Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the hydrologic characteristics and to analyze the temporal saturation degree variations of Demirciköy Watershed which is located in Sinop City and subjected to rapidly increasing population. This study is important in terms of preventing the natural disasters such as fl ood, storm water, landslide and mitigation of damages within the frame of watershed planning concept. This study consists of fi eld, offi ce and laboratory stages. In context of fi eld studies, representative soil samples are taken from study area. Within the scope of laboratory studies, soil hydrologic properties are characterized with the determination of soil texture of the soil samples handled from study area. The results of the laboratory tests are utilized as part of offi ce studies with the use of the Soil Moisture Distribution and Routing (SMDR) model in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment considering the meteorological data such as precipitation, temperature and evapotranspiration. Spatial and temporal variation of saturation degree in Demirciköy Watershed is determined with SMDR model. The obtained monthly saturation degree maps show the variation of soil moisture in a year and allow determining the potential runoff generation zones. The results of the study show that soil moisture in South part of watershed is lower than in North part.

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