Flood routing in river networks using equivalent Muskingum inflow

The Muskingum model is a two-parameter model that is applicable for single inflow flood routing. In real world problems, a number of tributaries join the main channel at different locations constituting a channel network. In order to simulate the flood flow in river networks using the Muskingum method, the multiple inflows are substituted by the equivalent single inflow. The present model structure is simple and gives a general form of the basic Muskingum equation. The numerical application of the model was performed using flood events of the upper Narmada Basin (India). The parameters k and x for the single equivalent network inflow were estimated using the finite-difference form of the model. The performance of this model is compared with other reported multiple inflows routing models. Application of the model to an example of single inflow routing problem shows that the present model is efficient in estimating the Muskingum model parameters. Results of the sensitivity analysis of the model parameters shows that a unique set of parameters exists that would result in the best. performance for a given multiple inflows routing problem.