Upscaling Surface Runoff Routing Processes in Large-Scale Hydrologic Models: Application to the Ohio River Basin
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 22, Issue 4
Abstract
The objective of this research is to reduce scale effects on surface runoff routing processes in coarse-resolution hydrologic models to produce event hydrograph characteristics (peak and timing) similar to those obtained from fine-resolution models. Herein, this concept is referred to as upscaling. The developed upscaling approach combines statistical and physics-based techniques and is applied to the Ohio River Basin using a synthetic 2-year, 24-h runoff experiment. Cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) for surface flow path travel times based on 90-m-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) data and conceptualized model units representing individual catchments in a model are matched by adjusting surface roughness along simulated hillslopes. The travel time CDF for individual catchments based on 90-m DEM data are approximated using the beta distribution to facilitate applications in large watersheds. Nine model resolutions are considered: 1 (reference model resolution), 3.2, 10, 32, 100, 320, 1,000, 3,200, and , where model resolution corresponds to the threshold area used to define the underlying river network and catchment boundaries. Simulated hydrographs at the outlet for the eight coarser model resolutions have peak discharges and times to peak that are similar to those obtained from the reference model resolution. To match hydrograph characteristics, surface roughness along the hillslope flow paths are adjusted by, on average, to , where the positive values are for the resolution and the largest reductions are for the resolution.
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Acknowledgments
This research was funded by NASA’s Terrestrial Hydrology Program (Grant No. NNX12AQ36G and NNX14AD82G) and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Science Team Program (Grant No. NNX12AJ95G).
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Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 22 • Issue 4 • April 2017
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©2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 19, 2016
Accepted: Aug 30, 2016
Published online: Dec 2, 2016
Published in print: Apr 1, 2017
Discussion open until: May 2, 2017
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