Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) Method: Current Applications, Remaining Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Predicting runoff in ungauged or poorly gauged watersheds is one of the key problems in applied hydrology. Thus, simple methods for runoff estimation are particularly important in hydrologic applications such as flood design or water balance calculation models. Likely the most well-documented and simple conceptual method for predicting runoff is the Soil Conservation Service–Curve Number (SCS-CN) method. Due to its simplicity and its extensive documentation, this method has became one of the most popular techniques among researchers, engineers, and practitioners, and is widely used in many hydrological applications. However, numerous studies have also shown that the SCS-CN method has important limitations that can reduce the accuracy and increase the uncertainty of predicted runoff. Nevertheless, the method is receiving ever-increasing attention in the hydrologic literature, with many contributions that enhance the current understanding and widen its range of applicability. This is because, even after many years of constant development and research, key challenges remain—for example:

• Improving the SCS-CN method runoff predictions and preserving its current level of simplicity.
• Moving towards a unique generally accepted procedure for CN determination from rainfall runoff data and consideration of spatial variability in CN estimation.
• Investigation of the gains and implications of altered initial abstraction ratios.
• Investigation of the scale dependency of CN values.
• Implementation of various soil moisture accounting systems and CN.
• Extending and adopting the existing CNs documentation in a broader range of regions, land uses and climatic conditions.
• Usefulness of SCS-CN in forest catchments characterized by an increased complexity of runoff forming mechanisms.
• Modification of SCS-CN method to decrease the uncertainty of predicted runoff.
• Utilizing novel modeling, geoinformation systems, and remote sensing techniques to improve method performance and efficiency.
• The application of the SCS-CN method in modern event-based and continuous hydrological models.

Accordingly, the aim of this Special Issue is to present the latest developments in SCS-CN methodology, including but not limited to novel applications, theoretical and conceptual studies broadening the current understanding; studies extending the method’s application in other geographical regions or other scientific fields; substantial evaluation studies; and key advancements towards addressing the remaining challenges.

Dr. Konstantinos X. Soulis
Dr. Andrzej Walega
Guest Editors

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• Soil Conservation Service–Curve Number (SCS-CN) method
• Natural Resources Conservation Service–Curve Number (NRCS-CN) method
• rainfall-runoff modeling
• hydrological modeling
• hydrological response
• direct runoff
• CN determination
• conceptual model
• GIS