Sensitivity analysis of main variables present in flash flood processes. Application in two Spanish catchments: Aras and Aguilon

The program Simulation of Hydrological Extreme Events provides a set of functionalities that combined together allows constructing, manipulating, analyzing and comparing the hydrological processes involved in flash flood generation. The program makes use of existing databases of interest in hydrology and available in Spain, such as digital terrain models, coverage of rainfall or curve number. Two pilot watersheds from Spain were selected, Aras and Aguiln, where flash flood episodes have taken place. A sensitivity analysis of the flash flood episodes in response to changes in the main hydrological processes involved has been made, such as spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall, soil moisture status and water flow through channel network. In this work, we found that the antecedent moisture condition is the most influential factor in the magnitude of flash floods produced by the same amount of rain. The temporal distribution of the storm represents the second characteristic in order of relevance. In addition, terrain morphology (specially the slope) is found to be decisive in the results differences obtained.