HR: 11:05h
AN: H21G-04    [PDF]
TI: A Paired Basin Study for Hydrologic Prediction in Ungauged Basins
AU: * Hay, L E
EM: lhay@usgs.gov
AF: USGS, Box 25046, MS412, DFC, Denver, CO 80225 United States
AU: Viger, R
EM: rviger@usgs.gov
AF: USGS, Box 25046, MS412, DFC, Denver, CO 80225 United States
AU: Clark, M
EM: clark@vorticity.colorado.edu
AF: Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, 1333 Grandview Avenue, Campus Box 488 University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309 United States
AU: Leavesley, G
EM: george@usgs.gov
AF: USGS, Box 25046, MS412, DFC, Denver, CO 80225 United States
AB: A study has been initiated to assess the transferability of hydrologic model parameters and model structure to estimate runoff in ungauged basins. Twenty basin pairs are currently being modeled on a daily time step. Each basin pair has similar landscape and climate characteristics. A parameter sensitivity analysis was conducted for each basin and sensitive parameters were calibrated for one basin in each pair using an automated-calibration procedure. The sensitive parameters were calibrated in three steps, identifying parameters influencing model response to: (1) solar radiation; (2) potential evapotranspiration; and (3) runoff. A super-ensemble approach to watershed modeling is being used which involves configuring multiple hydrologic models within the Modular Modeling System, each with different algorithms for simulating components of the hydrologic budget. Parameter sensitivities, model configurations, and resulting parameter calibrations will be examined for each hydrologic landscape region. The reliability of hydrologic predictions in an ungauged basin will then be examined by transferring model configuration and calibrated parameter sets to the second basin in each basin pair. The procedures developed will serve as a basis for improvement of hydrologic models, provide estimates of the reliability of hydrologic forecasts, and provide information for regionalizing parameter sets for various model configurations across the continental United States.
DE: 1800 HYDROLOGY
DE: 1860 Runoff and streamflow
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting