A finite element one-dimensional kinematic wave rainfall-runoff model

This paper introduces a simplified distributed rainfall-runoff model based on the combination of a finite element model with the US SCS method. Excess rainfall is estimated from rainfall, soil and land-use properties according to the SCS. The approximation of river flow uses finite elements, while overland and channel flows are simulated by one-dimensional kinematic wave equations. The finite element algorithm for solving the one-dimensional kinematic wave equations is based on lumped schemes and a third order Runge-Kutta method. The proposed model is applied to estimate the flood flow in the Tra Khuc River Basin. The obtained results show the promise of this method for practical application.