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TOPMODEL for Streamflow Simulation of a Tropical Catchment Using Different Resolutions of ASTER DEM: Optimization Through Response Surface Methodology

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Abstract

The unavailability of proper hydrological data quality combined with the complexity of most physical based hydrologic models limits research on rainfall-runoff relationships, particularly in the tropics. In this paper, an attempt has been made to use different resolutions of DEM generated from freely available 30 m-based ASTER imagery as primary input to the topographically-based hydrological (TOPMODEL) model to simulate the runoff of a medium catchment located in the tropics. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the most sensitive parameters for streamflow simulation. DEM resolutions from 30 to 300 m have been used to assess their effects on the topographic index distribution (TI) and TOPMODEL simulation. It is found that changing DEM resolutions reduces the TOPMODEL simulation performance as the resolutions are varied from 30 to 300 m. The study concluded that the ASTER 30 m DEM can be used for reasonable streamflow simulation of a data scarce tropical catchment compared with the resampled DEMs.

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Acknowledgments

Authors would like to acknowledge Prof. Dr. Hab. Renata J. Romanowicz for her support in applying MATLAB version of TOPMODEL. Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) is greatly acknowledged, for providing required hydro-meteorological data. The ASTER GDEM used in this study is obtained from METI and NASA.

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  1. Ali H. Ahmed Suliman

    Present address: University of Al-Hamdaniya, Nineveh Plain, Iraq

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, College of Education, University of Al-Hamdaniya, Nineveh Plain, Iraq

    Ali H. Ahmed Suliman & Shamsuddin Shahid

  2. Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Malaysia

    Ali H. Ahmed Suliman

  3. School of Bioprocess Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), 01000, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia

    Ayob Katimon

  4. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Malaysia

    Intan Zaurah Mat Darus

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  1. Ali H. Ahmed Suliman
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Correspondence to Ali H. Ahmed Suliman.

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Suliman, A.H.A., Katimon, A., Darus, I.Z.M. et al. TOPMODEL for Streamflow Simulation of a Tropical Catchment Using Different Resolutions of ASTER DEM: Optimization Through Response Surface Methodology. Water Resour Manage 30, 3159–3173 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-016-1338-2

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