Hydrological Simulation of Wadi Al-Kouf, Libya

Abstract

Surface water scarcity poses a serious threat to sustainable development and one of the main restrictive factors of economic growth in Libya. However, the average rainfall records ranged in north of Libya from about 200 to 500 mm, with a maximum of recording on the regions of the Green Mountain where was about 850 mm. Digital Elevation Model (DEM), The Soil Conservation Service- Curve Number (SCS-CN) method and the Watershed Modeling System (WMS, Version 8.1) has been applied to analyze and simulate the surface runoff storms of Wadi Al-Kouf using Hydraulic Engineering Center model (HEC-1). This model was used to simulate runoff volumes and hydrographs. Al-Kouf watershed is located in the central part of Al Jabal Al Akhdar of north Libya. The investigated basin is enclosed approximately between latitudes 32.5° N and 32.8° N and longitudes 21.4° E and 22.00° E. The rainfall data for period (2002-2003) were used for the analysis and estimation of the direct runoff for the study area. Different simulated cases have been studied which showed a good agreement compared with the measured results. The main purposes for embarking on the study determine the amount of runoff and peak flow rate generated from rainfall storms and harvest runoff water surface, by suggestion a set of weirs at various locations in the strategic parts in the study basin may be built to avoid future flooding of the cities and the roads. In this study, we were able to know peak of discharge and volume of each basin outlet and find out where to put weirs. The simulation results reveal that about 190 Million cubic meters of surface water could be harvested.