Storm event analysis of four forested catchments on the Atlantic coastal plain using a modified SCS-CN rainfall-runoff model

• MSME estimates of direct runoff outperformed the SCS-CN on poorly-drained catchments. Antecedent moisture condition lowlands was defined by initial water table level. Soil saturation coefficient divided into subsurface and surface runoff. A threshold event rainfall depth found for generation. has potential to assess land use changes climate variability. In this study, we calibrated tested Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) based Modified Sahu-Mishra-Eldo (MSME) model predicting storm ( Q tot ) its soil α as a antecedent partitioning overland shallow components. The calibration performed using 36 events from 2008 2015 160-ha low-gradient forested watershed (WS80) poorly drained soil. further validated without data 2011 two sites [115 ha (Conifer) 210 (Eccles Church)] third site, 100-ha Upper Debidue Creek (UDC), all similar watersheds Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA. able accurately predict estimated tot_pred WS80 watershed, with calculated Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), RMSE-standard deviation ratio (RSR), percent bias (PBIAS) 0.80, 0.44, 16.7%, respectively. By applying same value 0.639 other watersheds, satisfactorily predicted both Eccles Church (NSE = 0.64; RSR 0.57; PBIAS 28.9%) Conifer 0.60; 0.58; 21.3%) model, however, yielded unsatisfactory results -0.13, 2.06, 616.3%) UDC coarse-textured soils, indicating possible association texture. Based analysis pre-event elevation, linking them that describes proportion saturated in profile, it main determining factor These demonstrate model’s which serve reference urbanizing coastal landscapes changing climate.