broad flat floodplain and the physical obstruction of flow by bridges. Comparison of model calibration results with hydrographs from the 1997 flood demonstrate the improved predictive capabilities of the unsteady flow model.
Improved River Forecasting Techniques: A One-Dimensional Unsteady Flow Model for the Red River of the North.
CSU
The 1997 flood of the Red River of the North illustrated the shortcomings of traditional empirical river routings and forecasting models in predicting river levels at flows and levels above those previously recorded. The Red River of the North is characterized by a low gradient, which contributes to a variable loop rating curve of peak flows at specific gaged locations. As the river rose out of its banks, physical obstructions began to influence the discharge and stage of the river at discrete locations. In the 1997 flood, nowhere was this more evident than in the communities of Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Bridges, buildings, and roadway embankments became obstructions to the river flow as the Red River breached the levees in the communities and continued rising to unprecedented levels. The National Weather Service is implementing a one-dimensional unsteady flow forecasting model (FLDWAV) for the broad flat floodplain and the physical obstruction of flow by bridges. Comparison of model calibration results with hydrographs from the 1997 flood demonstrate the improved predictive capabilities of the unsteady flow model.
