U.S.-Taiwan Cooperative Research: Integrated Computer Models for River Flow and Application to Tan Sui River

University Of Iowa, Iowa City IA

Investigators

Abstract

0000213 Patel This is a three year joint research project proposed by Dr. Virendra Patel, the Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research (IIHR), University of Iowa, Dr. W-F Tsai of the National Science Council's National Center for High-Performance Computing, and Dr. C. L. Yen of the National Taiwan University. This project seeks to develop 3-D models to forecast river floods by integrating state-of-the-art prediction methods for typhoons, rainfall, watershed run-off and river flows and using advanced computer and communication technology. Both U.S. and Taiwan groups are complimentary in resources and know-how. The U.S. team (IIHR) has a powerful computer model and the know-how to make it work in real-world applications. The NCHC has the computing resources in both hardware and manpower. Developing a flood forecast system for a river system such as the Tan Sui River is important since this river is characteristic of subtropical rivers on island environments. Flash floods are a major issue and are difficult to forecast. This project could help us to understand the nature of the river-flooding in subtropical areas and how to mitigate it. This project is jointly supported by the NSF and the National Science Council of Taiwan.