tilflutning

Tilflutning is a hydrological term used in Norwegian, Danish, and related Scandinavian contexts to describe the inflow of water into a body of water, basin, or reservoir from external sources during a defined period. It encompasses tributary inflows, direct precipitation over the water surface, groundwater seepage, surface runoff from the catchment, and artificial inflows such as diversions or channel transfers.

In practice, tilflutning is measured or estimated as discharge over time, usually expressed as cubic meters per second or as volumes per day. It can be broken down by source (surface runoff, groundwater, direct precipitation) in more detailed analyses. Measurement relies on gauging stations, while estimation often uses hydrological models, rainfall-runoff calculations, and, when data are sparse, satellite or reanalysis inputs.

Tilflutning is a central input in reservoir and hydropower operations, flood forecasting, and drought management. Accurate inflow data support predictions of reservoir storage, determine release strategies for turbines or spillways, and inform risk assessments for floods or water shortages. In planning, inflow design estimates and probabilistic forecasts help in sizing basins and determining long-term capacity needs.

The term is commonly used in Scandinavian hydrology, and in English-language literature the concept is typically referred to as inflow or inflow to a reservoir. Understanding tilflutning is essential for effective water resources management, flood control, and hydrological modeling.