Estimation of parametric flood hydrograph determined by means of Strupczewski method in the Vistula and Odra catchments

Abstract While determining theoretical flood hydrographs, different methods of their construction are used depending on the needs of the problem or the scope of the project. It should be remembered that these methods differ mainly with the principle of the waveform averaging, which may be done either according to the flow or time. The hydrographs may be divided into nonparametric (determining on the basis of registered floods) and parametric (using mathematical description of the flood course). One of the analytical methods is Strupczewski method which has two parameters: responsible for the waveform and specifies the base flow, the flow above which values of hydrograph are calculated. The functional description uses the Pearson type III density distribution. The estimation of parametric flood hydrographs determined by means of Strupczewski method was carried out in the case when a nonparametric flood hydrograph suggested by the author was replaced with a nonparametric flood hydrograph computed using so called Cracow method. There was also made an estimation of flood hydrographs computed for single real hydrographs with the highest registered discharge and for so called typical hydrographs considering the volume. Comparative analyses were carried out for 20 gauging stations in the upper Vistula and in the middle Odra rivers catchments. The analysis revealed that hypothetical hydrographs determined using the Cracow method may be used in Strupczewski method as a nonparametric input hydrograph. Also real hydrographs meeting the criterion of a typical hydrograph due to their volume, may provide a basis for determination of a parametric flood.