Assessment of monthly to daily streamflow disaggregation methods: A case study of the Nile River Basin

Study region: The Nile River Basin Study focus: The lack of observed streamflow data at a short time scale poses a critical challenge for calibrating and validating hydrologic models. Therefore, many disaggregation methods were developed, resulting in various relative performances without a clear in...

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Main Authors: Mohamed Refaat Elgendy, Paulin Coulibaly, Sonia Hassini, Wael El-Dakhakhni, Yasser Elsaie, Mesfin Benti Tolera, Samuel Dagalo Hatiye, Mekonen Ayana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824003185
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author Mohamed Refaat Elgendy
Paulin Coulibaly
Sonia Hassini
Wael El-Dakhakhni
Yasser Elsaie
Mesfin Benti Tolera
Samuel Dagalo Hatiye
Mekonen Ayana
author_facet Mohamed Refaat Elgendy
Paulin Coulibaly
Sonia Hassini
Wael El-Dakhakhni
Yasser Elsaie
Mesfin Benti Tolera
Samuel Dagalo Hatiye
Mekonen Ayana
author_sort Mohamed Refaat Elgendy
collection DOAJ
description Study region: The Nile River Basin Study focus: The lack of observed streamflow data at a short time scale poses a critical challenge for calibrating and validating hydrologic models. Therefore, many disaggregation methods were developed, resulting in various relative performances without a clear indication of the optimal choice. This study aims to iteratively assess eight monthly to daily streamflow disaggregation methods at 21 major subbasin outlets in the Nile River Basin (NRB) to identify the best-performing ones. These methods include one proportionality method and seven interpolation methods, i.e., linear, 2nd-order spline, 3rd-order spline, Piecewise Cubic Hermite Interpolating Polynomial (Pchip), Modified Akima (MAkima), mean preserved 2nd-order spline, and mean preserved 3rd-order spline. We assessed these methods using three metrics and visual investigations. New hydrologic insights for the region: The results showed that the interpolation methods performed well, better than the proportionality method. However, their performances decreased at stations with high daily streamflow fluctuations. The interpolation methods’ performances were similar in mimicking the daily values but significantly different in preserving the mass balance. The mean preserving 3rd-order interpolation method (Lai 22) was the best in preserving the mass balance and capturing the low, moderate and high flows and, therefore, selected to generate the daily flow data in the NRB. The results of this study can guide a reliable method for obtaining daily streamflow data, which is important for the hydrologic and water management studies in the NRB.
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spelling doaj-art-3ce6e0d24e6543628a18e0a64a6ea07c2024-12-08T06:10:22ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182024-12-0156101969Assessment of monthly to daily streamflow disaggregation methods: A case study of the Nile River BasinMohamed Refaat Elgendy0Paulin Coulibaly1Sonia Hassini2Wael El-Dakhakhni3Yasser Elsaie4Mesfin Benti Tolera5Samuel Dagalo Hatiye6Mekonen Ayana7Dept. of Civil Engineering, McMaster Univ., Hamilton, ON L8S 4L7, Canada; Corresponding author.Dept. of Civil Engineering and School of Earth, Environment & Society, McMaster Univ., Hamilton, ON L8S 4L7, Canada; United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, Hamilton, ON L8P 0A1, CanadaDept. of Civil Engineering, McMaster Univ., Hamilton, ON L8S 4L7, CanadaDept. of Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; School of Computational Science & Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaCivil Engineering Department, The Higher Institute of Engineering, Shorouk Academy, EgyptAdama Science and Technology University, Adama, EthiopiaFaculty of Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering, Arba Minch Water Technology Institute, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, EthiopiaAdama Science and Technology University, Adama, EthiopiaStudy region: The Nile River Basin Study focus: The lack of observed streamflow data at a short time scale poses a critical challenge for calibrating and validating hydrologic models. Therefore, many disaggregation methods were developed, resulting in various relative performances without a clear indication of the optimal choice. This study aims to iteratively assess eight monthly to daily streamflow disaggregation methods at 21 major subbasin outlets in the Nile River Basin (NRB) to identify the best-performing ones. These methods include one proportionality method and seven interpolation methods, i.e., linear, 2nd-order spline, 3rd-order spline, Piecewise Cubic Hermite Interpolating Polynomial (Pchip), Modified Akima (MAkima), mean preserved 2nd-order spline, and mean preserved 3rd-order spline. We assessed these methods using three metrics and visual investigations. New hydrologic insights for the region: The results showed that the interpolation methods performed well, better than the proportionality method. However, their performances decreased at stations with high daily streamflow fluctuations. The interpolation methods’ performances were similar in mimicking the daily values but significantly different in preserving the mass balance. The mean preserving 3rd-order interpolation method (Lai 22) was the best in preserving the mass balance and capturing the low, moderate and high flows and, therefore, selected to generate the daily flow data in the NRB. The results of this study can guide a reliable method for obtaining daily streamflow data, which is important for the hydrologic and water management studies in the NRB.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824003185Nile River BasinMonthly streamflow disaggregationData interpolationData processingHydrologyWater management
spellingShingle Mohamed Refaat Elgendy
Paulin Coulibaly
Sonia Hassini
Wael El-Dakhakhni
Yasser Elsaie
Mesfin Benti Tolera
Samuel Dagalo Hatiye
Mekonen Ayana
Assessment of monthly to daily streamflow disaggregation methods: A case study of the Nile River Basin
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Nile River Basin
Monthly streamflow disaggregation
Data interpolation
Data processing
Hydrology
Water management
title Assessment of monthly to daily streamflow disaggregation methods: A case study of the Nile River Basin
title_full Assessment of monthly to daily streamflow disaggregation methods: A case study of the Nile River Basin
title_fullStr Assessment of monthly to daily streamflow disaggregation methods: A case study of the Nile River Basin
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of monthly to daily streamflow disaggregation methods: A case study of the Nile River Basin
title_short Assessment of monthly to daily streamflow disaggregation methods: A case study of the Nile River Basin
title_sort assessment of monthly to daily streamflow disaggregation methods a case study of the nile river basin
topic Nile River Basin
Monthly streamflow disaggregation
Data interpolation
Data processing
Hydrology
Water management
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824003185
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