Houmma et al. (2026) Hydrological drought index based on simulated surface runoff using empirical rainfall-runoff models

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Identification

• Journal: International Journal of River Basin Management
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-19
• Authors: Ismaguil Hanadé Houmma, Abdessamad Hadri, Abdelghani Boudhar, El Mahdi El Khalki, Ismail Karaoui, Sabir Oussaoui, Christophe Kinnard
• DOI: 10.1080/15715124.2026.2735421

Research Groups

Not specified

Short Summary

The study develops a new runoff condition index (RCI) based on empirical rainfall-runoff models to simulate pixel-scale annual surface runoff and assess the intensity of hydrological droughts.

Objective

• To quantitatively simulate annual surface runoff at the pixel scale and analyze hydrological drought conditions through the implementation of a new runoff condition index (RCI).

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Pixel scale (regional analysis involving 13 hydrometric stations)
• Temporal Scale: Annual (with historical reference data from 1975–2001)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Empirical rainfall–runoff models (specifically the Schreiber model)
• Data sources: ERA5-Land reanalysis data and measured streamflows from 13 hydrometric stations

Main Results

• Simulated surface runoff and RCIs showed strong correlations with ERA5-Land hydrometeorological variables (Rmax = 0.93) and measured streamflows (Rmax = 0.8).
• In wet years, the Schreiber model estimated annual runoff at 204.2 mm, closely aligning with the historical average of 202.2 mm (1975–2001).
• During severe meteorological droughts, annual surface runoff was found to decrease by up to 26 mm/year.

Contributions

• Proposes a new quantitative approach for modelling hydrological response and assessing the severity of hydrological droughts using a derived runoff condition index (RCI).

Funding

Not specified

Citation

@article{Houmma2026Hydrological,
  author = {Houmma, Ismaguil Hanadé and Hadri, Abdessamad and Boudhar, Abdelghani and Khalki, El Mahdi El and Karaoui, Ismail and Oussaoui, Sabir and Kinnard, Christophe},
  title = {Hydrological drought index based on simulated surface runoff using empirical rainfall-runoff models},
  journal = {International Journal of River Basin Management},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1080/15715124.2026.2735421},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/15715124.2026.2735421}
}