Constant Time Interval Hortonian Infiltration Model

Abstract

Natural rainfall rate patterns are highly variable. Existing Hortonian infiltration models are not designed specifically to work with such rainfall rate patterns. Thus, for practical applications the models have to be modified to work with the naturally occurring variable‐pattern hyetographs. In this paper, a Hortonian infiltration model, developed specifically to work with the variable rainfall‐rate patterns and constant time intervals of naturally occurring hyetographs, is described. The structure of the model is hypothesized based on a physical appreciation of the Hortonian infiltration process. It is then refined through repeated testing to simulate the overland flow data associated with the process. A numerical infiltration model has been used to simulate the overland‐flow data used in the testing. A three‐parameter conceptual model was able to reasonably simulate the numerically simulated overland‐flow data due to 10 observed hyetographs falling on three different topsoils. The most important parameter in the model is the saturated hydraulic conductivity