Thesis (MSc (Physiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / 251 leaves single sided printed, preliminary pages and numbered pages 1-151. Includes bibliography, list of appendixes, abbreviations, variables, figures and tables. Digitized at 300 dpi (OCR), using a Bizhub 250 scanner. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Whistle Watch™, an innovative and commercialised peak flow monitor, inspired this study, with its abnormal and complex measuring behaviour. The Whistle Watch™ latter is an audible peak flow monitor with a threshold-activated whistle as the essential component. The whistle is calibrated for a certain flow, and then encased in a body with a variable exhaust valve to atmosphere. Using the Whistle Watch™, with the exhaust valve pre-set, executing a forced expiratory effort, the audible notification of the whistle would indicate a stable asthmatic condition at that setting. No audible notification would result in the use of medication as a preventative measure. Due to the absence of existing theories and literature on the mechanics of whistles, the Whistle Watch™ was empirically developed. This study therefore, focuses on the characterisation and consequent improved understanding ofthe mechanics ofa whistle, with the objective to monitor pulmonary function in a novel way. During this study, a novel technique was developed to determine the reed activation point, or onset of oscillation, in terms of pressure. This technique was then implemented throughout the study. The initial observation and experimentation underlined the whistle's activation sensitivity towards any irregularities of the reed surface. A statistical spread of reed activation pressures defined the reed's inherent non-linear properties. A high dependence of reed activation towards upstream geometry was noted, and a clarification hypothesis was formulated. The effect of reed dimensions on activation pressure was exposed as a complex unexplored field. Existing mathematical reed theories only accommodate steady state oscillations, whereas the completed study indicated a high sensitivity of the reed activation pressure towards different input envelopes. This sensitivity was encapsulated in a mathematical model, with initial support and proofprovided by a previous independent study. All the observed effects and phenomena had far reaching practical application towards the production and quality control ofthe Whistle Watch™. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Whistle Watch™, 'n inoverende, kommersieel piekvloeimonitor, was die inspirasie vir die studie, deur sy abnorrnale en ingewikkelde meet-gedragskenrnerke. Laasgenoemde is 'n piekvloeimonitor met 'n fluit wat geaktiveer word by 'n vooraf vasgestelde drempel. Die fluit word gekalibreer vir 'n bepaalde vloei, waarna dit geenkapsuleer word in 'n hoofdeel met 'n veranderlike uitlaat na die atmosfeer. By die gebruik van die Whislte Watch™, met die uitlaatklep gestel op 'n voorafbepaalde vloeitempo, word 'n bepaalde ekspirasievlak verkry. Hierdie vlak het 'n hoorbare kennisgewing tot gevolg, wat 'n stabiele asmatiese toestand aandui. In die afwesigheid van 'n hoorbare respons, word medikasie as voorkornende rnaatreel vereis. Die Whislte Watch™ is empiries ontwikkel in die afwesigheid van bestaande teoriee en literatuur ten opsigte van die werking van fluite. Die fokus van hierdie studie word dus geplaas op die karakterisering van die werking van fluite, wat 'n beter begrip tot gevolg het. 'n Nuwe benadering tot die monitering van die pulrnonere funksie is dus haalbaar. Tydens die studie is 'n unieke tegniek ontwikkel om die aktiveringspunt van die riet, of die aanvang van ossilasie in terrne van druk, te bepaal. Hierdie tegniek is toe dwarsdeur die studie geiinplimenteer. Die fluit se aktiveringssensitiwiteit, in terrne van die oppervlak-onreelmatighede, van die riet was duidelik waarneembaar. Die inherente nie-liniere eienskappe van die riet is duidelik waarneembaar in rietaktiveringsdrukke. 'n Verklarende hipotese is as gevolg van 'n afhanklikheid van die rietaktiveringsdrukke relatief tot stroom-op geometrie, gestel. Die effek wat rietafinetings op aktiveringsdrukke het, was blootgel~ as 'n komplekse onontwikkelde gebied. Bestaande wiskundige rietteoriee maak slegs voosiening vir nie-fluktuerende ossilasies. Na voltooiing van hierdie studie is dit duidelik dat daar wei 'n hoe sensitiwiteit van die rietaktiveringsdrukke bestaan, met verwysing na verskillende ekspiratoriese profiele. Hierdie sensitiwiteit word vervat in 'n wiskundige model met toepaslilke ondersteuning en bewyse uit 'n vorige, onathanklike studie. Aile waarneembare phenomena het resulterende praktiese impakte ten opsigte van die produksie en gehalteversekering van die Whistle Watch™.

In cold and snowy countries, water resources management and planning require accurate and reliable spring peak flow forecasts which call for adequate snowmelt estimation techniques. Thus, exploring the potential of snowmelt models to improve the spring peak flow prediction has been an active research area. Snow models vary in degree of complexity from simple empirical models to complex physically based models. Whereas majority of studies on snowmelt modeling have focused on comparing the performance of empirical snowmelt estimation techniques with physically based methods, very few studies have investigated empirical methods and conceptual models for hydrological applications. This study investigates the potential of a simple Degree-Day Method (DDM) to effectively and accurately predict peak flows compared to sophisticated SNOW-17 model at La-Grande River Basin (LGRB), Quebec and Upper Assiniboine river at Shellmouth Reservoir (UASR), Manitoba. Moreover, since hydrologic models highly rely on estimated parameter vectors to produce accurate streamflow simulations, accurate and efficient parameter optimization techniques are essential. The study also investigates the benefits of seasonal model calibration versus annual model calibration approach. The study is performed using two hydrological models, namely MAC-HBV (McMaster University Hydrologiska Byrans Vattenbalansavdelning) and SAC-SMA (Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting) and their model combinations thereof. Results indicate that the simple DDM performed consistently better at both study sites and showed significant improvement in prediction accuracy at UASR. Moreover, seasonal model calibration appears to be an effective and efficient alternative to annually calibrated model especially when extreme events are of particular interest. Furthermore, results suggest that SAC-SMA model outperformed MAC-HBV model, no matter what snowmelt computation method, calibration approach or study basin is used. Conclusively, DDM and seasonal model optimization approach coupled with SAC-SMA hydrologic model appears to be a robust model combination for enhanced spring peak flow prediction. A significant advantage of aforementioned modeling approach for operational hydrology is that it demonstrates computational efficiency, ease of implementation and is less time-consuming. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The hydrograph at the watershed outlet was simulated using the time-area curve concept implemented in a geographic information system (GIS). The goal of this study was to determine if hydrograph prediction accuracy would be improved by accounting for spatial and temporal variation of excess rainfall. Three models with different methods of estimating excess rainfall were developed: the Distributed Curve Number (DCN) model uses a CN for each cell, generating spatially distributed excess rainfall using the Soil Conservation Services curve number method (SCS, 1972); the Uniform Curve Number (UCN) model uses a single "average" CN for the whole watershed, thus generating a uniform excess rainfall; the Phi index model which uses the Phi-index method to generate uniform excess rainfall. With the aid of a GIS, the cumulative flow time to the watershed outlet is estimated for each cell in the watershed and the isochrones of equal travel time are developed. The time-area curve is developed in the form of an S curve. The spatially distributed 1-hr unit hydrograph is derived from the S curve as the difference between the S curve and its value lagged by 1-hr. The models used in this study describe the physical processes and flow mechanisms. They also reflect effects of watershed characteristics (slope, landuse, soil drainage potential) and excess rainfall intensity on the resulting hydrograph at the watershed outlet. Surface flow is divided into channel flow and overland flow based on the upstream drainage area. Flow is routed to the watershed outlet through a channel network derived from the watershed Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The models developed were tested against observed rainfall-runoff data from the 1153-ha Virginia Piedmont watershed (Owl Run). A total of 30 storms were simulated, with statistical comparison of peak flow rate, time to peak flow rate, and the hydrograph shape. The hydrograph shape was compared both visually and statistically. Results indicated that the two models which account for temporal variation in excess rainfall (DCN and UCN) predicted the output hydrograph much more accurately than the Phi model which lacks the ability to capture the temporal variation of excess rainfall. For this watershed, results showed that the spatial variability in excess rainfall which was accounted for by the DCN model did not improve the prediction accuracy over the UCN model which lacks that ability. However, a sensitivity analysis for the effect of the spatial distribution of the excess rainfall indicated that can be a significant effect of spatial distribution on the predicted hydrograph. / Master of Science

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / This work aims to present an analysis through the experiments driven in a watershed to support the future studies that point out to identification and checking the causes that promote the degradation in the semiarid region of the Northeast of Brazil. It was taken two watershed cited in the Escola AgrotÃcnica Federal de Iguatu â EAFIGT located in the Iguatu County, CearÃ, Brazil, It was made the morphometrical characterization, the identification of the vegetation (herbaceous and arboreal) substrates and the evaluation of the sediments transport related to physical aspects with the hydrological processes. The experiment was developed during the first semester of 2008 (rainfall station). The considered morphometrical aspects were: length and sinuosity of the main stream and slope, area, length, form factor, compactness coefficient, concentration time of the watershed, as well as the runoff time. The cover vegetation was estimated account all species present in a sampled space of 10 m x 10 m in a randomized design with three replications in each watershed. From the all computed individuals present in each sampled space, the density of vegetable was obtained by area and the population was estimated in the watersheds. In the evaluation of the sediments transport it was used the following equipments: suspended sediment flow collectors, weir parshall and meteorological station. The station was made in the Universidade Federal do CearÃ- UFC/DENA/LEMA. Results showed that cover vegetation was composed, basically by 23 species, being the most abundant Hyptis sauaviolens (L.) point (Bambural) and Hyptis sp. (Melosa) herbaceous and arboreal shrubby the Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart (Pereiro). The plant density for unity of area was 1,43 individual/m2 and 1,18 individual/m2 for the watershed B1 and B2, respectively. The estimated of vegetation population was 16,395 individuals for B1 and 24,421 individuals for B2, respectively. During the studied period, the air temperature went from 41 oC to 20 oC and the relative humidity went from 100% to 35%. The most intensity rainfall for 5 minutes was 140 mm h-1 in an event of 126 mm. The watershed areas were 1,15 ha and 2,06 ha for the watershed B1 and B2, respectively, with slope 8,7 for B1 and 10,6 %. for B2. The sinuosity of streams were 1,2 for the B1 and 1,4 for B2. The sediment delivery during the collected period was 9,22 and 17,95 kg for watersheds B1 and B2, respectely. The peak of flow registered in the B2 watershed was 740 m3 h-1 while in the B1 watershed was not possible register the peak flow. In spite of the experimental area present a good cover vegetable, it was identified the human activity. Although the number of vegetable species is high, it points out to succession stage. Even with the same characteristic pair watersheds can have different hydrologic behavior. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo a apresentaÃÃo de uma anÃlise a partir de experimentos conduzidos em micro-bacia para servir de suporte a futuros estudos que visem a identificaÃÃo e monitoramento das causas que levam a degradaÃÃo no Nordeste semi-Ãrido brasileiro. Para isso, foi tomado como unidade duas micro-bacias localizadas no municÃpio de Iguatu-Ce, pertencentes à Escola AgrotÃcnica Federal de Iguatu-EAFIGT e efetuada a caracterizaÃÃo morfomÃtrica, a identificaÃÃo dos substratos herbÃceo e arbÃreo e a avaliaÃÃo do transporte de sedimentos relacionado os aspectos fÃsicos com o processo hidrolÃgico. Considerou-se o perÃodo de experimento o primeiro semestre de 2008 (estaÃÃo chuvosa). Os aspectos morfomÃtricos obtidos foram: comprimento dos cursos e da bacia, declividade da bacia, Ãrea da bacia, fator de forma, coeficiente de compacidade, tempo de concentraÃÃo, sinuosidade do curso principal, tempo mÃdio de escoamento superficial. Para a identificaÃÃo do extrato vegetal foi feito levantamento das espÃcies vegetais em amostragem aleatÃria, com trÃs repetiÃÃes para cada micro-bacia no espaÃamento de 10 x 10 m. Computando todos os indivÃduos de cada espÃcie, a partir desses dados foi obtida a densidade de indivÃduos por Ãrea e estimada a populaÃÃo nas Ãreas das micro-bacias. Na avaliaÃÃo do transporte de sedimentosfoi procedida a instalaÃÃo de equipamentos: coletores de sedimentos em suspensÃo no curso dos cÃrregos, calhas Parshall e estaÃÃo hidro-meteorologica. A estaÃÃo foi confeccionada na Universidade Federal do CearÃ-UFC/DENA/LEMA. Foram identificadas no trabalho 23 espÃcies vegetais, sendo as mais abundantes Hyptis sauaviolens (L.) point (Banbural) e Hyptis sp. (Melosa) as herbÃceas e arbÃrea arbustiva o Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart (Pereiro). A densidade de indivÃduos por unidade de Ãrea obtida foram 1,43 indivÃduo/m2 e 1,18 indivÃduo/m2 para as micro-bacias B1 e B2, respectivamente. As populaÃÃes estimadas foram 16.395 indivÃduos para B1 e 24.421 indivÃduos para B2. Durante o perÃodo de estudo a temperatura do ar variou de 20 e 41 oC e a umidade relativa variou desde valores de 35% a saturaÃÃo. A chuva de intensidade mÃxima para 5 minutos foi 140 mm h-1 em um evento de 126 mm. As Ãreas das micro-bacias B1 e B2 foram, respectivamente, 1,15 ha e 2,06 ha, com declividades 8,7 e 10,6%. Os cÃrregos apresentaram-se com sinuosidade de 1,2 para a B1 e 1,4 para a B2. A produÃÃo de sedimentos em suspensÃo coletada para o perÃodo observado foi 9,22 e 17,95 kg. A vazÃo mÃxima para B2 foi de 740 m3 h-1, para a micro-bacia B1 nÃo foi possÃvel o registro da vazÃo mÃxima. Apesar da Ãrea experimental apresentar uma boa cobertura vegetal, a aÃÃo antrÃpica existe. O nÃmero de espÃcies vegetais à bem diversificado, mas aponta estagio de sucessÃo. Mesmo com caracterÃsticas semelhantes bacias adjacentes podem ter respostas hidro-sedimentolÃgicas diferentes.

This thesis is about construction of forecasting models for prediction of flood flows of systems measuring profile Batelov – Dvorce, Dvorce – Ptáčov and Batelov – Ptáčov on the river Jihlava. For forecasting flood flows were used classic hydrological forecasting models. Another forecasting models contained neural networks. Data for construction of forecasting models were used for years 1960 – 2010. Evaluation was made in the end of thesis. The thesis also containes theoretical line of flood flows volume.

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In this study, stage, streamflow, and precipitation data was collected from small watersheds in the Swanton Pacific Ranch for the first two hydrologic years following the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex. The Little Creek watershed was setup for high-resolution data collection with four separate stage gauge sites (Main Stem, North Fork, South Fork, and Upper North Fork) and four rain gauge sites (Al Smith House, Ridgeline, Upper North Fork, and Landing 23). Stage gauge sites were also established at Queseria, Archibald, and Mill creeks. Preliminary post-fire rating curves were developed for the four sites of Little Creek. The Main Stem (MS) and North Fork (NF) post-fire curves showed some flattening of the slope indicating channel filling, while the South Fork (SF) curve displayed a steepening indicating channel scouring. The Upper North Fork (UNF) rating curve did not indicate any shifts. However, at the time of this study the rating curves were incomplete due to limitations in streamflow measurements. Linear regression models were fit to pre-fire data (hydrologic years 2000-2008) to predict peak flows and storm flow volumes. Antecedent precipitation index (API) and total storm precipitation depth were found to be significant predictors while peak 1-hour rainfall intensity was not. Comparison of post-fire observations to pre-fire model predictions indicated that there were increases in both peak flow and storm flow volumes in Little Creek. However, these findings are not statistically significant due to the limited post-fire observations (n

Peu de travaux se sont attachés à estimer les statistiques relatives aux crues fréquentes en sites non jaugés. Celles-ci ont de fait été délaissées par la communauté hydrologique, plus encline à s’intéresser aux événements extrêmes (périodes de retour d’au moins 10 ans) utilisés dans la gestion du risque inondation. Cependant, le régime des hautes eaux ne se limite pas à ces seules caractéristiques. Une bonne connaissance des crues modérées est requise dans de nombreux domaines comme l’hydroécologie ou l’hydromorphologie. La fréquente occurrence de ces crues implique en effet un modelage régulier du lit. Elles concourent ainsi à conditionner les habitats écologiques au sein des hydrosystèmes d’eau douce.L’objectif de cette thèse consiste à caractériser le régime des crues fréquentes, i.e. de périodes de retour de 1 à 5 ans, en France métropolitaine. Pour cela, il est nécessaire de considérer les chroniques disponibles au plan national, et d’en extraire l’information hydrologique pertinente. La constitution d’un échantillon fiable permettant une analyse robuste représente à ce titre une étape importante. La sélection de stations s’appuie sur une analyse des valeurs extrêmes de débit, extraites des chroniques de débit à pas de temps variable (longueur de la série, stationnarité, comportement des distributions statistiques…), ainsi que sur les informations fournies par les gestionnaires des stations hydrométriques. La démarche adoptée consiste à décrire les évènements de crues modérées dans un souci d’exhaustivité, à la fois en termes de débits mais aussi de volumes, selon une analyse multi-durées décrite par les courbes QdF (débit-durée-fréquence), qui fournissent les quantiles de crue (pic et volumes). Le modèle QdF convergent exploité ici permet de réduire à 3 le nombre de paramètres descriptifs du régime des crues.Pour caractériser le régime des crues fréquentes sur l’ensemble du réseau hydrographique français, la démarche intègre la mise en œuvre de méthodes dites « de régionalisation ». Il s’agit de transférer l’information hydrologique disponible aux sites de mesures vers l’ensemble du réseau hydrographique français. Plusieurs approches ont été envisagées. Ainsi, des formulations empiriques établies sur des découpages régionaux ont été mises en œuvre. Fréquemment utilisée, cette technique nécessite de limiter le nombre de stations présentant des enregistrements disjoints afin d’éviter le risque de représenter une variabilité temporelle plutôt qu’un effet spatial. Le respect de cette contrainte entraîne une perte de 30% de stations hydrométriques de l’échantillon initial.C’est pour limiter cette perte d’information non négligeable que la méthode TREK (Time-REferenced data Kriging) a été développée. Cet algorithme de cartographie a été conçu afin de prendre en compte le support temporel des données disponibles en plus du support spatial. Les données disponibles participent plus ou moins aux estimations selon leur période d'observation propre. TREK permet ainsi d'atténuer la perte de données provoquée par le recours à une période de référence commune ou un seuil maximal de lacunes autorisées. Pour répondre aux objectifs de la thèse, les différentes méthodes d’estimation en sites non jaugés sont mises en œuvre et leur efficience est évaluée dans le cadre d’une validation croisée. Cette démarche de comparaison objective permet de sélectionner le modèle optimal pour caractériser le régime des crues fréquentes sur le réseau hydrographique français. / Only a few studies have focused on frequent floods regimes at ungauged locations. Most of works have put their efforts on extreme flood events (return periods of 10 years or more) needed for solving many engineering issues in flood risk management. However, high flows regime is not confined to extremes values. A good understanding of frequent floods is required in a wide array of topics like hydroecology and hydromorphomology. Frequent floods provide many functions, maintaining and rejuvenating ecological habitats and influencing the geomorphology of the streambed, so their distribution must be also known.The main objective of this work is to characterise the frequent floods from a statistical point of view (with a return period between 1 and 5 years) in France. Forming the dataset is a preliminary crucial step to derive both robust and reliable statistics. The selection relies on different criteria, for example related to the quality of discharge measurements, the length of records, the self-assessment of people in charge, and finally on an analysis of extreme values extracted from time series (stationarity, shape of the distributions…).A comprehensive description of frequent floods regimes (intensity, duration and frequency) is required. It is achieved by applying the flow-duration–frequency (QdF) model which takes into account the temporal dynamics of floods. This approach is analogous to the intensity-duration–frequency (IdF) model commonly used for extreme rainfall analysis. At gauged locations, the QdF model can be summarised with only three parameters: the position and scale parameters of the exponential distribution fitted to the samples of instantaneous peak floods and a parameter homogeneous to a decay time computed from observed data.Different regionalisation methods were applied for estimating these three QdF parameters at ungauged locations. Regionalisation methods rely on the concept of transferring hydrological information from a site of measurement to ungauged sites. However these approaches require simultaneous records to avoid that the map is spoiled by temporal variability rather than display truly spatial patterns. Regional empirical formulas were derived but the constraints discussed above lead to discard 30% of the dataset.Time-REferenced data Kriging method (TREK) has been developed to overcome this issue. This alogrithm was developped in order to account the temporal support over which the variable of interest has been calculated, in addition to its spatial support. This approach aims at reducing the loss of data caused by the selection of a common reference period of records required to build a reliable dataset. The performances of each method have been assessed by cross-validation and a combination of best features is finally selected to map the frequent flow features over France.

Conventional hydrological compartmental models have been shown to exhibit a high degree of uncertainty for predictions of peak flows, such as the design floods for design of hydropower infrastructure. One reason for these uncertainties is that conventional models are parameterised using statistical methods based on how catchments have responded in the past. Because the rare occurrence of peak flows, these are underrepresented during the periods used for calibration. This implies that the model has to be extrapolated beyond the discharge intervals where it has been calibrated. In this thesis, hydromechanical approaches are used to investigate the properties of stream networks, reflecting mechanisms including stage dependency, damming effects, interactions between tributaries (network effects) and the topography of the stream network. Further, it is investigated how these properties can be incorporated into the streamflow response functions of compartmental hydrological models. The response of the stream network was shown to vary strongly with stage in a non-linear manner, an effect that is commonly not accounted for in model formulation. The non-linearity is particularly linked to the flooding of stream channels and interactions with the flow on flood-plains. An evaluation of the significance of using physically based response functions on discharge predictions in a few sub-catchments in Southern Sweden show improvements (compared to a conventional model) in discharge predictions – particularly when modelling peak discharges. An additional benefit of replacing statistical parameterisation methods with physical parameterisation methods is the possibility of hydrological modelling during non-stationary conditions, such as the ongoing climate change. / QC 20101022

No description available.