A large-sample modelling approach towards integrating streamflow and evaporation data for the Spanish catchments

<p>The simultaneous incorporation of streamflow and evaporation data into sensitivity analysis and calibration approaches has great potential to improve the representation of hydrologic processes in modelling frameworks. This work aims to investigate the capabilities of the Variable Infiltrati...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: P. Yeste, M. García-Valdecasas Ojeda, S. R. Gámiz-Fortis, Y. Castro-Díez, A. Bronstert, M. J. Esteban-Parra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2024-12-01
Series:Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/28/5331/2024/hess-28-5331-2024.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846120439769726976
author P. Yeste
P. Yeste
P. Yeste
M. García-Valdecasas Ojeda
M. García-Valdecasas Ojeda
S. R. Gámiz-Fortis
S. R. Gámiz-Fortis
Y. Castro-Díez
Y. Castro-Díez
A. Bronstert
M. J. Esteban-Parra
M. J. Esteban-Parra
author_facet P. Yeste
P. Yeste
P. Yeste
M. García-Valdecasas Ojeda
M. García-Valdecasas Ojeda
S. R. Gámiz-Fortis
S. R. Gámiz-Fortis
Y. Castro-Díez
Y. Castro-Díez
A. Bronstert
M. J. Esteban-Parra
M. J. Esteban-Parra
author_sort P. Yeste
collection DOAJ
description <p>The simultaneous incorporation of streamflow and evaporation data into sensitivity analysis and calibration approaches has great potential to improve the representation of hydrologic processes in modelling frameworks. This work aims to investigate the capabilities of the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model in a large-sample application focused on the joint integration of streamflow and evaporation data for 189 headwater catchments located in Spain. The study has been articulated into three parts: (1) a regional sensitivity analysis for a total of 20 soil, routing, and vegetation parameters to select the most important parameters conducive to an adequate representation of the streamflow and evaporation dynamics; (2) a two-fold calibration approach against daily streamflow and monthly evaporation data based on the previous parameter selection for VIC; and (3) an evaluation of model performance based on a benchmark comparison against a well-established hydrologic model for the Spanish domain and a cross-validation test using multiple meteorological datasets to assess the generalizability of the calibrated parameters. The regional sensitivity analysis revealed that only two vegetation parameters – namely, the leaf area index and the minimum stomatal resistance – were sufficient to improve the performance of VIC for evaporation. These parameters were added to the soil and routing parameter during the calibration stage. Results from the two calibration experiments suggested that, while the streamflow performance remained close in both cases, the evaporation performance was highly improved if the objectives for streamflow and evaporation were combined into a single composite function during optimization. The VIC model outperformed the reference benchmark, and the independent meteorological datasets yielded a slight to moderate loss in model performance depending on the calibration experiment considered. Results from this investigation provide valuable insights into VIC parameter sensitivities, with a particular focus on large-sample applications, and highlight the importance of integrating multiple datasets into model calibration as a measure to reduce model equifinality.</p>
format Article
id doaj-art-8a45b10b965042929bbccb0e82ae0beb
institution Kabale University
issn 1027-5606
1607-7938
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
spelling doaj-art-8a45b10b965042929bbccb0e82ae0beb2024-12-16T10:58:12ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382024-12-01285331535210.5194/hess-28-5331-2024A large-sample modelling approach towards integrating streamflow and evaporation data for the Spanish catchmentsP. Yeste0P. Yeste1P. Yeste2M. García-Valdecasas Ojeda3M. García-Valdecasas Ojeda4S. R. Gámiz-Fortis5S. R. Gámiz-Fortis6Y. Castro-Díez7Y. Castro-Díez8A. Bronstert9M. J. Esteban-Parra10M. J. Esteban-Parra11Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24–25, 14476 Potsdam, GermanyDepartment of Applied Physics, University of Granada, Campus Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, SpainAndalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), University of Granada, 18006 Granada, SpainDepartment of Applied Physics, University of Granada, Campus Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, SpainAndalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), University of Granada, 18006 Granada, SpainDepartment of Applied Physics, University of Granada, Campus Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, SpainAndalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), University of Granada, 18006 Granada, SpainDepartment of Applied Physics, University of Granada, Campus Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, SpainAndalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), University of Granada, 18006 Granada, SpainInstitute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24–25, 14476 Potsdam, GermanyDepartment of Applied Physics, University of Granada, Campus Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, SpainAndalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), University of Granada, 18006 Granada, Spain<p>The simultaneous incorporation of streamflow and evaporation data into sensitivity analysis and calibration approaches has great potential to improve the representation of hydrologic processes in modelling frameworks. This work aims to investigate the capabilities of the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model in a large-sample application focused on the joint integration of streamflow and evaporation data for 189 headwater catchments located in Spain. The study has been articulated into three parts: (1) a regional sensitivity analysis for a total of 20 soil, routing, and vegetation parameters to select the most important parameters conducive to an adequate representation of the streamflow and evaporation dynamics; (2) a two-fold calibration approach against daily streamflow and monthly evaporation data based on the previous parameter selection for VIC; and (3) an evaluation of model performance based on a benchmark comparison against a well-established hydrologic model for the Spanish domain and a cross-validation test using multiple meteorological datasets to assess the generalizability of the calibrated parameters. The regional sensitivity analysis revealed that only two vegetation parameters – namely, the leaf area index and the minimum stomatal resistance – were sufficient to improve the performance of VIC for evaporation. These parameters were added to the soil and routing parameter during the calibration stage. Results from the two calibration experiments suggested that, while the streamflow performance remained close in both cases, the evaporation performance was highly improved if the objectives for streamflow and evaporation were combined into a single composite function during optimization. The VIC model outperformed the reference benchmark, and the independent meteorological datasets yielded a slight to moderate loss in model performance depending on the calibration experiment considered. Results from this investigation provide valuable insights into VIC parameter sensitivities, with a particular focus on large-sample applications, and highlight the importance of integrating multiple datasets into model calibration as a measure to reduce model equifinality.</p>https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/28/5331/2024/hess-28-5331-2024.pdf
spellingShingle P. Yeste
P. Yeste
P. Yeste
M. García-Valdecasas Ojeda
M. García-Valdecasas Ojeda
S. R. Gámiz-Fortis
S. R. Gámiz-Fortis
Y. Castro-Díez
Y. Castro-Díez
A. Bronstert
M. J. Esteban-Parra
M. J. Esteban-Parra
A large-sample modelling approach towards integrating streamflow and evaporation data for the Spanish catchments
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
title A large-sample modelling approach towards integrating streamflow and evaporation data for the Spanish catchments
title_full A large-sample modelling approach towards integrating streamflow and evaporation data for the Spanish catchments
title_fullStr A large-sample modelling approach towards integrating streamflow and evaporation data for the Spanish catchments
title_full_unstemmed A large-sample modelling approach towards integrating streamflow and evaporation data for the Spanish catchments
title_short A large-sample modelling approach towards integrating streamflow and evaporation data for the Spanish catchments
title_sort large sample modelling approach towards integrating streamflow and evaporation data for the spanish catchments
url https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/28/5331/2024/hess-28-5331-2024.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT pyeste alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT pyeste alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT pyeste alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT mgarciavaldecasasojeda alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT mgarciavaldecasasojeda alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT srgamizfortis alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT srgamizfortis alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT ycastrodiez alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT ycastrodiez alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT abronstert alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT mjestebanparra alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT mjestebanparra alargesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT pyeste largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT pyeste largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT pyeste largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT mgarciavaldecasasojeda largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT mgarciavaldecasasojeda largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT srgamizfortis largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT srgamizfortis largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT ycastrodiez largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT ycastrodiez largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT abronstert largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT mjestebanparra largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments
AT mjestebanparra largesamplemodellingapproachtowardsintegratingstreamflowandevaporationdataforthespanishcatchments