Understanding hydrological processes with scarce data in a mountain environment

Performance of process-based hydrological models is usually assessed through comparison between simulated and measured streamflow. Although necessary, this analysis is not sufficient to estimate the quality and realism of the modelling since streamflow integrates all processes of the water cycle, in...

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Autores principales: Chaponnière, Anne, Boulet, G., Chehbouni, Abdelghani, Aresmouk, A.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Wiley 2008
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40699
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author Chaponnière, Anne
Boulet, G.
Chehbouni, Abdelghani
Aresmouk, A.
author_browse Aresmouk, A.
Boulet, G.
Chaponnière, Anne
Chehbouni, Abdelghani
author_facet Chaponnière, Anne
Boulet, G.
Chehbouni, Abdelghani
Aresmouk, A.
author_sort Chaponnière, Anne
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Performance of process-based hydrological models is usually assessed through comparison between simulated and measured streamflow. Although necessary, this analysis is not sufficient to estimate the quality and realism of the modelling since streamflow integrates all processes of the water cycle, including intermediate production or redistribution processes such as snowmelt or groundwater flow. Assessing the performance of hydrological models in simulating accurately intermediate processes is often difficult and requires heavy experimental investments. In this study, conceptual hydrological modelling (using SWAT) of a semi-arid mountainous watershed in the High Atlas in Morocco is attempted. Our objective is to analyse whether good intermediate processes simulation is reached when global-satisfying streamflow simulation is possible. First, parameters presenting intercorrelation issues are identified: from the soil, the groundwater and, to a lesser extent, from the snow. Second, methodologies are developed to retrieve information from accessible intermediate hydrological processes. A geochemical method is used to quantify the contribution of a superficial and a deep reservoir to streamflow. It is shown that, for this specific process, the model formalism is not adapted to our study area and thus leads to poor simulation results. A remote-sensing methodology is proposed to retrieve the snow surfaces. Comparison with the simulation shows that this process can be satisfyingly simulated by the model. The multidisciplinary approach adopted in this study, although supported by the hydrological community, is still uncommon.
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spelling CGSpace406992025-06-17T08:23:33Z Understanding hydrological processes with scarce data in a mountain environment Chaponnière, Anne Boulet, G. Chehbouni, Abdelghani Aresmouk, A. hydrology simulation models calibration stream flow measurement time series analysis remote sensing precipitation water balance highlands mountains watersheds reservoirs snow cover geology topography land use soil types groundwater evapotranspiration runoff infiltration percolation Performance of process-based hydrological models is usually assessed through comparison between simulated and measured streamflow. Although necessary, this analysis is not sufficient to estimate the quality and realism of the modelling since streamflow integrates all processes of the water cycle, including intermediate production or redistribution processes such as snowmelt or groundwater flow. Assessing the performance of hydrological models in simulating accurately intermediate processes is often difficult and requires heavy experimental investments. In this study, conceptual hydrological modelling (using SWAT) of a semi-arid mountainous watershed in the High Atlas in Morocco is attempted. Our objective is to analyse whether good intermediate processes simulation is reached when global-satisfying streamflow simulation is possible. First, parameters presenting intercorrelation issues are identified: from the soil, the groundwater and, to a lesser extent, from the snow. Second, methodologies are developed to retrieve information from accessible intermediate hydrological processes. A geochemical method is used to quantify the contribution of a superficial and a deep reservoir to streamflow. It is shown that, for this specific process, the model formalism is not adapted to our study area and thus leads to poor simulation results. A remote-sensing methodology is proposed to retrieve the snow surfaces. Comparison with the simulation shows that this process can be satisfyingly simulated by the model. The multidisciplinary approach adopted in this study, although supported by the hydrological community, is still uncommon. 2008-06-15 2014-06-13T14:48:13Z 2014-06-13T14:48:13Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40699 en Open Access Wiley Chaponniere, Anne; Boulet, G.; Chehbouni, A.; Aresmouk, A. 2008. Understanding hydrological processes with scarce data in a mountain environment. Hydrological Processes, 22(12):1908-1921. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6775
spellingShingle hydrology
simulation models
calibration
stream flow
measurement
time series analysis
remote sensing
precipitation
water balance
highlands
mountains
watersheds
reservoirs
snow cover
geology
topography
land use
soil types
groundwater
evapotranspiration
runoff
infiltration
percolation
Chaponnière, Anne
Boulet, G.
Chehbouni, Abdelghani
Aresmouk, A.
Understanding hydrological processes with scarce data in a mountain environment
title Understanding hydrological processes with scarce data in a mountain environment
title_full Understanding hydrological processes with scarce data in a mountain environment
title_fullStr Understanding hydrological processes with scarce data in a mountain environment
title_full_unstemmed Understanding hydrological processes with scarce data in a mountain environment
title_short Understanding hydrological processes with scarce data in a mountain environment
title_sort understanding hydrological processes with scarce data in a mountain environment
topic hydrology
simulation models
calibration
stream flow
measurement
time series analysis
remote sensing
precipitation
water balance
highlands
mountains
watersheds
reservoirs
snow cover
geology
topography
land use
soil types
groundwater
evapotranspiration
runoff
infiltration
percolation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40699
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AT bouletg understandinghydrologicalprocesseswithscarcedatainamountainenvironment
AT chehbouniabdelghani understandinghydrologicalprocesseswithscarcedatainamountainenvironment
AT aresmouka understandinghydrologicalprocesseswithscarcedatainamountainenvironment