Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1419 |
| Journal | Water (Switzerland) |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - 10 Oct 2018 |
Abstract
The Soil andWater Assessment Tool (SWAT) is one of the most widely used eco-hydrological models. SWAT has been undergoing constant changes since its development. However, compartment review and testing of SWAT, especially the hydrologic routing functions, are comparably limited. In this study, the daily hydrologic routing subroutines of different SWAT versions were reviewed and tested using a well observed segment of the Weser River located in Germany. Results show several problems with the routing subroutines of SWAT. The variable storage subroutine of SWAT (Revision 664) does not transform the stream flow. Unphysical results could be obtained with the variable storage routing of SWAT (Revision 528). The Muskingum subroutine of SWAT (Revisions 664 and 528) overestimates daily channel evaporation (resulting in a bias of up to 6.3% in streamflow in our case studies) and underestimates daily transmission losses. Simulated results show that the timing and shape of flood waves, as well as the volume of low flows, could be improved with a corrected Muskingum subroutine. Based on the results of this study, we suggest that the SWAT user community review their existing SWAT models to see how the aforementioned issues will affect their methods, findings, and conclusions.
Keywords
- Flood routing, Hydrologic routing, Low flow, Muskingum, SWAT, Variable storage
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Biochemistry
- Social Sciences(all)
- Geography, Planning and Development
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Aquatic Science
- Environmental Science(all)
- Water Science and Technology
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In: Water (Switzerland), Vol. 10, No. 10, 1419, 10.10.2018.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Verification and Correction of the Hydrologic Routing in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool
AU - Nguyen, Van Tam
AU - Dietrich, Jörg
AU - Uniyal, Bhumika
AU - Tran, Dang An
N1 - Funding information: The authors thank three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments which improved the quality of the manuscript. This research received no external funding. The APC was funded by the Open Access fund of Leibniz Universität Hannover.
PY - 2018/10/10
Y1 - 2018/10/10
N2 - The Soil andWater Assessment Tool (SWAT) is one of the most widely used eco-hydrological models. SWAT has been undergoing constant changes since its development. However, compartment review and testing of SWAT, especially the hydrologic routing functions, are comparably limited. In this study, the daily hydrologic routing subroutines of different SWAT versions were reviewed and tested using a well observed segment of the Weser River located in Germany. Results show several problems with the routing subroutines of SWAT. The variable storage subroutine of SWAT (Revision 664) does not transform the stream flow. Unphysical results could be obtained with the variable storage routing of SWAT (Revision 528). The Muskingum subroutine of SWAT (Revisions 664 and 528) overestimates daily channel evaporation (resulting in a bias of up to 6.3% in streamflow in our case studies) and underestimates daily transmission losses. Simulated results show that the timing and shape of flood waves, as well as the volume of low flows, could be improved with a corrected Muskingum subroutine. Based on the results of this study, we suggest that the SWAT user community review their existing SWAT models to see how the aforementioned issues will affect their methods, findings, and conclusions.
AB - The Soil andWater Assessment Tool (SWAT) is one of the most widely used eco-hydrological models. SWAT has been undergoing constant changes since its development. However, compartment review and testing of SWAT, especially the hydrologic routing functions, are comparably limited. In this study, the daily hydrologic routing subroutines of different SWAT versions were reviewed and tested using a well observed segment of the Weser River located in Germany. Results show several problems with the routing subroutines of SWAT. The variable storage subroutine of SWAT (Revision 664) does not transform the stream flow. Unphysical results could be obtained with the variable storage routing of SWAT (Revision 528). The Muskingum subroutine of SWAT (Revisions 664 and 528) overestimates daily channel evaporation (resulting in a bias of up to 6.3% in streamflow in our case studies) and underestimates daily transmission losses. Simulated results show that the timing and shape of flood waves, as well as the volume of low flows, could be improved with a corrected Muskingum subroutine. Based on the results of this study, we suggest that the SWAT user community review their existing SWAT models to see how the aforementioned issues will affect their methods, findings, and conclusions.
KW - Flood routing
KW - Hydrologic routing
KW - Low flow
KW - Muskingum
KW - SWAT
KW - Variable storage
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85054741383&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/w10101419
DO - 10.3390/w10101419
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85054741383
VL - 10
JO - Water (Switzerland)
JF - Water (Switzerland)
SN - 2073-4441
IS - 10
M1 - 1419
ER -