Assessing a Regression-Based Regionalization Approach to Ungauged Sites with Various Hydrologic Models in a Forested Catchment in the Northeastern United States
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 22, Issue 12
Abstract
Analysis of daily streamflow is of interest to river restoration and conservation efforts in many regions in the world. However, the paucity of stream-gauging stations presents significant challenges in making flow predictions. In this study, two process-based rainfall-runoff models that differ in complexity were used to estimate a reliable simulation of the daily streamflow hydrograph using 15 subbasins in the Deerfield River Basin, a major tributary to the Connecticut River Watershed. Catchment characteristics were employed across the study area, and regional regression equations were developed that correlate these physical and climate characteristics with the parameters of the rainfall-runoff models. The regression-based regionalization approach had a higher degree of accuracy when compared with simpler regionalization approaches, with an average normalized RMS error (NRMSE) value of 0.26 compared with 0.42 and 0.32 for a spatial proximity method and a naïve-mean method, respectively. In addition, the more complex rainfall-runoff model performed better than the less complex model with Kling-Gupta efficiency (KGE) values of 0.78 and 0.68, respectively, suggesting that model discretization may play a significant role in hydrologic model accuracy. These findings support a viable framework for addressing water resource management at a small-catchment level. In addition, this study may contribute to regionalization of rainfall-runoff model parameters for ungauged basins in the northeastern U.S. region.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this study was provided by the Department of Interior Northeast Climate Science Center. We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers and the associate editor of this paper as well as the proofing staff for their thoughtful insights, useful suggestions, and feedback.
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Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 22 • Issue 12 • December 2017
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©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Sep 29, 2016
Accepted: May 17, 2017
Published online: Oct 12, 2017
Published in print: Dec 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Mar 12, 2018
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