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A Multi-Model Nonstationary Rainfall-Runoff Modeling Framework: Analysis and Toolbox

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Abstract

We present a framework and toolbox for multi-model (one at a time) nonstationary modeling of rainfall-runoff (RR) transformation. The designed time-varying nature of the five available conceptual RR models in the toolbox allows for modeling processes that are nonstationary in essence. Nonstationary Rainfall-Runoff Toolbox (NRRT) delivers insights about underlying watershed processes through interactive tuning of model parameters to reflect temporal nonstationarities. The toolbox includes a number of performance metrics, along with visual graphics to evaluate the goodness-of-fit of the model simulations. Our analysis shows that the proposed time-varying RR modeling framework successfully captures the nonstationary behavior of the Wights catchment in Australia. A multi-model analysis of this catchment, that has endured deforestation, provides insights on the functionality of different conceptual modules of RR models, and their representation of the real-world.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partially supported by the United States National Science Foundation Award No. CMMI −1635797, ARO’s Environmental Sciences Division Award No. W911NF-14-1-0684, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Award No. NA14OAR4310222.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA

    Mojtaba Sadegh, Amir AghaKouchak & Iman Mallakpour

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA

    Mojtaba Sadegh

  3. Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA

    Alejandro Flores

  4. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Nikoo

Authors
  1. Mojtaba Sadegh
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  2. Amir AghaKouchak
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  3. Alejandro Flores
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  4. Iman Mallakpour
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  5. Mohammad Reza Nikoo
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Correspondence to Amir AghaKouchak.

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Sadegh, M., AghaKouchak, A., Flores, A. et al. A Multi-Model Nonstationary Rainfall-Runoff Modeling Framework: Analysis and Toolbox. Water Resour Manage 33, 3011–3024 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-019-02283-y

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