scholarly journals Sensitivity analysis of hydrological models: review and way forward

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 557-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manjula Devak ◽  
C. T. Dhanya

Abstract Different hydrological models provide diverse perspectives of the system being modeled, and inevitably, are imperfect representations of reality. Irrespective of the choice of models, the major source of error in any hydrological modeling is the uncertainty in the determination of model parameters, owing to the mismatch between model complexity and available data. Sensitivity analysis (SA) methods help to identify the parameters that have a strong impact on the model outputs and hence influence the model response. In addition, SA assists in analyzing the interaction between parameters, its preferable range and its spatial variability, which in turn influence the model outcomes. Various methods are available to perform SA and the perturbation technique varies widely. This study attempts to categorize the SA methods depending on the assumptions and methodologies involved in various methods. The pros and cons associated with each SA method are discussed. The sensitivity pertaining to the impact of space and time resolutions on model results is highlighted. The applicability of different SA approaches for various purposes is understood. This study further elaborates the objectives behind selection and application of SA approaches in hydrological modeling, hence providing valuable insights on the limitations, knowledge gaps, and future research directions.

Author(s):  
Rodric Mérimé Nonki ◽  
André Lenouo ◽  
Christopher J. Lennard ◽  
Raphael M. Tshimanga ◽  
Clément Tchawoua

AbstractPotential Evapotranspiration (PET) plays a crucial role in water management, including irrigation systems design and management. It is an essential input to hydrological models. Direct measurement of PET is difficult, time-consuming and costly, therefore a number of different methods are used to compute this variable. This study compares the two sensitivity analysis approaches generally used for PET impact assessment on hydrological model performance. We conducted the study in the Upper Benue River Basin (UBRB) located in northern Cameroon using two lumped-conceptual rainfall-runoff models and nineteen PET estimation methods. A Monte-Carlo procedure was implemented to calibrate the hydrological models for each PET input while considering similar objective functions. Although there were notable differences between PET estimation methods, the hydrological models performance was satisfactory for each PET input in the calibration and validation periods. The optimized model parameters were significantly affected by the PET-inputs, especially the parameter responsible to transform PET into actual ET. The hydrological models performance was insensitive to the PET input using a dynamic sensitivity approach, while he was significantly affected using a static sensitivity approach. This means that the over-or under-estimation of PET is compensated by the model parameters during the model recalibration. The model performance was insensitive to the rescaling PET input for both dynamic and static sensitivities approaches. These results demonstrate that the effect of PET input to model performance is necessarily dependent on the sensitivity analysis approach used and suggest that the dynamic approach is more effective for hydrological modeling perspectives.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 691-702
Author(s):  
Hala O. Al-Rawabdeh ◽  
Hamad Ghadir ◽  
Ghaith Al-Abdallah

This paper investigates the impact of post-purchase user generated content (UGC) and traditional reference groups on the purchase intentions for electronic products (e-products) among young consumers in Jordan. To achieve this, a descriptive methodology was adapted, with a quantitative approach and survey strategy utilizing a five-point Likert scale questionnaire distributed to 450 university and college students in Jordan. 400 filtered and screened copies underwent statistical analyses. SPSS version 21 was utilized to describe and analyze the data. The results revealed a strong impact of post-purchase UGC on purchase intentions of e-products among young consumers. The results also revealed that traditional reference groups have a lower significant impact on the purchase intentions of young consumers, indicating that young consumers rely on online communities more than they rely on family, friends, colleagues, and other social organizations. The findings are discussed with a view to their implications, with recommendations for future research.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 2029-2042
Author(s):  
Tony E. Wong ◽  
William Kleiber ◽  
David C. Noone

Abstract Land surface models are notorious for containing many parameters that control the exchange of heat and moisture between land and atmosphere. Properly modeling the partitioning of total evapotranspiration (ET) between transpiration and evaporation is critical for accurate hydrological modeling, but depends heavily on the treatment of turbulence within and above canopies. Previous work has constrained estimates of evapotranspiration and its partitioning using statistical approaches that calibrate land surface model parameters by assimilating in situ measurements. These studies, however, are silent on the impacts of the accounting of uncertainty within the statistical calibration framework. The present study calibrates the aerodynamic, leaf boundary layer, and stomatal resistance parameters, which partially control canopy turbulent exchange and thus the evapotranspiration flux partitioning. Using an adaptive Metropolis–Hastings algorithm to construct a Markov chain of draws from the joint posterior distribution of these resistance parameters, an ensemble of model realizations is generated, in which latent and sensible heat fluxes and top soil layer temperature are optimized. A set of five calibration experiments demonstrate that model performance is sensitive to the accounting of various sources of uncertainty in the field observations and model output and that it is critical to account for model structural uncertainty. After calibration, the modeled fluxes and top soil layer temperature are largely free from bias, and this calibration approach successfully informs and characterizes uncertainty in these parameters, which is essential for model improvement and development. The key points of this paper are 1) a Markov chain Monte Carlo calibration approach successfully improves modeled turbulent fluxes; 2) ET partitioning estimates hinge on the representation of uncertainties in the model and data; and 3) despite these inherent uncertainties, constrained posterior estimates of ET partitioning emerge.


Author(s):  
Abdul Salam Khan ◽  
Khawer Naeem ◽  
Raza Ullah Khan

An abrupt change requires a robust and flexible response from a manufacturing system. Dedicated Manufacturing System (DMS) has been a long practiced taxonomy for mass production and minimum varieties. In contrast, Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) has been introduced for responding to quantity as well as variety issues. This study considers both production taxonomics by using a multi objective model of cost and time. An Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulation is presented and subsequently validated. The analysis procedure is administered in two phases. In the first phase, comparison of production cost and process time in DMS and FMS is presented. The model is implemented by using an exact solution approach and results show that FMS is a viable option, compared to DMS, according to the criteria of cost, time, and productivity. In the second phase, sensitivity analysis is performed by using several FMS (n) and the impact of cells selection on the performance of system is studied. It is concluded that n=1 (single cell-based FMS) is more relevant for cost minimization; however, n = 6 is a suitable candidate for producing more quantity in given time horizon (process time minimization). Lastly, key findings are reported, and future research avenues are provided.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Bauer ◽  
Ivanna Kramer

The knowledge about the impact of structure-specific parameters on the biomechanical behavior of a computer model has an essential meaning for the realistic modeling and system improving. Especially the biomechanical parameters of the intervertebral discs, the ligamentous structures and the facet joints are seen in the literature as significant components of a spine model, which define the quality of the model. Therefore, it is important to understand how the variations of input parameters for these components affect the entire model and its individual structures. Sensitivity analysis can be used to gain the required knowledge about the correlation of the input and output variables in a complex spinal model. The present study analyses the influence of the biomechanical parameters of the intervertebral disc using different sensitivity analysis methods to optimize the spine model parameters. The analysis is performed with a multi-body simulation model of the cervical functional spinal unit C6-C7.


Author(s):  
Souransu Nandi ◽  
Tarunraj Singh

The focus of this paper is on the global sensitivity analysis (GSA) of linear systems with time-invariant model parameter uncertainties and driven by stochastic inputs. The Sobol' indices of the evolving mean and variance estimates of states are used to assess the impact of the time-invariant uncertain model parameters and the statistics of the stochastic input on the uncertainty of the output. Numerical results on two benchmark problems help illustrate that it is conceivable that parameters, which are not so significant in contributing to the uncertainty of the mean, can be extremely significant in contributing to the uncertainty of the variances. The paper uses a polynomial chaos (PC) approach to synthesize a surrogate probabilistic model of the stochastic system after using Lagrange interpolation polynomials (LIPs) as PC bases. The Sobol' indices are then directly evaluated from the PC coefficients. Although this concept is not new, a novel interpretation of stochastic collocation-based PC and intrusive PC is presented where they are shown to represent identical probabilistic models when the system under consideration is linear. This result now permits treating linear models as black boxes to develop intrusive PC surrogates.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2567-2582 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Roux ◽  
D. Labat ◽  
P.-A. Garambois ◽  
M.-M. Maubourguet ◽  
J. Chorda ◽  
...  

Abstract. A spatially distributed hydrological model, dedicated to flood simulation, is developed on the basis of physical process representation (infiltration, overland flow, channel routing). Estimation of model parameters requires data concerning topography, soil properties, vegetation and land use. Four parameters are calibrated for the entire catchment using one flood event. Model sensitivity to individual parameters is assessed using Monte-Carlo simulations. Results of this sensitivity analysis with a criterion based on the Nash efficiency coefficient and the error of peak time and runoff are used to calibrate the model. This procedure is tested on the Gardon d'Anduze catchment, located in the Mediterranean zone of southern France. A first validation is conducted using three flood events with different hydrometeorological characteristics. This sensitivity analysis along with validation tests illustrates the predictive capability of the model and points out the possible improvements on the model's structure and parameterization for flash flood forecasting, especially in ungauged basins. Concerning the model structure, results show that water transfer through the subsurface zone also contributes to the hydrograph response to an extreme event, especially during the recession period. Maps of soil saturation emphasize the impact of rainfall and soil properties variability on these dynamics. Adding a subsurface flow component in the simulation also greatly impacts the spatial distribution of soil saturation and shows the importance of the drainage network. Measures of such distributed variables would help discriminating between different possible model structures.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shakti P. C. ◽  
Tsuyoshi Nakatani ◽  
Ryohei Misumi

Recently, the use of gridded rainfall data with high spatial resolutions in hydrological applications has greatly increased. Various types of radar rainfall data with varying spatial resolutions are available in different countries worldwide. As a result of the variety in spatial resolutions of available radar rainfall data, the hydrological community faces the challenge of selecting radar rainfall data with an appropriate spatial resolution for hydrological applications. In this study, we consider the impact of the spatial resolution of radar rainfall on simulated river runoff to better understand the impact of radar resolution on hydrological applications. Very high-resolution polarimetric radar rainfall (XRAIN) data are used as input for the Hydrologic Engineering Center–Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) to simulate runoff from the Tsurumi River Basin, Japan. A total of 20 independent rainfall events from 2012–2015 were selected and categorized into isolated/convective and widespread/stratiform events based on their distribution patterns. First, the hydrological model was established with basin and model parameters that were optimized for each individual rainfall event; then, the XRAIN data were rescaled at various spatial resolutions to be used as input for the model. Finally, we conducted a statistical analysis of the simulated results to determine the optimum spatial resolution for radar rainfall data used in hydrological modeling. Our results suggest that the hydrological response was more sensitive to isolated or convective rainfall data than it was to widespread rain events, which are best simulated at ≤1 km and ≤5 km, respectively; these results are applicable in all sub-basins of the Tsurumi River Basin, except at the river outlet.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Doummar ◽  
Assaad H. Kassem

<p>Qualitative vulnerability assessment methods applied in karst aquifers rely on key factors in the hydrological compartments usually assigned different weights according to their estimated impact on groundwater vulnerability. Based on an integrated numerical groundwater model on a snow-governed karst catchment area (Assal Spring- Lebanon), the aim of this work is to quantify the importance of the most influential parameters on recharge and spring discharge and outline potential parameters that are not accounted for in standard methods, when in fact they do play a role in the intrinsic vulnerability of a system. The assessment of the model sensitivity and the ranking of parameters are conducted using an automatic calibration tool for local sensitivity analysis in addition to a variance-based local sensitivity assessment of model output time series (recharge and discharge)  for two consecutive years (2016-2017) to various model parameters. The impact of each parameter was normalized to estimate standardized weights for each of the process based key-controlling parameters. Parameters to which model was sensitive were factors related to soil, 2) fast infiltration (bypass function) typical of karst aquifers, 3) climatic parameters (melting temperature and degree day coefficient) and 4) aquifer hydraulic properties that play a major role in groundwater vulnerability inducing a temporal effect and varied recession. Other less important parameters play different roles according to different assigned weights proportional to their ranking. Additionally, the effect of slope/geomorphology (e.g., dolines) was further investigated.  In general, this study shows that the weighting coefficients assigned to key vulnerability factors in the qualitative assessment methods can be reevaluated based on this process-based approach.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>


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