Ephemeral streams are morphological elements of karstic low-relief areas, characterised by relatively large and flat transects, which occasionally drains runoff, in particular when generated by extraordinary or extreme rainfall events. The main problem related to this streams and affecting the analysis and prediction of flood events in karst semi-arid regions is the almost complete absence of discharge time-series. Floods are relatively rare events for semi-arid karst regions, however they can be really severe and disruptive, causing serious damages to people and infrastructures. This work presents an analysis of the response to rainfall of ephemeral streamsin a karst semi-arid regions of south-east of Italy by an innovative approach. The analysis is based on a 2D simulation model of the behavior of a network of ephemeral streams. The used approach integrates the hydrological and hydraulic models, in order to account first for the dynamic of catchment response to rainfall and activation of the streams, and then for the hydraulic behavior of the streams. Results shows the slow response of ephemeral streams to the rainfall, whereas more extreme rainfall events generate quick and high discharge responses of the ephemeral streams. In addition, modeling results emphasize the non-linearity of runoff generation, in particular for some flow paths, which are biased by the local morphology as well as by the intensity of the rainfall event.

The activation of ephemeral streams in karst catchments of semi-arid regions / Doglioni, Angelo; Simeone, Vincenzo; Giustolisi, Orazio. - In: CATENA. - ISSN 0341-8162. - 99:(2012), pp. 54-65. [10.1016/j.catena.2012.07.008]

The activation of ephemeral streams in karst catchments of semi-arid regions

DOGLIONI, Angelo;Simeone, Vincenzo;GIUSTOLISI, Orazio
2012-01-01

Abstract

Ephemeral streams are morphological elements of karstic low-relief areas, characterised by relatively large and flat transects, which occasionally drains runoff, in particular when generated by extraordinary or extreme rainfall events. The main problem related to this streams and affecting the analysis and prediction of flood events in karst semi-arid regions is the almost complete absence of discharge time-series. Floods are relatively rare events for semi-arid karst regions, however they can be really severe and disruptive, causing serious damages to people and infrastructures. This work presents an analysis of the response to rainfall of ephemeral streamsin a karst semi-arid regions of south-east of Italy by an innovative approach. The analysis is based on a 2D simulation model of the behavior of a network of ephemeral streams. The used approach integrates the hydrological and hydraulic models, in order to account first for the dynamic of catchment response to rainfall and activation of the streams, and then for the hydraulic behavior of the streams. Results shows the slow response of ephemeral streams to the rainfall, whereas more extreme rainfall events generate quick and high discharge responses of the ephemeral streams. In addition, modeling results emphasize the non-linearity of runoff generation, in particular for some flow paths, which are biased by the local morphology as well as by the intensity of the rainfall event.
2012
The activation of ephemeral streams in karst catchments of semi-arid regions / Doglioni, Angelo; Simeone, Vincenzo; Giustolisi, Orazio. - In: CATENA. - ISSN 0341-8162. - 99:(2012), pp. 54-65. [10.1016/j.catena.2012.07.008]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11589/7099
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