| Title: | Estimating watershed-scale precipitation by combining gauge- and radar-derived observations |
| Authors: | Ercan, M.B. and J.L. Goodall |
| Year: | 2013 |
| Journal: | Journal of Hydrologic Engineering |
| Volume (Issue): | 18(8) |
| Pages: | 983-994 |
| Article ID: | |
| DOI: | 10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0000687 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic only |
| Primary Application Category: | climate data effects |
| Secondary Application Category: | hydrologic assessment |
| Watershed Description: | 171 km^2 Eno River, located in Orange County in north central North Carolina, U.S. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | Watershed modeling requires accurate estimates of precipitation; however, in some cases it is necessary to simulate streamflow in a watershed for which there is no precipitation gauge records within close proximity to the watershed. For such cases, we propose an approach to estimating watershed-scale precipitation by combining (or fusing) gauge-based precipitation time series with radar-based precipitation time series in a way that seeks to match input precipitation for the watershed model with observed streamflow at the watershed outlet. We test the proposed data fusion approach through a case study where the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is used to simulate streamflow for a portion of the Eno River Watershed located in Orange County, North Carolina. Results of this case study show that the proposed approach improved model accuracy (E = 0.60; R2 = 0.74; PB = −10.2) when compared to a model driven by gauge data
only (E = 0.50; R2 = 0.54; PB = −25.5) or radar data only (E = 0.33; R2 = 0.61; PB = −13.7). While this result is limited to a single watershed case study, it suggests that the proposed approach could be a useful tool for hydrologic engineers in need of retrospective precipitation estimates for watersheds that suffer from inadequate gauge coverage. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | Precipitation; Watersheds; Hydrologic models; Radar |