Comparative evaluation of conceptual and physical rainfall\u2013runoff models

R K Jaiswal,Sohrat Ali,Birendra Bharti

doi:10.1007/s13201-019-1122-6

R K Jaiswal, Sohrat Ali + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-1122-6

Copy DOI

Abstract

The design of water resource structures needs long-term runoff data which is always a problem in developing countries due to the involvement of huge cost of operation and maintenance of gauge discharge sites. Hydrological modelling provides a solution to this problem by developing relationship between different hydrological processes. In the past, several models have been propagated to model runoff using simple empirical relationships between rainfall and runoff to complex physical model using spatially distributed information and time series data of climatic variables. In the present study, an attempt has been made to compare two conceptual models including TANK and Australian water balance model (AWBM) and a physically distributed but lumped on HRUs scale SWAT model for Tandula basin of Chhattisgarh (India). The daily data of reservoirs levels, evaporation, seepage and releases were used in a water balance model to compute runoff from the catchment for the period of 24 years from 1991 to 2014. The rainfall runoff library (RRL) tool was used to set up TANK model and AWBM using auto and genetic algorithm, respectively, and SWAT model with SWATCUP application using sequential uncertainty fitting as optimization techniques. Several tests for goodness of fit have been applied to compare the performance of conceptual and semi-distributed physical models. The analysis suggested that TANK model of RRL performed most appropriately among all the models applied in the analysis; however, SWAT model having spatial and climatic data can be used for impact assessment of change due to climate and land use in the basin.

Highlights

The rainfall–runoff modelling is an important and useful tool for hydrological research, water engineering and environment application
The physical models may be capable of considering the spatial variability of land use, slope, soil and climate to deal with the hydrological processes within the watershed semi- or fully distributed in nature
The rainfall runoff library (RRL) library has been used to set up conceptual models like TANK model and Australian water balance model (AWBM), while the SWAT model in Arc GIS and SWAT-CUP application have been employed as a physical model for Tandula basin

Summary

Introduction

The rainfall–runoff modelling is an important and useful tool for hydrological research, water engineering and environment application. The knowledge-based or data-driven hydrological models were developed and used by researchers to extend runoff records and address modelling issues (Kar et al 2015, 2017). The rainfall–runoff relationships in metric models are essentially based on observations and without characterizing different processes involved in the hydrologic system (Kokkonen and Jakeman 2001). The metric models are observation-based models developed using observed runoff and catchment characteristics without considering much of hydrological processes. The physical models represent different hydrological processes through mass, momentum and energy conservation equations. The physical models may be capable of considering the spatial variability of land use, slope, soil and climate to deal with the hydrological processes within the watershed semi- or fully distributed in nature

Methods

Results

Conclusion