Analysis of Morphological Characteristics of Collapsed Reservoirs in Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the basic specifications or items of 17,313 reservoirs distributed throughout Korea and in particular, to establish the relationships among the morphological characteristics of the reservoirs. In addition, the morphology index, the storage (S)–area of full water (A)–levee height (H) (S–A–H) relationship, and the storage(S)–area of full water (A) (S–A) relationship were determined for collapsed reservoirs. In this study, histograms for 11 parameters, such as storage capacity, area of full water, levee height, and basin area, were plotted, and the distributions of the reservoir parameters were examined. The morphology index was used to classify the reservoirs based on the depth, and the coefficient values of the relationships of S–A–H and S–A were used to compare S with both A and H or only A. The coefficient value of S–A–H was inversely proportional to S, and when the coefficient value was high, the storage was small. The coefficient value of S–A was proportional to S, and when the coefficient value was small, the storage wassmall. Cluster analysis was performed based on the given items to determine the characteristics of all the reservoirs and only the collapsed reservoirs. From the cluster analysis results, the reservoirs were divided into five groups: A, B, C, D, and E. There were 7,714 (14) in Group A, 6,053 (4) in B, 2,633 (2) in C, 745 (1) in D, and 168 (0) in E for all the reservoirs and collapsed reservoirs (with the values of the collapsed reservoirs in parenthesis). The morphological indexes werelow in the order of A > B > C > D > E, and the coefficient values of S–A–H were high in the order of A > B > C > E > D. The coefficient values of S–A were low in the order of A > B > D > C > E. Based on the clustered analysis results for 21 collapsed reservoirs, the reservoirs were clustered in the order of A (14) > B (4) > C (2) > D (1) > E (0). A reservoir with shallow water depth and small storage capacity has an inherent probability of collapsing. Therefore, the results of this study are useful for reservoir management and operation, as well as for the prevention of reservoir collapse.