Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of a surface runoff model using ensemble of artificial rainfall experiments

Surface runoff models are essential for designing water and soil protection measures. However, they often exhibit uncertainty in both parameterization and results. Typically, uncertainty is evaluated by comparing model realizations with measured data. However, this approach is constrained by limited...

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Main Authors: Jeřábek Jakub, Kavka Petr
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2024-0021
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author Jeřábek Jakub
Kavka Petr
author_facet Jeřábek Jakub
Kavka Petr
author_sort Jeřábek Jakub
collection DOAJ
description Surface runoff models are essential for designing water and soil protection measures. However, they often exhibit uncertainty in both parameterization and results. Typically, uncertainty is evaluated by comparing model realizations with measured data. However, this approach is constrained by limited data availability, preventing comprehensive uncertainty assessment. To overcome this limitation, we employed the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) methodology to conduct sensitivity and uncertainty analyses on a series of surface runoff models. These models were based on an ensemble of artificial rainfall experiments comprising 77 scenarios with similar settings. We utilized the rainfall-runoff-erosion model SMODERP2D to simulate the experiments and employed Differential Evolution, a heuristic optimization method, to generate sets of behavioural models for each experiment. Additionally, we evaluated the sensitivity and uncertainty with respect to two variables; water level and surface runoff. Our results indicate similar sensitivity of water level and surface runoff to most parameters, with a generally high equifinality. The ensemble of models revealed high uncertainty in bare soil models, especially under dry initial soil water conditions where the lag time for runoff onset was the largest (e.g. runoff coefficient ranged between 0–0.8). Conversely, models with wet initial soil water conditions exhibited lower uncertainty compared to those with dry initial soil water content (e.g. runoff coefficient ranged between 0.6 – 1). Models with crop cover showed a multimodal distribution in water flow and volume, possibly due to variations in crop type and growth stages. Therefore, distinguishing these crop properties could reduce uncertainty. Utilizing an ensemble of models for sensitivity and uncertainty analysis demonstrated its potential in identifying sources of uncertainty, thereby enhancing the robustness and generalizability of such analyses.
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spelling doaj-art-4f840414bf8a496f809042fc081f22fc2024-12-10T07:33:13ZengSciendoJournal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics1338-43332024-12-0172446648510.2478/johh-2024-0021Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of a surface runoff model using ensemble of artificial rainfall experimentsJeřábek Jakub0Kavka Petr11The Department of Landscape Water Conservation, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thákurova 7/2077, 166 29 Praha 6 – Dejvice, Czech Republic.1The Department of Landscape Water Conservation, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thákurova 7/2077, 166 29 Praha 6 – Dejvice, Czech Republic.Surface runoff models are essential for designing water and soil protection measures. However, they often exhibit uncertainty in both parameterization and results. Typically, uncertainty is evaluated by comparing model realizations with measured data. However, this approach is constrained by limited data availability, preventing comprehensive uncertainty assessment. To overcome this limitation, we employed the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) methodology to conduct sensitivity and uncertainty analyses on a series of surface runoff models. These models were based on an ensemble of artificial rainfall experiments comprising 77 scenarios with similar settings. We utilized the rainfall-runoff-erosion model SMODERP2D to simulate the experiments and employed Differential Evolution, a heuristic optimization method, to generate sets of behavioural models for each experiment. Additionally, we evaluated the sensitivity and uncertainty with respect to two variables; water level and surface runoff. Our results indicate similar sensitivity of water level and surface runoff to most parameters, with a generally high equifinality. The ensemble of models revealed high uncertainty in bare soil models, especially under dry initial soil water conditions where the lag time for runoff onset was the largest (e.g. runoff coefficient ranged between 0–0.8). Conversely, models with wet initial soil water conditions exhibited lower uncertainty compared to those with dry initial soil water content (e.g. runoff coefficient ranged between 0.6 – 1). Models with crop cover showed a multimodal distribution in water flow and volume, possibly due to variations in crop type and growth stages. Therefore, distinguishing these crop properties could reduce uncertainty. Utilizing an ensemble of models for sensitivity and uncertainty analysis demonstrated its potential in identifying sources of uncertainty, thereby enhancing the robustness and generalizability of such analyses.https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2024-0021surface runoff modeluncertainty analysissensitivity analysisgluemodel ensemble
spellingShingle Jeřábek Jakub
Kavka Petr
Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of a surface runoff model using ensemble of artificial rainfall experiments
Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics
surface runoff model
uncertainty analysis
sensitivity analysis
glue
model ensemble
title Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of a surface runoff model using ensemble of artificial rainfall experiments
title_full Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of a surface runoff model using ensemble of artificial rainfall experiments
title_fullStr Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of a surface runoff model using ensemble of artificial rainfall experiments
title_full_unstemmed Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of a surface runoff model using ensemble of artificial rainfall experiments
title_short Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of a surface runoff model using ensemble of artificial rainfall experiments
title_sort sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of a surface runoff model using ensemble of artificial rainfall experiments
topic surface runoff model
uncertainty analysis
sensitivity analysis
glue
model ensemble
url https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2024-0021
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