Identifying a Suitable Model for Low-Flow Simulation in Watersheds of South-Central Chile: A Study Based on a Sensitivity Analysis

Víctor Parra,Enrique Muñoz,Jose Luis Arumí

doi:10.3390/w11071506

Víctor Parra, Enrique Muñoz + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/w11071506

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Abstract

Choosing a model that suitably represents the characteristics of a watershed to simulate low flows is crucial, especially in watersheds whose main source of baseflow generation depends on groundwater storage and release. The goal of this investigation is to study the performance and representativeness of storage-release process modeling, considering aspects such as the topography and geology of the modeled watershed through regional sensitivity analysis, in order to improve low-flow prediction. To this end, four groundwater storage-release structures in various watersheds with different geological (fractured and sedimentary rock) and topographic domains (steep and gentle slopes) were analyzed. The results suggest that the two-reservoir structure with three runoff responses is suitable (better) for simulating low flows in watersheds with fractured geological characteristics and rugged or steep topography. The results also indicate that a one-reservoir model can be adequate for predicting low flows in watersheds with a sedimentary influence or flat topography.

Highlights

Hydrological models are a suitable tool for estimating water availability [1] and an effective tool for studying different hydrological processes at watershed scales such as precipitation, infiltration or groundwater storage-release
Conceptual models have the advantage of requiring a lower quantity of input data, but generate a simplified representation of the physical processes that occur in a watershed
Its better performance in Diguillín at San Lorenzo (DSL) could be associated with the volcano-sedimentary influence in the watershed

Summary

Introduction

Hydrological models are a suitable tool for estimating water availability [1] and an effective tool for studying different hydrological processes at watershed scales such as precipitation, infiltration or groundwater storage-release. There are different types of hydrological models, including (i) conceptual and (ii) physical-based models. Physical-based models have the advantage of representing or modeling a watershed in a distributed manner, calculating the complete water balance of a watershed through physical equations and parameters that can be measured in the field. These models require a large quantity of information (data) that is often unavailable or difficult to measure [5]. Conceptual models have the advantage of requiring a lower quantity of input data (e.g., precipitation, temperature), but generate a simplified representation of the physical processes that occur in a watershed. Various recent investigations have shown that conceptual models can provide reliable models (e.g., Skaugen et al [6]; Toledo et al [7]; Muñoz et al [8]; Parra et al [9]); a conceptual model is a reliable alternative for studying hydrological processes in watersheds with limited hydrological information

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