Development of a robust runoff-prediction model by fusing the Rational Equation and a modified SCS-CN method

The objective of this study is to develop a Modified Rational Equation (MoRE) that combines the advantages of the Rational Equation (e.g. simplicity and global acceptance) and those of the standard US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Conservation Service (SCS) curve number (CN) method (e.g. easy parameterization and extensive verification across the world). Herein, the hypothesis is that the MoRE is more accurate, consistent and robust than the SCS-CN method and its improved versions in predicting runoff in watersheds with limited data. The MoRE was designed to have a simple structure that is described by four intrinsic parameters: CN, permanent wilting point, field capacity and saturation soil moisture, and does not include initial abstraction as a variable. An evaluation of 77 USDA small agricultural watersheds indicated that CN of the MoRE has different physical meanings from CN of the SCS-CN method. The MoRE (mean Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient, E > 0.73) performed better than the SCS-CN (mean E < 0.32) and the four improved models (mean E < 0.56) in reproducing the runoff of the study watersheds. Performance of all six models varied greatly between watersheds, as well as between events, but was independent of watershed drainage area. However, the model performances tend to be better for watersheds and/or events with a runoff-to-rainfall ratio of between 0.1 and 0.3 than for those with a ratio outside this range. The MoRE has the most consistent and robust performance.