Journal article

Publication year: 2002

Pages: 1723-1733

Journal: Journal of the American Water Resources Association

Volume number: 38

Issue number: 6

ISSN: 1093-474X

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.2002.tb04377.x

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 
Complex hydrologic models, designed for simulating larger watersheds, require a huge amount of input data. Most of these models use spatially distributed data as inputs. Spatial data can be aggregated or disaggregated for use as input to a model, which can impact model outputs. Although, it is efficient to minimize data redundancy by aggregating the spatial data, upscaling reduces the detail/resolution of input information and increases model uncertainty. On the other hand, a large number of model inputs with high degrees of disaggregation take more computer time and space to process. Hence, a balance between striving for a maximum level of aggregation and a minimum level of information loss has to be achieved. This study presents a definition of an appropriate level of discretization, derived by establishing a relationship between a model's efficiency and the number of subwatersheds modeled. An entropy based statistical approach/tool called SUbwatershed Spatial Analysis Tool (SUSAT) was developed to find an objective choice of an appropriate level of discretization. The new approach/tool was applied to three watersheds, each representing different hydrologic conditions, using a hydrologic model. Coefficients of efficiency and entropy estimated at different levels of discretization were used to validate the success of the new approach.

Harvard Citation style: Haverkamp, S., Srinivasan, R., Frede, H. and Santhi, C. (2002) Subwatershed spatial analysis tool: Discretization of a distributed hydrologic model by statistical criteria, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 38(6), pp. 1723-1733. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.2002.tb04377.x

APA Citation style: Haverkamp, S., Srinivasan, R., Frede, H., & Santhi, C. (2002). Subwatershed spatial analysis tool: Discretization of a distributed hydrologic model by statistical criteria. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 38(6), 1723-1733. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.2002.tb04377.x