A Survey of Major Watershed (Rainfall-Runoff) Models.ppt

A Survey of Major Watershed (Rainfall-Runoff) Models Knowing what is out there in the Workplace Capabilities of each model Requirements of each model What is the best model? Examples Ungaged area needing WRE management (expansion) Balancing $$, needs and requirements (Consulting) Flood-frequency analyses, forecasting, extrapolating for future scenarios Consider this Scenario: 1. A major expansion of urbanization is planned in forested land – malls, apts, parks, industry 2. How will the planned urbanization change the response of the land to rainfall? Increase chances of floods? Flashier? Bring down GWT? GOALS Be aware of the Major Models out there and their basic workings Understand Data needs and requirements Merits/Demerits of Models (situational) Ponder over: What is the Best Model? (open question) Be able to make an informed decision on the choice of a Model (for Consulting, Industry, Public Works) The Hydrologic Cycle All watershed Models (or Rainfall-Runoff) attempt to model the Hydrologic Cycle at the watershed scale. The Major Processes of a Model Classification of Models Based on mathematical representation of processes Conceptual Models Physically-based Models Based spatial nature of input/output of models Lumped Rainfall, Runoff, ET, GW flow Distributed Rainfall, Runoff, ET, GW flow Conceptual Vs Physically Based Conceptual Models – Idealization of processes as stores, buckets, parameterizations – simplified equations representing mass, momentum, energy. Physically-based Models – “rigorous numerical solution of partial differential equations governing flow through porous media, overland and channel flows. “ Lumped Vs Distributed Models Data Requirements for Models Rainfall Data (Major Input) Soils Data (Infiltration, Runoff) DEM – channel network (River routing) Vegetation Data (For ET) GWT Data (Saturated zone flow) Historical Rainfall-Streamflow Data (Calibration) Evaporation Data (ET) Sources of Data Is all