Estimation of the potential energy of floods with different recurrences. Application to the mid-Paraná river

Abstract

On the basis of riverbed and flood plain geometry data, discharge curves, and flood hydrographs, it is possible to obtain a graph showing the potential of a flood to produce geomorphologic changes. Then, by integrating these graphs over time, the accumulated energy of this flood is estimated. In 1982 and 1983, a flood of extraordinary duration occurred in the Paraná river reaching extreme values for both its peak discharge and volume. Another flood with a similar peak occurred during 1992, but in this case, its duration was shorter. The estimation of the maximum and accumulated potential energy for these two events and six statistic floods with different recurrence (2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years), including their comparative analysis, are presented in  this work. The results obtained allow a better understanding of the geomorphologic consequences of floods.