Uncertainty of Precipitation Estimates Caused by Sparse Gauging Networks in a Small, Mountainous Watershed
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 16, Issue 5
Abstract
Watershed modeling requires reliable climate input data that provide a reasonable representation of spatial variability. In many cases, limited access, complex terrain, and remoteness make it difficult to acquire good data. This work characterizes the variability of precipitation in a small, mountainous watershed and quantifies the uncertainty of precipitation estimates caused by sparse precipitation gauging stations. Spatial precipitation variability was found to be of particular concern during the summer months. When one gauge within the watershed is recording precipitation, integration times of more than 8 days are necessary for all gauges to record. In the study catchment, the absolute error in daily mean catchment precipitation exponentially decreased with the increased number of precipitation gauges compared with the best available estimate. The use of 4 or more gauges implicitly allowed a close approximation of the best available daily mean catchment precipitation estimates. Fuzzy multiple linear regression was applied to estimate the average basin precipitation. With this method, the differences in average basin precipitation between the dense experimental gauging network and typically available sparse gauging setups were quantified. Depending on the integration time, the median relative error for the most suitable sparse setup was between 0.08 and 0.40, equivalent to a median absolute error between 0.6 and .
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Axel Anderson, Rabin Bhatterai, Bill Floyd, Andreas Hänsler, Roland Kaitna, Gerald Lohmann, Fabian Nippgen, Klemens Rosin, Angelina Theilman, and Hendrik Voeckler for their valuable assistance in strenuous field work under challenging conditions. Moreover, the manuscript benefited from interesting and helpful comments by Chantal Gascuel-Odoux and Julian J. Dawson. Furthermore, the assistance and expertise of Rob Hudson, who operated gauging sites in the watershed for more than 10 years, is greatly acknowledged. This project is part of a multiyear research project in the Russell Creek Watershed funded by the British Columbia Forest Science Program (UNSPECIFIEDFSP Y073273).
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Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 16 • Issue 5 • May 2011
Pages: 460 - 471
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 29, 2010
Accepted: Sep 7, 2010
Published online: Oct 1, 2010
Published in print: May 1, 2011
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