SWAT Literature Database for Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Title:Issues of diffuse pollution model complexity arising from performance benchmarking 
Authors:Hutchins, M.G., C. Dilks, H.N. Davies and A. Deflandre 
Year:2008 
Journal:Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 
Volume (Issue):11(1) 
Pages:647-662 
Article ID: 
DOI:10.5194/hess-11-647-2007 
URL (non-DOI journals): 
Model:SWAT 
Broad Application Category:hydrologic and pollutant 
Primary Application Category:nitrogen cycling/loss and transport 
Secondary Application Category:hydrologic assessment 
Watershed Description:540 km^2 Ythan River, located in northeast Scotland in the northern part of the United Kingdom. 
Calibration Summary: 
Validation Summary: 
General Comments: 
Abstract:Flow and nitrate dynamics were simulated in two catchments, the River Aire in northern England and the River Ythan in north-east Scotland. In the case of the Aire, a diffuse pollution model was coupled with a river quality model (CASCADE-QUESTOR); in the study of the Ythan, an integrated model (SWAT) was used. In each study, model performance was evaluated for differing levels of spatial representation in input data sets (rainfall, soils and land use). In respect of nitrate concentrations, the performance of the models was compared with that of a regression model based on proportions of land cover. The overall objective was to assess the merits of spatially distributed input data sets. In both catchments, specific measures of quantitative performance showed that models using the most detailed available input data contributed, at best, only a marginal improvement over simpler implementations. Hence, the level of complexity used in input data sets has to be determined, not only on multiple criteria of quantitative performance but also on qualitative assessments, reflecting the specific context of the model application and the current and likely future needs of end-users. 
Language:English 
Keywords:flow, nitrate, catchment, benchmark, model, CASCADE, QUESTOR, SWAT, Aire, Ythan