The Ganges and Brahmaputra are the two largest rivers in Bangladesh. Discharge estimations of these rivers from a stage-discharge relationship or rating curve are crucial for flood warning/control/mitigation and water resources development. So far, logarithmic rating curves have been widely used in Bangladesh. The suitability of semi-logarithmic, polynomial and quadratic rating curves has not been investigated. In this study, all four recognised stage-discharge relationships were examined for the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. Unbiased least squares estimators were determined for the segmented logarithmic and semi-logarithmic rating curves. This enhanced their efficiency in inter-and extrapolating discharges from the given river stages. Based on detailed analysis and goodness-of-fit criteria, segmented logarithmic and third order polynomial rating curves were found to be the best for the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, respectively.
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Research Article|
August 01 2003
The Choice of Stage-Discharge Relationship for the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers in Bangladesh
Hydrology Research (2003) 34 (4): 321–342.
Article history
Received:
July 24 2000
Revision Received:
February 03 2002
Accepted:
September 30 2002
Citation
M. Monirul Qader Mirza; The Choice of Stage-Discharge Relationship for the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers in Bangladesh. Hydrology Research 1 August 2003; 34 (4): 321–342. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2003.0010
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