Work

Flash flood dynamics in arid areas at the Sub-Basin Scale: The Ze’elim Basin, Israel

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Flash floods in arid regions represent a significant hydrological challenge due to their abrupt nature, spatial variability, and the scarcity of high-resolution data. We present a rare sub-basin scale analysis of rainfall-runoff relationships in the semi-arid to hyper-arid Ze’elim Basin, Judean Desert, Israel. A dense network of rain gauges and water level sensors, combined with rainfall radar data was utilized to collect data over three hydrological years. Analysis of 12 flash flood events reveals a strong correlation between runoff depth and rainfall depth at the sub-basin scale, particularly in larger sub-basins, where small variabilities are being absorbed. Spatial rainfall characteristics, such as rain core coverage, were identified as key predictors of peak discharge. Our study highlights the significant role of the spatial distribution of rainfall in determining runoff characteristics at the sub-basin scale. These findings underscore the importance of sub-basin scale monitoring and spatially distributed analysis, offering a deeper understanding of flash flood dynamics and informing more effective prediction in data-scarce arid environments.

Source: Journal of Hydrology

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134581

Authors: Amit Kallush, Davide Zoccatelli, Eran Halfi, Daniel Cadol, Talia Rosin, Jonathan B. Laronne