HR: 1340h
AN: H43A-0487    [Abstracts]
TI: A Framework for the Calibration of a Spatially Distributed Hydrologic Model Using Multiple Streamgage Locations
AU: * Bandaragoda, C
EM: cmay@cc.usu.edu
AF: Utah Water Research Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322
AU: Artan, G
EM: gartan@usgs.gov
AF: Eros Data Center, SAIC/U.S. Geological Survey National Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS), Sioux Falls, SD 57198
AB: This paper addresses the calibration of spatially distributed hydrologic models for prediction of stream flow at ungaged locations. Unlike calibrating a model at a gaged basin using measured flow at that location, a model for an ungaged basin must be calibrated using measured stream flow information from other locations. We present an approach that uses initial parameters based on spatially distributed physical information. We assume that the spatial distribution of initial parameters is representative and optimize parameter multipliers using multiple stream flow locations to scale the spatial parameters over the extent of the watershed. Using parameter multipliers for calibration instead of individual sub-basin parameters reduces the dimensionality of the optimization as well as retains the spatial representation of the physically-based spatially distributed parameters. The resulting calibrated multiplier set can be applied to model flow at ungaged locations within the watershed. The framework for calibration presented uses the Multiple Objective Shuffled Complex Evolution Metropolis algorithm (MOSCEM) and flow information from multiple stream gages to calibrate the Geospatial Streamflow Model (GeoSFM). Our calibration scheme utilizes the maximum information available from a network of stream gages. The framework balances the calibration with pareto-optimal sub-basin response considering a range of sub-basin responses within the watershed. Results show that this approach improves the model performance over the spatial extent of the watershed compared to a traditional calibration approach (manual or automatic) of calibrating the model to one downstream stream gage. An example from the Illinois River watershed, USA, demonstrates the application using measured streamflow at four locations.
DE: 1805 Computational hydrology
DE: 1846 Model calibration (3333)
DE: 1847 Modeling
DE: 1874 Ungaged basins
DE: 1894 Instruments and techniques: modeling
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005