Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.11.026
Titel (primär) Multi-response calibration of a conceptual hydrological model in the semiarid catchment of Wadi al Arab, Jordan
Autor Rödiger, T.; Geyer, S. ORCID logo ; Mallast, U.; Merz, R.; Krause, P.; Fischer, C.; Siebert, C. ORCID logo
Quelle Journal of Hydrology
Erscheinungsjahr 2014
Department CATHYD
Band/Volume 509
Seite von 193
Seite bis 206
Sprache englisch
Keywords Groundwater recharge; Hydrological modelling; Multi-response calibration; J2000g; Semiarid; Jordan
UFZ Querschnittsthemen RU2;
Abstract A key factor for sustainable management of groundwater systems is the accurate estimation of groundwater
recharge. Hydrological models are common tools for such estimations and widely used. As such
models need to be calibrated against measured values, the absence of adequate data can be problematic.
We present a nested multi-response calibration approach for a semi-distributed hydrological model in
the semi-arid catchment of Wadi al Arab in Jordan, with sparsely available runoff data. The basic idea
of the calibration approach is to use diverse observations in a nested strategy, in which sub-parts of
the model are calibrated to various observation data types in a consecutive manner. First, the available
different data sources have to be screened for information content of processes, e.g. if data sources contain
information on mean values, spatial or temporal variability etc. for the entire catchment or only subcatchments.
In a second step, the information content has to be mapped to relevant model components,
which represent these processes. Then the data source is used to calibrate the respective subset of model
parameters, while the remaining model parameters remain unchanged. This mapping is repeated for
other available data sources. In that study the gauged spring discharge (GSD) method, flash flood observations
and data from the chloride mass balance (CMB) are used to derive plausible parameter ranges for
the conceptual hydrological model J2000g. The water table fluctuation (WTF) method is used to validate
the model. Results from modelling using a priori parameter values from literature as a benchmark are
compared. The estimated recharge rates of the calibrated model deviate less than ±10% from the estimates
derived from WTF method. Larger differences are visible in the years with high uncertainties in
rainfall input data. The performance of the calibrated model during validation produces better results
than applying the model with only a priori parameter values. The model with a priori parameter values
from literature tends to overestimate recharge rates with up to 30%, particular in the wet winter of 1991/
1992. An overestimation of groundwater recharge and hence available water resources clearly endangers
reliable water resource managing in water scarce region. The proposed nested multi-response approach
may help to better predict water resources despite data scarcity.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=14464
Rödiger, T., Geyer, S., Mallast, U., Merz, R., Krause, P., Fischer, C., Siebert, C. (2014):
Multi-response calibration of a conceptual hydrological model in the semiarid catchment of Wadi al Arab, Jordan
J. Hydrol. 509 , 193 - 206 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.11.026