A groundwater-based, objective-heuristic parameter optimisation method for a precipitation-runoff model and its application to a semi-arid basin

K. Mazi, A. D. Koussis, P. J. Restrepo, and D. Koutsoyiannis, A groundwater-based, objective-heuristic parameter optimisation method for a precipitation-runoff model and its application to a semi-arid basin, Journal of Hydrology, 290, 243–258, 2004.

[doc_id=594]

[English]

A hydrologic model calibration methodology that is based on groundwater data is developed and implemented using the USGS precipitation-runoff modelling system (PRMS) and the modular modelling system (MMS), which performs automatic calibration of parameters. The developed methodology was tested in the Akrotiri basin, Cyprus. The necessity for the ground-water-based model calibration, rather than a typical runoff-based one, arose from the very intermittent character of the runoff in the Akrotiri basin, a case often met in semiarid regions. Introducing a datum and converting groundwater storage to head made the observable ground- water level the calibration indicator. The modelling of the Akrotiri basin leads us to conclude that groundwater level is a useful indicator for hydrological model calibration that can be potentially used in other similar situations in the absence of river flow measurements. However, the option of an automatic calibration of the complex hydrologic model PRMS by MMS did not ensure a good outcome. On the other hand, automatic optimisation, combined with heuristic expert intervention, enabled achievement of good calibration and constitutes a valuable means for saving effort and improving modelling performance. To this end, results must be scrutinised, melding the viewpoint of physical sense with mathematical efficiency criteria. Thus optimised, PRMS achieved a low simulation error, good reproduction of the historic trend of the aquifer water level evolution and reasonable physical behaviour (good hydrologic balance, aquifer did not empty, good estimation of mean natural recharge rate).

Full text is only available to the NTUA network due to copyright restrictions

PDF Additional material:

See also: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2003.12.006

Our works referenced by this work:

1. K. Mazi, Parameter optimisation of a hydrologic balance model using groundwater data, Postgraduate Thesis, 168 pages, Department of Water Resources, Hydraulic and Maritime Engineering – National Technical University of Athens, Athens, 2000.

Our works that reference this work:

1. A. Efstratiadis, I. Nalbantis, A. Koukouvinos, E. Rozos, and D. Koutsoyiannis, HYDROGEIOS: A semi-distributed GIS-based hydrological model for modified river basins, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 12, 989–1006, doi:10.5194/hess-12-989-2008, 2008.
2. E. Savvidou, A. Efstratiadis, A. D. Koussis, A. Koukouvinos, and D. Skarlatos, A curve number approach to formulate hydrological response units within distributed hydrological modelling, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions, doi:10.5194/hess-2016-627, 2016.
3. E. Savvidou, A. Efstratiadis, A. D. Koussis, A. Koukouvinos, and D. Skarlatos, The curve number concept as a driver for delineating hydrological response units, Water, 10 (2), 194, doi:10.3390/w10020194, 2018.

Works that cite this document: View on Google Scholar or ResearchGate

Other works that reference this work (this list might be obsolete):

1. Clark, S., S. Burian, R. Pitt and R. Field, Urban wet-weather flows, Water Environment Research, 77 (6), 826-981, 2005.
2. Prieto, C., A. Kotronarou and G. Destouni, The influence of temporal hydrological randomness on seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers, Journal of Hydrology, 330(1-2), 285-300, 2006.
3. Qi, S., Y.-Q. Wang, G. Sun, J.-Z. Zhu, Y.-B. Xiao, H.-L., Yang and S. McNulty, Modeling the effects of reforestation on peakflow rates of a small watershed in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Journal of Beijing Forestry Univ., 28(5), 42-51, 2006.
4. Wei, W., L. Chen, B. Fu, Z. Huang, D., Wu and L. Gui, The effect of land uses and rainfall regimes on runoff and soil erosion in the semi-arid loess hilly area, China, Journal of Hydrology, 335(3-4), 247-258, 2007.
5. #Birol, E., P. Koundouri and Y. Kountouris, Farmers' demand for recycled water in Cyprus: A contingent valuation approach, Environmental Security, NATO Security through Science Series C, 267-278, 2007.
6. Dahan, O., Y. Shani Y. Enzel, Y. Yechieli and A. Yakirevich, Direct measurements of floodwater infiltration into shallow alluvial aquifers, Journal of Hydrology, 344(3-4), 157-170, 2007.
7. #NOAA Office of Hydrologic Development Carter, Hydrology Laboratory Strategic Science Plan, NOAA, 2007.
8. Kuzmin, V., D.-J. Seo and V. Koren, Fast and efficient optimization of hydrologic model parameters using a priori estimates and stepwise line search, Journal of Hydrology, 353(1-2), 109-128, 2008.
9. Birol, E., P. Koundouri and Y. Kountouris, Evaluating farmers' preferences for wastewater: Quantity and quality aspects, International Journal of Water, 4(1-2), 69-86, 2008.
10. Tsanis. I.K., and M. G. Apostolaki, Estimating Groundwater Withdrawal in Poorly Gauged Agricultural Basins, Water Resources Management, 23(6), 1097-1123, 2009.
11. Wang, R., and X. Lu, Quantitative estimation models and their application of ecological water use at a basin scale, Water Resources Management, 23(7), 1351-1365, 2009.
12. #Birol, E., P. Koundouri and Y. Kountouris, Estimating farmers' valuation of aquifer recharge with treated wastewater: The Cypriot case study, The Use of Economic Valuation in Environmental Policy: Providing Research Support for the Implementation of EU Water Policy Under Aquastress, 76-88, 2009.
13. Birol, E., P. Koundouri and Y. Kountouris, Assessing the economic viability of alternative water resources in water-scarce regions: Combining economic valuation, cost-benefit analysis and discounting, Ecological Economics, 69 (4), 839-847, 2010.
14. Koussis, A. D., E. Georgopoulou, A. Kotronarou, K. Mazi, P. Restrepo, G. Destouni, C. Prieto, J. J. Rodriguez, J. Rodriguez-Mirasol, T. Cordero, C. Ioannou, A. Georgiou, J. Schwartz and I. Zacharias, Cost-efficient management of coastal aquifers via recharge with treated wastewater and desalination of brackish groundwater: application to the Akrotiri basin and aquifer, Cyprus, Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(7), 1234–1245, 2010.
15. Rapti-Caputo, D., Influence of climatic changes and human activities on the salinization process of coastal aquifer systems, Italian Journal of Agronomy, 3 Suppl., 67-79, 2010.
16. Ghandhari, A., and S. M. R. Alavi Moghaddam, Water balance principles: A review of studies on five watersheds in Iran, Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 4 (5), 465-479, 2011.
17. Wang, Y.-Q., S. Qi, G. Sun and S.G. McNulty, Impacts of climate and land-use change on water resources in a watershed: A case study on the Trent River basin in North Carolina, USA, Shuikexue Jinzhan/Advances in Water Science, 22 (1), 51-58, 2011.
18. Koussis, A. D., K. Mazi and G. Destouni, Analytical single-potential, sharp-interface solutions for regional seawater intrusion in sloping unconfined coastal aquifers, with pumping and recharge, Journal of Hydrology, 416-417, 1-11, 2012.
19. Flipo, N., C. Monteil, M. Poulin, C. de Fouquet, and M. Krimissa, Hybrid fitting of a hydrosystem model: Long term insight into the Beauce aquifer functioning (France), Water Recourses Research, 48, W05509, DOI: 10.1029/2011WR011092, 2012.
20. Vrugt, J. A., C. J. F. ter Braak, C. G. H. Diks and G. Schoups, Hydrologic data assimilation using particle Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation: Theory, concepts and applications, Advances in Water Resources, 51, 457-478, 2013.
21. Sadegh, M., and J. A. Vrugt, Approximate Bayesian Computation in hydrologic modeling: equifinality of formal and informal approaches, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 10, 4739-4797, 10.5194/hessd-10-4739-2013, 2013.
22. Sadegh, M., and J. A.Vrugt, Bridging the gap between GLUE and formal statistical approaches: approximate Bayesian computation, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4831-4850, 10.5194/hess-17-4831-2013, 2013.
23. Mazi, K., A. D. Koussis and G. Destouni, Intensively exploited Mediterranean aquifers: resilience to seawater intrusion and proximity to critical thresholds, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 1663-1677, 2014.
24. Li, G., X. Li and J. Qu, Investigating the interaction between Crescent Spring and groundwater in a Chinese dune-lake environment using hydraulic gradient and isotope analysis methods, Holocene, 24 (7), 798-804, 2014.
25. Chen, Y. W., J. P. Tsai, L. C. Chang, C. J. Chiang, Y. C. Wang, C. T. Hsiao and Y. C. Chen, Identification of regional groundwater net-recharge rate using expert system-a case study of Pintung plain, Journal of the Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, 26 (1), 37-49, 2014.
26. Koussis, A.D., K. Mazi, F. Riou and G. Destouni, A correction for Dupuit-Forchheimer interface flow models of seawater intrusion in unconfined coastal aquifers, Journal of Hydrology, 525, 277-285, 2015.

Tagged under: Groundwater, Hydrological models, Optimization, Students' works