Multi-site Calibration Research Articles

Quantifying the space – time variability of water balance components in an agricultural basin using a process-based hydrologic model and the Budyko framework

Process-based distributed hydrologic models (PBHMs), which link watershed characteristics with process representations, are useful tools to evaluate distributed and ensemble hydrologic responses of a basin to climate inputs. However, complexities associated with parameter interactions and their spatial heterogeneity may introduce high uncertainty in the parameterization of a PBHM. The Budyko curve framework offers an effective approach for evaluating the variability in the water balance components from a PBHM and can be used to explore the link between model performance with parameter heterogeneities and the Budyko curve characteristics. In this work a PBHM was calibrated using a multi-site calibration strategy, which was built upon a step-wise calibration algorithm combined with multiple calibration targets including river discharges, evapotranspiration and ground water heads, to reduce compensation errors caused by component interactions. This strategy was used for the Kalamazoo River watershed in Michigan, USA, with obvious physiographic and land surface heterogeneities. The Budyko framework characterized the water balance variability at the sub-watershed scale; two empirical methods were used to evaluate the calibrated PBHM parameters using Budyko-estimated values and to assess the physical relevance of the parameters. The relative infiltration capacity is found to play an important role in affecting the spatial variability of the annual water balance of this watershed. This work brings out the importance of optimizing calibration strategies by linking catchment heterogeneities with processes reasoning in order to understand the underlying hydrologic controls.

Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Streamflow, Sediment and Nutrient Loadings of the Minija River (Lithuania): A Hillslope Watershed Discretization Application with High-Resolution Spatial Inputs

In this paper we focus on the model setup scheme for medium-size watershed with high resolution, multi-site calibration, and present results on the possible changes of the Minija River in flow, sediment load, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) load in the near-term (up to 2050) and long-term (up to 2099) in the light of climate change (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios) under business-as-usual conditions. The SWAT model for the Minija River basin was setup by using the developed Matlab (SWAT-LAB) scripts for a highly customized watershed configuration that addresses the specific needs of the project objective. We performed the watershed delineation by combining sub-basin and hillslope discretization schemes. We defined the HRUs by aggregating the topographic, land use, soil, and administrative unit features of the area. A multisite manual calibration approach was adopted to calibrate and validate the model, achieving good to satisfactory results across different sub-basins of the area for flow, sediments and nutrient loads (TP and TN). After completing the climate change scenario calculations, we found that a net decrease of flow (up to 35%), TN (up to 34%), and TP (up to 50%) loads are projected under both scenarios. Furthermore, we explored the changes in the streamflow composition and provide new insight on the reason of projected nutrient load decrease.

Predicting dissolved reactive phosphorus in tile-drained catchments using a modified SWAT model

Phosphorus (P) is mainly leached by subsurface transport pathways in tile-drained landscapes. In this study, we modified the SWAT model (SWAT-P) by incorporating dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) losses from drainage water and the deep aquifer. SWAT-P was tested in a tile-drained lowland catchment using a multi-site calibration and validation approach. SWAT reached a good statistical performance regarding discharge for all sub-catchments and a daily time step. As discharge was dominated by subsurface flow, we optimized DRP concentrations for the drainage water (SWAT-P), the shallow aquifer (SWAT, SWAT-P), and the deep aquifer (SWAT-P) and left other P-related parameters at their default settings, since they did not influence the model output. DRP losses were simulated at a monthly time step using SWAT and SWAT-P. The predictive power was weaker compared to discharge for both SWAT and SWAT-P. Nevertheless, SWAT-P performed considerably better than SWAT. Additionally, calibrated DRP concentrations were unrealistically high for SWAT, whereas calibrated DRP concentrations reflected the prevailing conditions in the region using SWAT-P. The results indicated improved prediction accuracy for DRP losses into streams by using SWAT-P, as well as a roughly realistic estimation of DRP losses from tile drainage water. Further research is necessary to account for the temporal DRP concentration dynamics in drainage water. SWAT-P is ready to use after defining DRP concentrations in tile drainage water and the deep aquifer in the SWAT-P input files. In addition, the model output was extended in SWAT-P to visualize DRP losses from drainage water and from the deep aquifer.

Multi-site calibration and validation of SWAT with satellite-based evapotranspiration in a data-sparse catchment in southwestern Nigeria

Abstract. The main objective of this study was to calibrate and validate the eco-hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) with satellite-based actual evapotranspiration (AET) data from the Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model (GLEAM_v3.0a) and from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Global Evaporation (MOD16) for the Ogun River Basin (20 292 km2) located in southwestern Nigeria. Three potential evapotranspiration (PET) equations (Hargreaves, Priestley–Taylor and Penman–Monteith) were used for the SWAT simulation of AET. The reference simulations were the three AET variables simulated with SWAT before model calibration took place. The sequential uncertainty fitting technique (SUFI-2) was used for the SWAT model sensitivity analysis, calibration, validation and uncertainty analysis. The GLEAM_v3.0a and MOD16 products were subsequently used to calibrate the three SWAT-simulated AET variables, thereby obtaining six calibrations–validations at a monthly timescale. The model performance for the three SWAT model runs was evaluated for each of the 53 subbasins against the GLEAM_v3.0a and MOD16 products, which enabled the best model run with the highest-performing satellite-based AET product to be chosen. A verification of the simulated AET variable was carried out by (i) comparing the simulated AET of the calibrated model to GLEAM_v3.0b AET, which is a product that has different forcing data than the version of GLEAM used for the calibration, and (ii) assessing the long-term average annual and average monthly water balances at the outlet of the watershed. Overall, the SWAT model, composed of the Hargreaves PET equation and calibrated using the GLEAM_v3.0a data (GS1), performed well for the simulation of AET and provided a good level of confidence for using the SWAT model as a decision support tool. The 95 % uncertainty of the SWAT-simulated variable bracketed most of the satellite-based AET data in each subbasin. A validation of the simulated soil moisture dynamics for GS1 was carried out using satellite-retrieved soil moisture data, which revealed good agreement. The SWAT model (GS1) also captured the seasonal variability of the water balance components at the outlet of the watershed. This study demonstrated the potential to use remotely sensed evapotranspiration data for hydrological model calibration and validation in a sparsely gauged large river basin with reasonable accuracy. The novelty of the study is the use of these freely available satellite-derived AET datasets to effectively calibrate and validate an eco-hydrological model for a data-scarce catchment.

The transferability of SWMM model parameters between green roofs with similar build-up

While extensive green roofs are popular measures for reducing and delaying stormwater runoff, design tools are needed to better predict roof performance based on material properties, geometry and climate. This paper investigates the EPA’s Storm Water Management Model’s (SWMM) green roof module for this purpose based on observed runoff from several roofs with different build-ups, geometry, and climates. First, the general model performance was investigated and secondly transferability of model parameters for similar roofs but different geometries and climates was tested. Individual models reproduced runoff hydrographs well (NSE 0.56–0.96), while the long-term modelling showed relatively large volume errors most likely due to insufficient representation of evapotranspiration in the model. Model parameters obtained at one site were only partly transferable to similar roof build-up at other sites. Transferability was better from models calibrated with wetter climates and higher intensity events to drier climates, than the opposite way. Multi-site calibration resulted in model parameters performing well for most sites, giving model parameters that could be used for the design of similar roof build-ups in comparable climates. However, large variability in obtained model parameters, large volume errors and the fact that the calibrated model parameters did not directly correspond to measured material properties, place concerns on the generality of the SWMM green roof module as a design tool.

Hydrosedimentological modeling with SWAT using multi-site calibration in nested basins with reservoirs

ABSTRACT Calibration and validation of hydrosedimentological models, usually performed at the outlet of a single basin, does not always correctly represent the hydrosedimentological processes in the different subdivisions of dammed river systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate simple calibration techniques (watershed outlet) and multi-site calibration (watershed outlet and internal reservoirs) with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool - SWAT model, using two nested basins in the southern region of Brazil. Three modeling procedures were analyzed, adjusting the hydrological and sedimentological parameters of the watershed and the reservoirs. It was found that (a) the simplest calibration does not correctly represent the processes in reservoirs; (b) the multi-site calibration provided a better simulation of the hydrosedimentological dynamics of the nested basins; and (c) parameterizations of the SWAT reservoir module have limitations in the context of the study area. The results showed that the multi-site calibration in watershed with reservoirs is more appropriate.

Two calibration methods for modeling streamflow and suspended sediment with the swat model

The proper estimation of streamflow (Q) and suspended sediment (SS) have important implications for sustainable water management. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a distributed, physically-based and dynamic model that integrates water quantity and quality routines. SWAT is considered an effective tool for assessing water and soil resources problems in a worldwide range of environmental conditions; however every hydrological model application is limited by the choices made in the calibration process. The aim of this paper was to assess the differences between the sequential and simultaneous calibration methods when simulating streamflow and suspended sediment with SWAT. We used the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting (SUFI-2) combined with SWAT for: (i) sensitivity analysis; (ii) parameter calibration using Q and SS data with a combined multi-site and multi-objective approaches; and (iii) evaluation of the differences in the estimated uncertainty of both calibration methods. Our results suggest that the simultaneous calibration was more accurate, especially for SS values with King-Gupta Efficiency (KGE) objective function. The simultaneous calibration was less time consuming and the sensitivity analysis indicated that it needed less parameters in the calibration process. The multi-site calibration method improved the model results in 3 out of 4 simulations of suspended sediment in the basin outlet.

A TOPSIS-Based Multicriteria Approach to the Calibration of a Basin-Scale SWAT Hydrological Model

Calibration is one of the most important steps of hydrological modeling and applications. Observed data availability and model parameterization are two important factors affecting the calibration efficiency of the models. This study focuses on the assessment of the effects of the number and location of sites (LoS), number of parameters (NoP), and the calibration method (CM) on the performance of the SWAT hydrological model of a basin. Accordingly, twelve different models with respect to LoS, NoP, and CM are built for the Sirwan River Basin in Iran. NS, R-factor and P-factor efficiency criteria are then used to evaluate how well the models perform both in calibration and validation stages. In order to prioritize the models, TOPSIS multi-criteria decision analysis approach is applied to aggregate different efficiency criteria and to discriminate between the models. Results show the usefulness of the proposed MCDA-based approach to rank different alternatives (settings) of model calibration. Additionally, multi-site calibration is not always better than single-site calibration, and the locations of the sites included in the calibration procedure are also important in this respect.

Hydrological response of Chamelia watershed in Mahakali Basin to climate change

Chamelia (catchment area = 1603 km2), a tributary of Mahakali, is a snow-fed watershed in Western Nepal. The watershed has 14 hydropower projects at various stages of development. This study simulated the current and future hydrological system of Chamelia using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The model was calibrated for 2001–2007; validated for 2008–2013; and then applied to assess streamflow response to projected future climate scenarios. Multi-site calibration ensures that the model is capable of reproducing hydrological heterogeneity within the watershed. Current water balance above the Q120 hydrological station in the forms of precipitation, actual evapotranspiration (AET), and net water yield are 2469 mm, 381 mm and 1946 mm, respectively. Outputs of five Regional Climate Models (RCMs) under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs) for three future periods were considered for assessing climate change impacts. An ensemble of bias-corrected RCM projections showed that maximum temperature under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5) scenario for near-, mid-, and far-futures is projected to increase from the baseline by 0.9 °C (1.1 °C), 1.4 °C (2.1 °C), and 1.6 °C (3.4 °C), respectively. Minimum temperature for the same scenarios and future periods are projected to increase by 0.9 °C (1.2 °C), 1.6 °C (2.5 °C), and 2.0 °C (3.9 °C), respectively. Average annual precipitation under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5) scenario for near-, mid-, and far-futures are projected to increase by 10% (11%), 10% (15%), and 13% (15%), respectively. Based on the five RCMs considered, there is a high consensus for increase in temperature but higher uncertainty with respect to precipitations. Under these projected changes, average annual streamflow was simulated to increase gradually from the near to far future under both RCPs; for instance, by 8.2% in near-, 12.2% in mid-, and 15.0% in far-future under RCP4.5 scenarios. The results are useful for planning water infrastructure projects, in Chamelia and throughout the Mahakali basin, to ensure long-term sustainability under climate change.

Consistent Calibration of VIRR Reflective Solar Channels Onboard FY-3A, FY-3B, and FY-3C Using a Multisite Calibration Method

The FengYun-3 (FY-3) Visible Infrared Radiometer (VIRR), along with its predecessor, the Multispectral Visible Infrared Scanning Radiometer (MVISR), onboard the FY-1C and FY-1D, has collected continuous daily global observations for 18 years. Achieving accurate and consistent calibration for VIRR reflective solar bands (RSBs) has been challenging, as there is no onboard calibrator and the frequency of in situ vicarious calibration is limited. In this study, a new set of reflectance calibration coefficients were derived for RSBs of the FY-3A, FY-3B, and FY-3C VIRRs using a multisite (MST) calibration method. This method is an extension of a previous MST calibration method, which relies on radiative transfer modeling over the multiple stable earth sites, and no synchronous in situ measurements are needed; hence, it can be used to update the VIRR calibration on a daily basis. The on-orbit radiometric changes of the VIRR onboard the FY-3 series were assessed based on analyses of new sets of calibration slopes. Then, all recalibrated VIRR reflectance data over Libya 4, the most frequently used stable Earth site, were compared with those provided from the Level 1B (L1B) product. Additional validation was performed by comparing the recalibrated VIRR data with those derived from radiative transfer simulations using measurements from automatic calibration instruments in Dunhuang. The results indicate that the radiometric response changes of the VIRRs onboard FY-3A and FY-3B were larger than those of FY-3C VIRR and were wavelength dependent. The current approach can provide consistent VIRR reflectances across different FY-3 satellite platforms. After recalibration, differences in top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance data across different VIRRs during the whole lifetime decreased from 5–10% to less than 3%. The comparison with the automatic calibration method indicates that MST calibration shows good accuracy and lower temporal oscillations.

Robust Parameter Set Selection for a Hydrodynamic Model Based on Multi-Site Calibration Using Multi-Objective Optimization and Minimax Regret Approach

A robust parameter set (ROPS) selection method for a hydrodynamic flow model was proposed based on the multi-site calibration by combining multi-objective optimization with the minimax regret approach (MRA). The multi-site calibration was defined by a multi-objective optimization problem for which individual objective functions were used to measure errors at each site. In the hydrodynamic model, coefficients of power functions that show the changing relationships between Manning’s roughness and discharge in each sub-reach were optimized by minimizing the residuals of multiple sites. Different combinations of weights were assigned to sites in the application of an aggregation approach to solve the multi-objective function, and the corresponding Pareto optimal parameter sets were assumed as the ROPS candidates. All performance measures to individual Pareto optimal parameter sets were calculated and the ROPS was determined using MRA. The set which has the lowest maximum regret obtained by averaging the results from calibration and validation was determined as the only ROPS. It was found that the estimated variable roughness and the corresponding computed water levels varied considerably depending on the weights assigned to sites. Using the proposed method, the task to assign proper weights on multiple sites can be easily achieved for multi-site calibration problems. This study provides a multi-criteria decision making method to choose a ROPS that has the lowest potential regret among various alternatives for hydrologic and hydraulic models.

Event-based model calibration approaches for selecting representative distributed parameters in semi-urban watersheds

Abstract The objective of this study is to propose an event-based calibration approach for selecting representative semi-distributed hydrologic model parameters and to enhance peak flow prediction at multiple sites of a semi-urban catchment. The performance of three multi-site calibration approaches (multi-site simultaneous (MS-S), multi-site average objective function (MS-A) and multi-event multi-site (ME-MS)) and a benchmark at-catchment outlet (OU) calibration method, are compared in this study. Additional insightful contributions include assessing the nature of the spatio-temporal parameter variability among calibration events and developing an advanced event-based calibration approach to identify skillful model parameter-sets. This study used a SWMM5 hydrologic model in the Humber River Watershed located in Southern Ontario, Canada. For MS-S and OU calibration methods, the multi-objective calibration formulation is solved with the Pareto Archived Dynamically Dimensioned Search (PA-DDS) algorithm. For the MS-A and ME-MS methods, the single objective calibration formulation is solved with the Dynamically Dimensioned Search (DDS) algorithm. The results indicate that the MS-A calibration approach achieved better performance than other considered methods. Comparison between optimized model parameter sets showed that the DDS optimization in MS-A approach improved the model performance at multiple sites. The spatial and temporal variability analysis indicates a presence of uncertainty on sensitive parameters and most importantly on peak flow responses in an event-based calibration process. This finding implied the need to evaluate potential model parameters sets with a series of calibration steps as proposed herein. The proposed calibration and optimization formulation successfully identified representative model parameter set, which is more skillful than what is attainable when using simultaneous multi-site (MS-S), multi-event multi-site (MS-ME) or at basin outlet (OU) approach.

Significance of multi-site calibration for agent-based transmission models

ABSTRACTSimulation modeling has been leveraged for a variety of health care applications. Data used to inform most parameters for these models are typically collected from a single site, thus limiting the generalizability of the results and insights for other populations. In this study, we explore the impact of using data collected from multiple sites to parameterize an agent-based model of multidrug-resistant organisms in an intensive care unit setting. We show that using single sites to inform model parameters can be highly variable, and that using multiple sites can significantly improve the precision of these estimates and reduce the associated aggregated model error.

高分一号宽视场成像仪多场地高频次辐射定标

高分一号宽视场成像仪多场地高频次辐射定标

Estimation of flow regime for a spatially varied Himalayan watershed using improved multi-site calibration of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model

Due to the influential role in global climate, the hydrologic modeling of the watersheds in Himalayan mountain range is critically important for the socioeconomy and livelihood of surrounding regions. As these watersheds usually have snow-driven hydrology and abrupt changes in orography, the challenges in hydrologic model are acknowledged in scientific community. In this study, we addressed this challenge by implementing an improved multivariable and multi-site approach to calibration and validation of the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for determining its ability to mimic flow regime of the watershed. In the improved multi-site approach, the model was successfully calibrated using 1980–1985 streamflow data and validated using 1990–1995 data for the daily time steps. Combination of different performance metrics indicates that the improved method increased the efficiency of daily prediction of Karnali River discharge. We utilized 30 years of streamflow data from four discharge stations to explore the changes in flow pattern at the decadal scales. Groundwater flow decreased in monsoon season compared to other season where the changes in flow regimes were insignificant within the decadal scale. The proposed calibration method can be used to any other large mountainous watershed to improve the estimation of the hydrologic processes.

Effect of single and multi-site calibration techniques on hydrological model performance, parameter estimation and predictive uncertainty: a case study in the Logone catchment, Lake Chad basin

Understanding hydrological processes at catchment scale through the use of hydrological model parameters is essential for enhancing water resource management. Given the difficulty of using lump parameters to calibrate distributed catchment hydrological models in spatially heterogeneous catchments, a multiple calibration technique was adopted to enhance model calibration in this study. Different calibration techniques were used to calibrate the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model at different locations along the Logone river channel. These were: single-site calibration (SSC); sequential calibration (SC); and simultaneous multi-site calibration (SMSC). Results indicate that it is possible to reveal differences in hydrological behavior between the upstream and downstream parts of the catchment using different parameter values. Using all calibration techniques, model performance indicators were mostly above the minimum threshold of 0.60 and 0.65 for Nash Sutcliff Efficiency (NSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) respectively, at both daily and monthly time-steps. Model uncertainty analysis showed that more than 60% of observed streamflow values were bracketed within the 95% prediction uncertainty (95PPU) band after calibration and validation. Furthermore, results indicated that the SC technique out-performed the other two methods (SSC and SMSC). It was also observed that although the SMSC technique uses streamflow data from all gauging stations during calibration and validation, thereby taking into account the catchment spatial variability, the choice of each calibration method will depend on the application and spatial scale of implementation of the modelling results in the catchment.

Multi-site calibration and validation of a net ecosystem carbon exchange model for croplands

Croplands play an important role in the carbon budget of many regions. However, the estimation of their carbon balance remains difficult due to diversity and complexity of the processes involved. We report the coupling of a one-dimensional soil water, heat, and CO2 flux model (SOILCO2), a pool concept of soil carbon turnover (RothC), and a crop growth module (SUCROS) to predict the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of carbon. The coupled model, further referred to as AgroC, was extended with routines for managed grassland as well as for root exudation and root decay. In a first step, the coupled model was applied to two winter wheat sites and one upland grassland site in Germany. The model was calibrated based on soil water content, soil temperature, biometric, and soil respiration measurements for each site, and validated in terms of hourly NEE measured with the eddy covariance technique. The overall model performance of AgroC was sufficient with a model efficiency above 0.78 and a correlation coefficient above 0.91 for NEE. In a second step, AgroC was optimized with eddy covariance NEE measurements to examine the effect of different objective functions, constraints, and data-transformations on estimated NEE. It was found that NEE showed a distinct sensitivity to the choice of objective function and the inclusion of soil respiration data in the optimization process. In particular, both positive and negative day- and nighttime fluxes were found to be sensitive to the selected optimization strategy. Additional consideration of soil respiration measurements improved the simulation of small positive fluxes remarkably. Even though the model performance of the selected optimization strategies did not diverge substantially, the resulting cumulative NEE over simulation time period differed substantially. Therefore, it is concluded that data-transformations, definitions of objective functions, and data sources have to be considered cautiously when a terrestrial ecosystem model is used to determine NEE by means of eddy covariance measurements.

A comparison of single- and multi-site calibration and validation: a case study of SWAT in the Miyun Reservoir watershed, China

An essential task in evaluating global water resource and pollution problems is to obtain the optimum set of parameters in hydrological models through calibration and validation. For a large-scale watershed, single-site calibration and validation may ignore spatial heterogeneity and may not meet the needs of the entire watershed. The goal of this study is to apply a multi-site calibration and validation of the Soil andWater Assessment Tool (SWAT), using the observed flow data at three monitoring sites within the Baihe watershed of the Miyun Reservoir watershed, China. Our results indicate that the multi-site calibration parameter values are more reasonable than those obtained from single-site calibrations. These results are mainly due to significant differences in the topographic factors over the large-scale area, human activities and climate variability. The multi-site method involves the division of the large watershed into smaller watersheds, and applying the calibrated parameters of the multi-site calibration to the entire watershed. It was anticipated that this case study could provide experience of multi-site calibration in a large-scale basin, and provide a good foundation for the simulation of other pollutants in followup work in the Miyun Reservoir watershed and other similar large areas.

Challenges in modelling of water quantity and quality in two contrasting meso-scale catchments in Poland

AbstractThis study presents an application of the SWAT model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) in two meso-scale catchments in Poland (Upper Narew and Barycz), contrasting in terms of human pressures on water quantity and quality. The main objective was multi-variable and multi-site calibration and validation of the model against daily discharge, sediment and nutrient loads as well as discussion of challenges encountered in calibration phase. Multi-site calibration and validation gave varied results ranging from very good (daily discharge) to acceptable (sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus loads in most of gauges) and rather poor (individual gauges for all variables) in both catchments. The calibrated models enabled spatial quantification of water yield, sediment and nutrient loads, indicating areas of special concern in terms of pollution, as well as estimation of contribution of pollution from different sources, indicating agriculture as the most important source in both catchments. During the calibration process a number of significant issues were encountered: (i) global vs. local parametrization, (ii) simulation of different pools of water quality parameters in reservoirs and streams and (iii) underestimation of NO3-N loads in winter due to farmers practices. Discussion of these issues is hoped to aid SWAT model users in Poland in a deeper understanding of mechanisms of multi-variable and multi-site calibration.

Effect of Single and Multisite Calibration Techniques on the Parameter Estimation, Performance, and Output of a SWAT Model of a Spatially Heterogeneous Catchment

AbstractAlthough the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) is a physically based hydrologic simulator, it has many parameters that cannot be measured directly in the field, but must be obtained through a model calibration process. Model calibration is thus an essential task to obtain the optimal parameter values, which match simulations with observations as closely as possible. This study used the Zenne River Basin (Belgium) as a case study, which experiences high spatial heterogeneity in terms of geological formation, groundwater recharge, and rainfall-runoff responses. Therefore, the objectives of this paper were to calibrate the SWAT model on the basis of different calibration techniques and identify which technique is suitable for such a heterogeneous basin so that the calibrated SWAT can be used as a tool for integrated management of the Zenne River Basin. Prior to calibration, the sensitive parameters were identified on the basis of a detailed sensitivity analysis (SA) of the Latin hypercube one-fac...