Investigation of the hydrologic response of the Xerias torrent basin to the rainstorm of January 1997 using the SCS method

G. Baloutsos, D. Koutsoyiannis, A. Economou, and P. Kalliris, Investigation of the hydrologic response of the Xerias torrent basin to the rainstorm of January 1997 using the SCS method, Geotechnical Scientific Issues, 11 (1), 77–90, 2000.

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[Greek]

On January 11-13, 1997, an unusual rainstorm hit the Xerias torrent watershed and the wider area of Corinth, Greece. The storm caused a devastating flood in the town of Corinth with severe damage and human losses. The damage was attributed to heavy rainfall and runoff and also to human interference in the channel of the torrent and in the floodplain. Quantification of the hydrologic response of the watershed and determination of suitable measures for mitigating flood impacts from similar events in the future was a difficult task due to lack of hydrometeorological data. This problem is faced here by investigating the hydrologic response of the watershed using the SCS method. The analysis has shown that the rainfall in the watershed ranged from 123-358 mm (weighted average 201 mm); its return period was of the order of 1000 years for the central part of the watershed and for 24-hour duration, but much lower for shorter durations. The peak discharge in the outlet of the watershed exceeded 600 m3/s (return period of the order of 100 years) and the flood volume was more than 55% of rainfall. Considering the physical and hydrological characteristics of the watershed and the conclusions drawn, measures are proposed and discussed for mitigating the flood impacts from similar events in the future.

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Our works referenced by this work:

1. D. Koutsoyiannis, and L. Lazaridis, Flood study, Engineering report of the Korinthos sewer system, Study of the Xerias creek, Introductory part, Commissioner: Ministry of Environment, Planning and Public Works, Contractor: Ydroexigiantiki, 122 pages, 1998.

Other works that reference this work (this list might be obsolete):

1. #Fasoula, A., M. Sapountzis and A. Psilovikos, Research of the flooding phenomenon at “Krafsidonas” torrent (Volos, Thessaly, Greece) after the rainstorm of 9th October 2006, Proceedings of the EYE-EEDYP Conference “Integrated Water Resource Management in Climate Change Conditions” (eds. A. Liakopoulos, V. Kanakoudis, E. Anastasiadou-Partheniou and V. Tsihrintzis), Volos, Greece, 171-178, 2009.
2. #Hatzopoulos, J. N., A. Santorinaiou and D. Gitakou, Coordination of public policies for flood protection using remote sensing and GIS technologies for coastal urban landscapes at water territories, American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Annual Conference 2010: Opportunities for Emerging Geospatial Technologies, 1, 270-277, 2010.
3. #Diakakis M, E. Andreadakis and G. Fountoulis, Flash flood event of Potamoula, Greece: Hydrology, geomorphic effects and damage characteristics, Advances in the Research of Aquatic Environment (eds. N. Lambrakis, G. Stournaras, K. Katsanou), Springer, Berlin, Doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-19902-8_18, 163-170, 2011.
4. Karymbalis, E., P. Katsafados, C. Chalkias and K. Gaki-Papanastassiou, An integrated study for the evaluation of natural and anthropogenic causes of flooding in small catchments based on geomorphological and meteorological data and modeling techniques: The case of the Xerias torrent (Corinth, Greece), Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie, 56 (SUPPL. 1), 045-067, 2012.