Calibration of a conceptual rainfall-runoff model for flood frequency estimation by continuous simulation

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Rights statement: Copyright 1999 by the American Geophysical Union.
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https://doi.org/10.1029/1999WR900119
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Keywords

GENERALIZED PARETO DISTRIBUTION, HYDROLOGIC-MODELS, GLOBAL OPTIMIZATION, UNCERTAINTY, PREDICTION, CATCHMENTS, EUTROPHICATION, PARAMETER

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Calibration of a conceptual rainfall-runoff model for flood frequency estimation by continuous simulation. / Lamb, Rob.
In: Water Resources Research, Vol. 35, No. 10, 10.1999, p. 3103-3114.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Bibtex

@article{d835217be34c4f928a9f7f0bf6136db2,

title = "Calibration of a conceptual rainfall-runoff model for flood frequency estimation by continuous simulation",

abstract = "An approach is described to the calibration of a conceptual rainfall-runoff model, the Probability Distributed Model (PDM), for estimating flood frequencies at gauged sites by continuous flow simulation. A first step was the estimation of routing store parameters by recession curve analysis. Uniform random sampling was then used to search for parameter sets that produced simulations achieving the best fit to observed, hourly flow data over a 2-year period. Goodness of fit was expressed in terms of four objective functions designed to give different degrees of weight to peaks in flow. Flood frequency results were improved, if necessary, by manual adjustment of parameters, with reference to peaks extracted from the entire hourly flow record. Although the primary aim was to reproduce observed peaks, consideration was also given to finding parameter sets capable of generating a realistic overall characterization of the flow regime. Examples are shown where the calibrated model generated simulations that reproduced well the magnitude and frequency distribution of peak flows. Factors affecting the acceptability of these simulations are discussed. For an example catchment, a sensitivity analysis shows that there may be more than one set of parameter values well suited to the simulation of peak flows.",

keywords = "GENERALIZED PARETO DISTRIBUTION, HYDROLOGIC-MODELS, GLOBAL OPTIMIZATION, UNCERTAINTY, PREDICTION, CATCHMENTS, EUTROPHICATION, PARAMETER",

author = "Rob Lamb",

year = "1999",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1029/1999WR900119",

language = "English",

volume = "35",

pages = "3103--3114",

journal = "Water Resources Research",

issn = "0043-1397",

publisher = "AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION",

number = "10",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Calibration of a conceptual rainfall-runoff model for flood frequency estimation by continuous simulation

AU - Lamb, Rob

PY - 1999/10

Y1 - 1999/10

N2 - An approach is described to the calibration of a conceptual rainfall-runoff model, the Probability Distributed Model (PDM), for estimating flood frequencies at gauged sites by continuous flow simulation. A first step was the estimation of routing store parameters by recession curve analysis. Uniform random sampling was then used to search for parameter sets that produced simulations achieving the best fit to observed, hourly flow data over a 2-year period. Goodness of fit was expressed in terms of four objective functions designed to give different degrees of weight to peaks in flow. Flood frequency results were improved, if necessary, by manual adjustment of parameters, with reference to peaks extracted from the entire hourly flow record. Although the primary aim was to reproduce observed peaks, consideration was also given to finding parameter sets capable of generating a realistic overall characterization of the flow regime. Examples are shown where the calibrated model generated simulations that reproduced well the magnitude and frequency distribution of peak flows. Factors affecting the acceptability of these simulations are discussed. For an example catchment, a sensitivity analysis shows that there may be more than one set of parameter values well suited to the simulation of peak flows.

AB - An approach is described to the calibration of a conceptual rainfall-runoff model, the Probability Distributed Model (PDM), for estimating flood frequencies at gauged sites by continuous flow simulation. A first step was the estimation of routing store parameters by recession curve analysis. Uniform random sampling was then used to search for parameter sets that produced simulations achieving the best fit to observed, hourly flow data over a 2-year period. Goodness of fit was expressed in terms of four objective functions designed to give different degrees of weight to peaks in flow. Flood frequency results were improved, if necessary, by manual adjustment of parameters, with reference to peaks extracted from the entire hourly flow record. Although the primary aim was to reproduce observed peaks, consideration was also given to finding parameter sets capable of generating a realistic overall characterization of the flow regime. Examples are shown where the calibrated model generated simulations that reproduced well the magnitude and frequency distribution of peak flows. Factors affecting the acceptability of these simulations are discussed. For an example catchment, a sensitivity analysis shows that there may be more than one set of parameter values well suited to the simulation of peak flows.

KW - GENERALIZED PARETO DISTRIBUTION

KW - HYDROLOGIC-MODELS

KW - GLOBAL OPTIMIZATION

KW - UNCERTAINTY

KW - PREDICTION

KW - CATCHMENTS

KW - EUTROPHICATION

KW - PARAMETER

U2 - 10.1029/1999WR900119

DO - 10.1029/1999WR900119

M3 - Journal article

VL - 35

SP - 3103

EP - 3114

JO - Water Resources Research

JF - Water Resources Research

SN - 0043-1397

IS - 10

ER -

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