Chapter 2 - Evaluating the applicability and scalability of bias corrected CFSR climate data for hydrological modeling in upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia

Abstract

Hydrological modeling in Ethiopia is limited by the availability of climate data. Substituting satellite based for ground-based meteorological data could resolve this limitation. This study evaluates the applicability of bias corrected CFSR meteorological data for hydrological modeling in the upper Blue Nile basin for three different sized watersheds: Anjeni (1.13km2), Gilgel Abay (1656km2) and Belles (3474km2). The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used for simulating of the stream flow with ground-based and CFSR climate data. The observed and predicted discharge agreed well using the ground-based climate data (0.75<NSE≤1) and the bias corrected CFSR climate data (0.71<NSE≤0.76). The PBIAS was very good for Gilgel Abay and Anjeni and satisfactory for Belles. The bias corrected CFSR weather data provided similar performance with SWAT model as the ground-based climate data. CFSR data could be convenient data base that could be used for designing water resource infrastructures in both gauged and ungauged parts of the Blue Nile basin.