scholarly journals An Operational High-Performance Forecasting System for City-Scale Pluvial Flash Floods in the Southwestern Plain Areas of Taiwan

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 405
Author(s):  
Tzu-Yin Chang ◽  
Hongey Chen ◽  
Huei-Shuin Fu ◽  
Wei-Bo Chen ◽  
Yi-Chiang Yu ◽  
...  

A pluvial flash flood is rapid flooding induced by intense rainfall associated with a severe weather system, such as thunderstorms or typhoons. Additionally, topography, ground cover, and soil conditions also account for the occurrence of pluvial flash floods. Pluvial flash floods are among the most devastating natural disasters that occur in Taiwan, and these floods always /occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall. Pluvial flash floods usually threaten large plain areas with high population densities; therefore, there is a great need to implement an operational high-performance forecasting system for pluvial flash flood mitigation and evacuation decisions. This study developed a high-performance two-dimensional hydrodynamic model based on the finite-element method and unstructured grids. The operational high-performance forecasting system is composed of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model, and a map-oriented visualization tool. The forecasting system employs digital elevation data with a 1-m resolution to simulate city-scale pluvial flash floods. The extent of flooding during historical inundation events derived from the forecasting system agrees well with the surveyed data for plain areas in southwestern Taiwan. The entire process of the operational high-performance forecasting system prediction of pluvial flash floods in the subsequent 24 h is accomplished within 8–10 min, and forecasts are updated every six hours.

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Efthymios I. Nikolopoulos ◽  
Emmanouil N. Anagnostou ◽  
Marco Borga

Abstract Effective flash flood warning procedures are usually hampered by observational limitations of precipitation over mountainous basins where flash floods occur. Satellite rainfall estimates are available over complex terrain regions, offering a potentially viable solution to the observational coverage problem. However, satellite estimates of heavy rainfall rates are associated with significant biases and random errors that nonlinearly propagate in hydrologic modeling, imposing severe limitations on the use of these products in flood forecasting. In this study, the use of three quasi-global and near-real-time high-resolution satellite rainfall products for simulating flash floods over complex terrain basins are investigated. The study uses a major flash flood event that occurred during 29 August 2003 on a medium size mountainous basin (623 km2) in the eastern Italian Alps. Comparison of satellite rainfall with rainfall derived from gauge-calibrated weather radar estimates showed that although satellite products suffer from large biases they could represent the temporal variability of basin-averaged precipitation. Propagation of satellite rainfall through a distributed hydrologic model revealed that systematic error in rainfall was severely magnified when transformed to error in runoff under dry initial soil conditions. Simulation hydrographs became meaningful only after recalibrating the model for each satellite rainfall input separately. However, the unrealistic values of model parameters after recalibration show that this approach is erroneous and that model recalibration using satellite rainfall data should be treated with care. Overall, this study highlights the need for improvement of satellite rainfall retrieval algorithms in order to allow a more appropriate use of satellite rainfall products for flash flood applications.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 2195-2216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason C. Knievel ◽  
Yubao Liu ◽  
Thomas M. Hopson ◽  
Justin S. Shaw ◽  
Scott F. Halvorson ◽  
...  

Abstract Since 2007, meteorologists of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) at Dugway Proving Ground (DPG), Utah, have relied on a mesoscale ensemble prediction system (EPS) known as the Ensemble Four-Dimensional Weather System (E-4DWX). This article describes E-4DWX and the innovative way in which it is calibrated, how it performs, why it was developed, and how meteorologists at DPG use it. E-4DWX has 30 operational members, each configured to produce forecasts of 48 h every 6 h on a 272-processor high performance computer (HPC) at DPG. The ensemble’s members differ from one another in initial-, lateral-, and lower-boundary conditions; in methods of data assimilation; and in physical parameterizations. The predictive core of all members is the Advanced Research core of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. Numerical predictions of the most useful near-surface variables are dynamically calibrated through algorithms that combine logistic regression and quantile regression, generating statistically realistic probabilistic depictions of the atmosphere’s future state at DPG’s observing sites. Army meteorologists view E-4DWX’s output via customized figures posted to a restricted website. Some of these figures summarize collective results—for example, through means, standard deviations, or fractions of the ensemble exceeding thresholds. Other figures show each forecast, individually or grouped—for example, through spaghetti diagrams and time series. This article presents examples of each type of figure.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yung-Ming Chen ◽  
Che-Hsin Liu ◽  
Hung-Ju Shih ◽  
Chih-Hsin Chang ◽  
Wei-Bo Chen ◽  
...  

Flash floods are different from common floods because they occur rapidly over short time scales, and they are considered to be one of the most devastating natural hazards worldwide. Mountainous areas with high population densities are particularly threatened by flash floods because steep slopes generate high flow velocities. Therefore, there is a great need to develop an operational forecasting system (OFS) for better flash flood prediction and warning in mountainous regions. This study developed an OFS through the integration of meteorological, hydrological, and hydrodynamic models. Airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data were used to generate a digital elevation model (DEM). The OFS employs high-density and high-accuracy airborne LiDAR DEM data to simulate rapid water level rises and flooding as the result of intense rainfall within relatively small watersheds. The water levels and flood extent derived from the OFS are in agreement with the measured and surveyed data. The OFS has been adopted by the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) for forecasting flash floods every six hours in a mountainous floodplain in Taiwan. The 1D and 2D visualization of the OFS is performed via the National Center for Atmospheric Research Command Language (NCL).


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1445
Author(s):  
Erma Yulihastin ◽  
Danang Eko Nuryanto ◽  
Trismidianto ◽  
Robi Muharsyah

Flash flooding is an important issue as it has a devastating impact over a short time and in a limited area. However, predicting flash floods is challenging because they are connected to convection systems that rapidly evolve and require a high-resolution forecasting system. In addition, modeling a case study of a mesoscale convective complex (MCC) is the key to improving our understanding of the heavy rainfall systems that trigger flash floods. In this study, we aim at improving modeling skills to simulate a heavy rainfall system related to flash-flood-producing MCCs. We simulated a heavy rainfall event related to a severe flash flood in Luwu, Sulawesi, Indonesia, on 13 July 2020. This flood was preceded by persistent heavy rainfall from 11 to 13 July 2020. In this case, we investigated the role of sea surface temperature (SST) in producing the persistent heavy rainfall over the region. Therefore, we explore the physical and dynamic processes that caused the heavy rainfall using a convection-permitting model with 1 km resolution and an experiment comparing the situation with and without updated SST. The results show that the heavy rainfall was modulated by the development of a pair of MCCs during the night. The pair of MCCs was triggered by a meso-low-pressure system with an anti-cyclonic circulation anomaly over the Makassar Strait and was maintained by the warm front passing between the sea and land over central Sulawesi. This front was characterized by moist–warm and cold–dry low-level air, which may have helped extend the lifetime of the MCCs. The north-westward propagation of the MCCs was due to the interaction between predominantly a south-easterly monsoon and SST anomalies. This study suggested that the long-lived (>10 h) MCCs (>80,000 km2 cloud shield) and persistent precipitation are reproduced well in the updated SST scenario in the WRF model. This relatively simple technique in the running model provides a new strategy for improving flash flood forecasting by better predicting rainfall as an input in the hydrological model. Our findings also indicated a long-lived MCC maintained by back-building mechanisms from night to morning inland as an exceptional MCC, which does not correspond to a previous study.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Mitterer ◽  
Karl Broich ◽  
Thomas Pflugbeil ◽  
Fabian von Trentini ◽  
Florian Willkofer ◽  
...  

<p>In recent years, heavy precipitation and flash flood events frequently occurred in Germany. The project HiOS (reference map for surface runoff and flash floods) focusses on the analysis of these events using conceptual lumped precipitation runoff models, distributed raster-based water balance models (LARSIM and WaSiM), as well as a hydrodynamic model internally coupled with infiltration routines (TELEMAC-2D). The objective of our research is to analyze which factors and processes foster flash floods, and how they may be represented in models. We show a comprehensive methodological comparison using simulation results of some events in Bavaria. These do not include erosion and log jam scenarios.</p><p>The catchments distributed across whole Bavaria considering a variety of catchment characteristics and varying in size between 1.2 and 164km². All models are driven by 5 minute pseudo-calibrated radar precipitation data of the German Weather Service (YW product), which are available for entire Germany in a 1km² raster. The distributed water balance models are available using high-resolution cell grids. WaSiM uses a regular grid size of 50m, whereas LARSIM is run using 100m cells and an embedded hydrological response unit scheme. All TELEMAC-2D meshes are built with a standard mesh size of 5m in the catchment and 2m in the settled area of interest, while important hydrodynamic structures are resolved more in detail.</p><p>We want to highlight the variety of applied hydrological and hydrodynamic model approaches of runoff generation and concentration, whereby both, simple conceptual and complex physical methods are included. Runoff generation processes are represented using the SCS-CN method, a modified Lutz-Südbayern approach, a Xinjiang-bucket model combined with a Green&Ampt infiltration routine, as well as a layer-resolving Richards model. Beyond that, some of these consider silting up and soil crack formation. Runoff concentration processes are assessed by constant translation, Strickler flow time index method, a combination of Williams and Kalinin-Miljukov method, as well as finally with two-dimensionally resolved shallow water equations.</p><p>As expected, runoff generation is influenced by land use and soil parametrization. However, the amount of created runoff differs a lot changing the method of simulation. Furthermore, the runoff volume reacts quite sensitive to small changes in the preceding saturation conditions. Runoff concentration is influenced by slope, retention capacity of the flood plain, the network of drainages, as well as the formation of polders by water-crossing structures such as traffic infrastructure. Our results therefore clearly show the individual characteristics of extreme events depending on the catchment properties, which are reflected by the demands concerning the modelling techniques. The findings of this study illustrate the importance of improved radar-derived precipitation observations as well as the need for a spatially distributed and layered soil moisture product to enhance flash flood modelling using hydrological models.</p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Pflugbeil ◽  
Karl Broich ◽  
Johannes Mitterer ◽  
Fabian von Trentini ◽  
Florian Willkofer ◽  
...  

<p>Heavy rainfall and resulting flash flood events have been in the focus of research and the public in recent years. The relevance of the topic will become more prominent with increasing temperatures due to climate change. Extreme rainfall events in Germany like 2014 in Münster (North Rhine-Westphalia) or 2016 in Simbach am Inn (Bavaria) and Braunsbach (Baden-Wurttemberg) have also raised public awareness.</p><p>Hydrodynamic models for the simulation of fluvial events have been developed for a long time and are often used. However, the question arises to what extent these methods can be used for pluvial events. Hydrodynamic models allowing precipitation input are therefore well suited for the simulation of pluvial events, as they can display flow paths, depths, and velocities in high resolution. Nevertheless, defining precipitation without infiltration leads to an overestimation of the surface runoff. For this problem, an improved event simulation can be achieved by nesting hydrological processes into the hydrodynamic simulation procedure. In this study, we are using TELEMAC-2D as a hydrodynamic model because it uses precipitation in a spatially and temporally distributed manner and can be used very well by high-performance computing. LARSIM (Large Area Runoff Simulation Model) and WaSiM (Water Flow and Balance Simulation Model) are used as hydrological models.</p><p>The methodology for simulating flash floods can be divided into two important processes: runoff generation and runoff concentration. These are divided according to the strength of the respective model types:</p><ul><li>Runoff generation: SCS-CN value method (TELEMAC-2D), Green Ampt method (LARSIM), layer-resolving Richards method (WaSiM)</li> <li>Runoff concentration: Strickler roughness approach (TELEMAC-2D), Kalinin-Miljukov method (LARSIM), flow time index method (WaSiM)</li> </ul><p>In this study, we examine three different types of couplings:</p><ul><li>(1) The runoff concentration is calculated using the hydrodynamic model, the runoff generation is carried out using the CN value method.</li> <li>(2) The runoff generation in the entire catchment is calculated using the hydrological processes (LARSIM/WaSiM). The runoff concentration is still generated by the hydrodynamic model.</li> <li>(3) The runoff concentration in the upper catchment area is also calculated using hydrological methods, only the urban area is calculated hydrodynamically.</li> </ul><p>We compare the different coupling types with each other using some real flash flood events. The results are presented with the aim to identify which approach is necessary for a good representation of the flash flood event. This depends mainly on the local conditions in the catchment area (e.g.  culverts, land use) and the rainfall event (e.g. rainfall intensity and duration). The findings from this study will be transferred to unobserved catchments in the further course.</p>


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varun Bheemireddy

The two-dimensional(2D) materials are highly promising candidates to realise elegant and e cient transistor. In the present letter, we conjecture a novel co-planar metal-insulator-semiconductor(MIS) device(capacitor) completely based on lateral 2D materials architecture and perform numerical study of the capacitor with a particular emphasis on its di erences with the conventional 3D MIS electrostatics. The space-charge density features a long charge-tail extending into the bulk of the semiconductor as opposed to the rapid decay in 3D capacitor. Equivalently, total space-charge and semiconductor capacitance densities are atleast an order of magnitude more in 2D semiconductor. In contrast to the bulk capacitor, expansion of maximum depletion width in 2D semiconductor is observed with increasing doping concentration due to lower electrostatic screening. The heuristic approach of performance analysis(2D vs 3D) for digital-logic transistor suggest higher ON-OFF current ratio in the long-channel limit even without third dimension and considerable room to maximise the performance of short-channel transistor. The present results could potentially trigger the exploration of new family of co-planar at transistors that could play a signi significant role in the future low-power and/or high performance electronics.<br>


Nanophotonics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (16) ◽  
pp. 4719-4728
Author(s):  
Tao Deng ◽  
Shasha Li ◽  
Yuning Li ◽  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Jingye Sun ◽  
...  

AbstractThe molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-based photodetectors are facing two challenges: the insensitivity to polarized light and the low photoresponsivity. Herein, three-dimensional (3D) field-effect transistors (FETs) based on monolayer MoS2 were fabricated by applying a self–rolled-up technique. The unique microtubular structure makes 3D MoS2 FETs become polarization sensitive. Moreover, the microtubular structure not only offers a natural resonant microcavity to enhance the optical field inside but also increases the light-MoS2 interaction area, resulting in a higher photoresponsivity. Photoresponsivities as high as 23.8 and 2.9 A/W at 395 and 660 nm, respectively, and a comparable polarization ratio of 1.64 were obtained. The fabrication technique of the 3D MoS2 FET could be transferred to other two-dimensional materials, which is very promising for high-performance polarization-sensitive optical and optoelectronic applications.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixiang Han ◽  
Mengmeng Yang ◽  
Peiting Wen ◽  
Wei Gao ◽  
nengjie huo ◽  
...  

One dimensional (1D)-two dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdWs) mixed-dimensional heterostructures with advantages of atomically sharp interface, high quality and good compatibility have attracted tremendous attention in recent years. The...


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