Improving SWAT Model Calibration Using Soil MERGE (SMERGE)

This study examined eight Great Plains moderate-sized (832 to 4892 km2) watersheds. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) autocalibration routine SUFI-2 was executed using twenty-three model parameters, from 1995 to 2015 in each basin, to identify highly sensitive parameters (HSP). The model was then run on a year-by-year basis, generating optimal parameter values for each year (1995 to 2015). HSP were correlated against annual precipitation (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model—PRISM) and root zone soil moisture (Soil MERGE—SMERGE 2.0) anomaly data. HSP with robust correlation (r > 0.5) were used to calibrate the model on an annual basis (2016 to 2018). Results were compared against a baseline simulation, in which optimal parameters were obtained by running the model for the entire period (1992 to 2015). This approach improved performance for annual simulations generated from 2016 to 2018. SMERGE 2.0 produced more robust results compared with the PRISM product. The main virtue of this approach is that it constrains parameter space, minimizesing equifinality and promotesing modeling based on more physically realistic parameter values.

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Study on Hydrological Simulation of Jin River Based on SWAT-X Model

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.84-85.238 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 84-85 ◽

pp. 238-243

Author(s):

Yu Jie Fang ◽

Wen Bin Zhou ◽

Ding Gui Luo

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Swat Model ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Parameter Sensitivity Analysis ◽

Hydrological Simulation ◽

Resources Management ◽

Using Data ◽

Sensitive Parameters ◽

Water Assessment

Hydrological simulation is the basis of water resources management and utilization. In this study, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was applied to Jin River Basin for hydrological simulation on ArcView3.3 platform. The basic database of Jin river Basin was built using ArcGis9.2. Based on the LH-OAT parameter sensitivity analysis, the sensitive parameters of runoff were identified, including CN2, Gwqmn, rchrg_dp, ESCO, sol_z, SLOPE, SOL_AWC, sol_k, Gwrevap, and then model parameters related to runoff were calibrated and validated using data observed in weifang, yifeng, shanggao and gaoan hydrological stations during 2001-2008. The simulation showed that the simulated values were reasonably comparable to the observed data (Re<20%, R2 >0.7 and Nash-suttcliffe > 0.7), suggesting the validity of SWAT model in Jin River Basin.

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SWAT Model Adaptability to a Small Mountainous Forested Watershed in Central Romania

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12070860 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 860

Author(s):

Nicu Constantin Tudose ◽

Mirabela Marin ◽

Sorin Cheval ◽

Cezar Ungurean ◽

Serban Octavian Davidescu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metropolitan Area ◽

Hydrological Model ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Swat Model ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Forested Watershed ◽

Sensitive Parameters ◽

Lower Uncertainty ◽

Validation Stage ◽

Water Assessment

This study aims to build and test the adaptability and reliability of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool hydrological model in a small mountain forested watershed. This ungauged watershed covers 184 km2 and supplies 90% of blue water for the Brașov metropolitan area, the second largest metropolitan area of Romania. After building a custom database at the forest management compartment level, the SWAT model was run. Further, using the SWAT-CUP software under the SUFI2 algorithm, we identified the most sensitive parameters required in the calibration and validation stage. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis revealed that the surface runoff is mainly influenced by soil, groundwater and vegetation condition parameters. The calibration was carried out for 2001‒2010, while the 1996‒1999 period was used for model validation. Both procedures have indicated satisfactory performance and a lower uncertainty of model results in replicating river discharge compared with observed discharge. This research demonstrates that the SWAT model can be applied in small ungauged watersheds after an appropriate parameterisation of its databases. Furthermore, this tool is appropriate to support decision-makers in conceiving sustainable watershed management. It also guides prioritising the most suitable measures to increase the river basin resilience and ensure the water demand under climate change.

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A Review on SWAT Model for Stream Flow Simulation

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.726-731.3792 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 726-731 ◽

pp. 3792-3798

Author(s):

Wen Ju Zhao ◽

Wei Sun ◽

Zong Li Li ◽

Yan Wei Fan ◽

Jian Shu Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Data ◽

Stream Flow ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Swat Model ◽

Flow Simulation ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Distributed Hydrological Model ◽

Rs And Gis ◽

Model Research ◽

Gis And Rs

SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model is one of distributed hydrological model, based on spatial data offered by GIS and RS. This article mainly introduces the SWAT model principle, structure, and it is the application of stream flow simulation in China and other countries, then points out the deficiency existing in the process of model research. In order to service in water resources management work better, experts and scholars further research the rate constant and uncertainty of the simplification of the model parameters, and the combination of RS and GIS to use, and hydrological scale problems.

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Integrated numerical model for irrigated area water resources management

Journal of Water and Climate Change ◽

10.2166/wcc.2019.042 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 980-991 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Aidi Huo ◽

Xiaofan Wang ◽

Yan Liang ◽

Cheng Jiang ◽

Xiaolu Zheng

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Water Resource Management ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Swat Model ◽

Hydrologic Model ◽

Heihe River Basin ◽

Irrigation District ◽

Heihe River ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Long Term Effects

Abstract The likelihood of future global water shortages is increasing and further development of existing operational hydrologic models is needed to maintain sustainable development of the ecological environment and human health. In order to quantitatively describe the water balance factors and transformation relations, the objective of this article is to develop a distributed hydrologic model that is capable of simulating the surface water (SW) and groundwater (GW) in irrigation areas. The model can be used as a tool for evaluating the long-term effects of water resource management. By coupling the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and MODFLOW models, a comprehensive hydrological model integrating SW and GW is constructed. The hydrologic response units for the SWAT model are exchanged with cells in the MODFLOW model. Taking the Heihe River Basin as the study area, 10 years of historical data are used to conduct an extensive sensitivity analysis on model parameters. The developed model is run for a 40-year prediction period. The application of the developed coupling model shows that since the construction of the Heihe reservoir, the average GW level in the study area has declined by 6.05 m. The model can accurately simulate and predict the dynamic changes in SW and GW in the downstream irrigation area of Heihe River Basin and provide a scientific basis for water management in an irrigation district.

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Regional Parameter Estimation of the SWAT Model: Methodology and Application to River Basins in the Peruvian Pacific Drainage

Water ◽

10.3390/w12113198 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 3198

Author(s):

Flavio Alexander Asurza-Véliz ◽

Waldo Sven Lavado-Casimiro

Keyword(s):

Water Balance ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Hydrological Cycle ◽

Swat Model ◽

Parameters Estimation ◽

Data Availability ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Hydrological Data ◽

The Pacific ◽

Main Components

This study presents a methodology for the regional parameters estimation of the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model, with the objective of estimating daily flow series in the Pacific drainage under the context of limited hydrological data availability. This methodology has been designed to obtain the model parameters from a limited number of basins (14) to finally regionalize them to basins without hydrological data based on physical-climatic characteristics. In addition, the bootstrapping method was selected to estimate the uncertainty associated with the parameters set selection in the regionalization process. In general, the regionalized parameters reduce the initial underestimation which is reflected in a better quantification of daily flows, and improve the low flows performance. Furthermore, the results show that the SWAT model correctly represents the water balance and seasonality of the hydrological cycle main components. However, the model does not correctly quantify the high flows rates during wet periods. These findings provide supporting information for studies of water balance and water management on the Peruvian Pacific drainage. The approach and methods developed can be replicated in any other region of Peru.

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Analysis of the spatial variation in the parameters of the SWAT model with application in Flanders, Northern Belgium

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-8-931-2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 931-939 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

G. Heuvelmans ◽

B. Muys ◽

J. Feyen

Keyword(s):

Stream Flow ◽

Hydrological Model ◽

Swat Model ◽

Single Parameter ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Study Region ◽

Entire Study ◽

Time Periods ◽

Parameter Values ◽

Parameter Approach

Abstract. Operational applications of a hydrological model often require the prediction of stream flow in (future) time periods without stream flow observations or in ungauged catchments. Data for a case-specific optimisation of model parameters are not available for such applications, so parameters have to be derived from other catchments or time periods. It has been demonstrated that for applications of the SWAT in Northern Belgium, temporal transfers of the parameters have less influence than spatial transfers on the performance of the model. This study examines the spatial variation in parameter optima in more detail. The aim was to delineate zones wherein model parameters can be transferred without a significant loss of model performance. SWAT was calibrated for 25 catchments that are part of eight larger sub-basins of the Scheldt river basin. Two approaches are discussed for grouping these units in zones with a uniform set of parameters: a single parameter approach considering each parameter separately and a parameter set approach evaluating the parameterisation as a whole. For every catchment, the SWAT model was run with the local parameter optima, with the average parameter values for the entire study region (Flanders), with the zones delineated with the single parameter approach and with the zones obtained by the parameter set approach. Comparison of the model performances of these four parameterisation strategies indicates that both the single parameter and the parameter set zones lead to stream flow predictions that are more accurate than if the entire study region were treated as one single zone. On the other hand, the use of zonal average parameter values results in a considerably worse model fit compared to local parameter optima. Clustering of parameter sets gives a more accurate result than the single parameter approach and is, therefore, the preferred technique for use in the parameterisation of ungauged sub-catchments as part of the simulation of a large river basin. Keywords: hydrological model, regionalisation, parameterisation, spatial variability

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Effect of length of the observed dataset on the calibration of a distributed hydrological model

Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences ◽

10.5194/piahs-368-305-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 368 ◽

pp. 305-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

X. Cui ◽

W. Sun ◽

J. Teng ◽

H. Song ◽

X. Yao

Keyword(s):

Hydrological Model ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Swat Model ◽

Model Performance ◽

Hydrological Models ◽

Distributed Hydrological Model ◽

Discharge Data ◽

One Year ◽

Parameter Values ◽

Discharge Measurements

Abstract. Calibration of hydrological models in ungauged basins is now a hot research topic in the field of hydrology. In addition to the traditional method of parameter regionalization, using discontinuous flow observations to calibrate hydrological models has gradually become popular in recent years. In this study, the possibility of using a limited number of river discharge data to calibrate a distributed hydrological model, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), was explored. The influence of the quantity of discharge measurements on model calibration in the upper Heihe Basin was analysed. Calibration using only one year of daily discharge measurements was compared with calibration using three years of discharge data. The results showed that the parameter values derived from calibration using one year’s data could achieve similar model performance with calibration using three years’ data, indicating that there is a possibility of using limited numbers of discharge data to calibrate the SWAT model effectively in poorly gauged basins.

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Hydrologic modeling of a Himalayan mountain basin by using the SWAT mode

10.5194/hess-2017-100 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sharad K. Jain ◽

Sanjay K. Jain ◽

Neha Jain ◽

Chong-Yu Xu

Keyword(s):

Assessment Tool ◽

Swat Model ◽

Large Population ◽

Water Yield ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Hydrologic Response ◽

Water Balance Components ◽

Daily Streamflow ◽

Hydropower Potential ◽

Himalayan Mountain

Abstract. A large population depends on runoff from Himalayan rivers which have high hydropower potential; floods in these rivers are also frequent. Current understanding of hydrologic response mechanism of these rivers and impact of climate change is inadequate due to limited studies. This paper presents results of modeling to understand the hydrologic response and compute the water balance components of a Himalayan river basin in India viz. Ganga up to Devprayag. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was applied for simulation of the snow/rainfed catchment. SWAT was calibrated with daily streamflow data for 1992–98 and validated with data for 1999–2005. Manual calibration was carried out to determine model parameters and quantify uncertainty. Results indicate good simulation of streamflow; main contribution to water yield is from lateral and ground water flow. Water yield and ET for the catchments varies between 43–46 % and 57–58 % of precipitation, respectively. The contribution of snowmelt to lateral runoff for Ganga River ranged between 13–20 %. More attention is needed to strengthen spatial and temporal hydrometeorological database for the study basins for improved modeling.

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Application of SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) to the Abay River Basin of Ethiopia: The Case of Didessa Sub Basin

10.20944/preprints201805.0147.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Timketa Adula Duguma

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Time Scale ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Peak Flow ◽

Swat Model ◽

Distributed Model ◽

Statistical Measures ◽

Sensitive Parameters ◽

Water Assessment ◽

Soil And Water

Abstract: In this study the semi-distributed model SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool), were applied to evaluate stream flow of Didessa sub basin, which is one of the major sub basins in Abay river basin of Ethiopia. The study evaluated the quality of observed meteorological and hydrological data, established SWAT hydrological model, identified the most sensitive parameters, evaluated the best distribution for flow and developed peak flow for major tributary in the sub basin. The result indicated that the SWAT model developed for the sub basin evaluated at multi hydro-gauging stations and its performance certain with the statistical measures, coefficient about determination (R2) and also Nash coefficient (NS) with values ranging 0.62 to 0.8 and 0.6 to 0.8 respectively at daily time scale. The values of R2 and NS increases at monthly time scale and found ranging 0.75 to 0.92 and 0.71 to 0.91 respectively. Sensitivity analysis is performed to identify parameters those were most sensitive for the sub basin. CN2, GWQMN, CH_K, ALPHA_BNK and LAT_TIME are the most sensitive parameters in the sub basin. Finally, the peak flow for 2-10000 returns periods were determined after the best probability distribution is identified in EasyFit computer program.

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Assessment of MC&MCMC uncertainty analysis frameworks on SWAT model by focusing on future runoff prediction in a mountainous watershed via CMIP5 models

Journal of Water and Climate Change ◽

10.2166/wcc.2019.122 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 1811-1828

Author(s):

Armin Ahmadi ◽

Amirhosein Aghakhani Afshar ◽

Vahid Nourani ◽

Mohsen Pourreza-Bilondi ◽

A. A. Besalatpour

Keyword(s):

General Circulation ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Swat Model ◽

General Circulation Models ◽

Cmip5 Models ◽

Historical Period ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Runoff Simulation ◽

Rcp Scenarios ◽

The Impact

Abstract The river situation in a dry or semi-dry area is extremely affected by climate change and precipitation patterns. In this study, the impact of climate alteration on runoff in Kashafrood River Basin (KRB) in Iran was investigated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in historical and three future period times. The runoff was studied by MIROC-ESM and GFDL-ESM2G models as the outputs of general circulation models (GCMs) in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) by two representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5). The DiffeRential Evolution Adaptive Metropolis (DREAM-ZS) was used to calibrate the hydrological model parameters in different sub-basins. Using DREAM-ZS algorithm, realistic values were obtained for the parameters related to runoff simulation in the SWAT model. In this area, results show that runoff in GFDL-ESM2G in both RCPs (2.6 and 8.5) in comparing future periods with the historical period is increased about 232–383% and in MIROC-ESM tends to increase around 87–292%. Furthermore, GFDL-ESM2G compared to MIROC-ESM in RCP2.6 (RCP8.5) in near, intermediate, and far future periods shows that the value of runoff increases 59.6% (23.0%), 100.2% (35.1%), and 42.5% (65.3%), respectively.

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