A mixture-density-network based approach for finding rating curves: Facing multi-modality and unbalanced data distribution

Abstract

In this paper, the use of MDNs (Mixture Density Networks) is proposed for deciding rating curves. This method is beneficial especially when a single curve is developed when the relation between stage and discharge exhibits hysteresis. The computational analyses performed for the Han River and Mokkye stations showed that the MDN-based method yields more meaningful results than the conventional least squares approach. Of particular significance was the possible identification of the bi-modal characteristics of rating curves under the proposed method.