Transmission Losses from Ephemeral Stream in Arid Region

Abstract

Quantification of transmission loss was estimated through a mass-water-balance approach that accounts for the influence of tributary-runoff contribution and evaporation loss in a typical arid catchment in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Regression equations were developed to relate the magnitude of transmission loss to the controlling parameters of upstream inflow, channel-flow width, and antecedent-soil conditions. Equations developed to relate inflow to outflow can be used to estimate flood volume or magnitude of transmission loss. The proposed techniques can be used by hydrologists and engineers to estimate channel-transmission loss from wadi beds having similar characteristics. The analysis also provides further clarification of transmission loss phenomena and additional field data from an extremely arid region of the world.