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Characterizing and reducing equifinality by constraining a distributed catchment model with regional signatures, local observations, and process understanding

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kelleher, C; McGlynn, B; Wagener, T
Published in: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
July 5, 2017

Distributed catchment models are widely used tools for predicting hydrologic behavior. While distributed models require many parameters to describe a system, they are expected to simulate behavior that is more consistent with observed processes. However, obtaining a single set of acceptable parameters can be problematic, as parameter equifinality often results in several "behavioral" sets that fit observations (typically streamflow). In this study, we investigate the extent to which equifinality impacts a typical distributed modeling application. We outline a hierarchical approach to reduce the number of behavioral sets based on regional, observation-driven, and expert-knowledge-based constraints. For our application, we explore how each of these constraint classes reduced the number of "behavioral" parameter sets and altered distributions of spatiotemporal simulations, simulating a well-studied headwater catchment, Stringer Creek, Montana, using the distributed hydrology-soil-vegetation model (DHSVM). As a demonstrative exercise, we investigated model performance across 10 000 parameter sets. Constraints on regional signatures, the hydrograph, and two internal measurements of snow water equivalent time series reduced the number of behavioral parameter sets but still left a small number with similar goodness of fit. This subset was ultimately further reduced by incorporating pattern expectations of groundwater table depth across the catchment. Our results suggest that utilizing a hierarchical approach based on regional datasets, observations, and expert knowledge to identify behavioral parameter sets can reduce equifinality and bolster more careful application and simulation of spatiotemporal processes via distributed modeling at the catchment scale.

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Published In

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences

DOI

EISSN

1607-7938

ISSN

1027-5606

Publication Date

July 5, 2017

Volume

21

Issue

7

Start / End Page

3325 / 3352

Related Subject Headings

  • Environmental Engineering
  • 4013 Geomatic engineering
  • 3709 Physical geography and environmental geoscience
  • 3707 Hydrology
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0905 Civil Engineering
  • 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
 

Citation

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Kelleher, C., McGlynn, B., & Wagener, T. (2017). Characterizing and reducing equifinality by constraining a distributed catchment model with regional signatures, local observations, and process understanding. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 21(7), 3325–3352. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3325-2017
Kelleher, C., B. McGlynn, and T. Wagener. “Characterizing and reducing equifinality by constraining a distributed catchment model with regional signatures, local observations, and process understanding.” Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 21, no. 7 (July 5, 2017): 3325–52. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3325-2017.
Kelleher, C., et al. “Characterizing and reducing equifinality by constraining a distributed catchment model with regional signatures, local observations, and process understanding.” Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, vol. 21, no. 7, July 2017, pp. 3325–52. Scopus, doi:10.5194/hess-21-3325-2017.

Published In

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences

DOI

EISSN

1607-7938

ISSN

1027-5606

Publication Date

July 5, 2017

Volume

21

Issue

7

Start / End Page

3325 / 3352

Related Subject Headings

  • Environmental Engineering
  • 4013 Geomatic engineering
  • 3709 Physical geography and environmental geoscience
  • 3707 Hydrology
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0905 Civil Engineering
  • 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience