Calibration of the Parameters of a Rainfall-Runoff Model in Ungauged Basins Using Synthetic Flow Duration Curves as Estimated by Regional Analysis

Abstract

AbstractThe knowledge of hydrologic variables and related functions at a given river cross section, as well as its time series of daily mean flows, supports the planning, design, and operation of facilities for the use of water resources in gauged river basins. In basins lacking systematic records of water levels and discharges, however, it becomes necessary to develop methodologies that enable the transfer of hydrologic information that is available in other basins. The present study proposes and evaluates a method for the automatic calibration of the parameters of a rainfall-runoff model in ungauged basins, using synthetic long-term flow duration curves (FDCs) estimated by a regional statistical model as the paradigm for the hydrologic processes. In this context, the long-term flow duration curves are used as an instrument to calibrate the parameters of a conceptual rainfall-runoff model. Once the parameters that control the hydrologic synthesis by the rainfall-runoff model are estimated, the continuous...