ADVANCED PREDICTION OF SEDIMENT INFLOW USING ENSEMBLE RAINFALL FORECAST FOR EFFECTIVE SEDIMENT BYPASS OPERATION

Abstract

 It is essential to manage sedimentation effectively for the long-term use of dams. This study aims to improve the operation of sediment bypass tunnels (SBT) by predicting the flow discharge (Q) and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) using ensemble rainfall forecasts. Additionally, we examined the hysteresis and the behavior of SSC during various flood periods. We found that small floods exhibit high SSC in the early stages of a flood event, while large floods show more complex behavior. By predicting Q and water recovery rate, SBT can be operated without the risk of delays in start time and without the loss of water recovery.