Runoff Synthesis Using Landsat and SCS Model

Abstract

The land cover requirements of the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) model used to develop volume of runoff for hydrograph synthesis in suburban areas were modified to be compatible with Landsat digital data. Curve numbers obtained with these alternate land cover categories compared well with those obtained in published example problems using conventional categories. Synthetic Flood Frequency relationships computed for a test watershed showed that the conventional approach based on aerial photos agreed well with the Landsat-based approach to land cover determination.