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Modelling subsurface storm flow with the Representative Elementary Watershed (REW) approach: Application to the Alzette River Basin

Zhang, G.P. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author), Fenicia, F. (author), Pfister, L. (author)

journal article 2006

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Is the groundwater reservoir linear? Learning from data in hydrological modelling

Fenicia, F. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author), Matgen, P. (author), Pfister, L. (author)

Although catchment behaviour during recession periods is better identifiable than in other periods, the representation of hydrograph recession is often weak in hydrological simulations. Among the various aspects that influence model performance during low flows, in this paper we concentrate on those more inherently related to the modelling, such...

journal article 2006

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Soft combination of local models in a multi-objective framework

Fenicia, F. (author), Solomatine, D.P. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author), Matgen, P. (author)

journal article 2007

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A comparison of alternative multiobjective calibration strategies for hydrological modeling

Fenicia, F. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author), Matgen, P. (author), Pfister, L. (author)

A conceptual hydrological model structure contains several parameters that have to be estimated through matching observed and modeled watershed behavior in a calibration process. The requirement that a model simulation matches different aspects of system response at the same time has led the calibration problem toward a multiobjective approach....

journal article 2007

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Understanding catchment behavior through stepwise model concept improvement

Fenicia, F. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author), Matgen, P. (author), Pfister, L. (author)

Lack of data is one of the main limitations for hydrological modeling. However, it is often used as a justification for over simplifying, poorly performing models. If we want to enhance our understanding of hydrological systems, it is important to fully exploit the information contained in the available data, and to learn from model deficiencies...

journal article 2008

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Learning from model improvement: On the contribution of complementary data to process understanding

Fenicia, F. (author), McDonnell, J.J. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

A priori determined model structures are common in catchment rainfall-runoff modeling. While this has resulted in many ready-to-use modeling tools, there are several shortcomings of a one-size-fits-all model structure. The uniqueness of catchments with respect to their hydrological behavior and the need to adapt model complexity to data...

journal article 2008

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Anomaly in the rainfall-runoff behaviour of the Meuse catchment. Climate, land-use, or land-use management?

Fenicia, F. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author), Avdeeva, Y. (author)

OA-Fund TU Delft The objective of this paper is to investigate the time variability of catchment characteristics in the Meuse basin through its effect on catchment response. The approach uses a conceptual model to represent rainfall-runoff behaviour of this catchment, and evaluates possible time-dependence of model parameters. The main...

journal article 2009

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Land classification based on hydrological landscape units

Gharari, S. (author), Fenicia, F. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

This paper presents a new type of hydrological landscape classification based on dominant runoff mechanisms. Three landscape classes are distinguished: wetland, hillslope and plateau, corresponding to three dominant hydrological regimes: saturation excess overland flow, storage excess sub-surface flow, and deep percolation. Topography, geology...

journal article 2011

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Hydrological landscape classification: Investigating the performance of HAND based landscape classifications in a central European meso-scale catchment

Gharari, S. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Fenicia, F. (author), Savenije, H.G. (author)

This paper presents a detailed performance and sensitivity analysis of a recently developed hydrological landscape classification method based on dominant runoff mechanisms. Three landscape classes are distinguished: wetland, hillslope and plateau, corresponding to three dominant hydrological regimes: saturation excess overland flow, storage...

journal article 2011

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Elements of a flexible approach for conceptual hydrological modeling: 1. Motivation and theoretical development

Fenicia, F. (author), Kavetski, D. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

This paper introduces a flexible framework for conceptual hydrological modeling, with two related objectives: (1) generalize and systematize the currently fragmented field of conceptual models and (2) provide a robust platform for understanding and modeling hydrological systems. In contrast to currently dominant “fixed” model applications, the...

journal article 2011

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Moving beyond traditional model calibration or how to better identify realistic model parameters: Sub-period calibration

Gharari, S. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Fenicia, F. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

Conceptual hydrological models often rely on calibration for the identification of their parameters. As these models are typically designed to reflect real catchment processes, a key objective of an appropriate calibration strategy is the determination of parameter sets that reflect a “realistic” model behavior. Previous studies have shown that...

journal article 2012

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A framework to assess the realism of model structures using hydrological signatures

Euser, T. (author), Winsemius, H.C. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Fenicia, F. (author), Uhlenbrook, S. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

journal article 2012

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An approach to identify time consistent model parameters: Sub-period calibration

Gharari, S. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Fenicia, F. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

Conceptual hydrological models rely on calibration for the identification of their parameters. As these models are typically designed to reflect real catchment processes, a key objective of an appropriate calibration strategy is the determination of parameter sets that reflect a “realistic” model behavior. Previous studies have shown that...

journal article 2013

document

A framework to assess the realism of model structures using hydrological signatures

Euser, T. (author), Winsemius, H.C. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Fenicia, F. (author), Uhlenbrook, S. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

The use of flexible hydrological model structures for hypothesis testing requires an objective and diagnostic method to identify whether a rainfall-runoff model structure is suitable for a certain catchment. To determine if a model structure is realistic, i.e. if it captures the relevant runoff processes, both performance and consistency are...

journal article 2013

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Testing the realism of a topography driven model (flex-topo) in the nested catchments of the Upper Heihe, China

Gao, H. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Fenicia, F.F. (author), Gharari, S. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

journal article 2013

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A strategy for “constraint-based” parameter specification for environmental models

Gharari, S. (author), Shafiei, M. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Fenicia, F. (author), Gupta, H.V. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

Many environmental systems models, such as conceptual rainfall-runoff models, rely on model calibration for parameter identification. For this, an observed output time series (such as runoff) is needed, but frequently not available. Here, we explore another way to constrain the parameter values of semi-distributed conceptual models, based on two...

journal article 2013

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Testing the realism of a topography-driven model (FLEX-Topo) in the nested catchments of the Upper Heihe, China

Gao, H. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Fenicia, F.F. (author), Gharari, S. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

Although elevation data are globally available and used in many existing hydrological models, their information content is still underexploited. Topography is closely related to geology, soil, climate and land cover. As a result, it may reflect the dominant hydrological processes in a catchment. In this study, we evaluated this hypothesis...

journal article 2014

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Climate controls how ecosystems size the root zone storage capacity at catchment scale

Gao, H. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Schymanski, S.J. (author), Fenicia, F.F. (author), Sriwongsitanon, N. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

The root zone moisture storage capacity (SR) of terrestrial ecosystems is a buffer providing vegetation continuous access to water and a critical factor controlling land-atmospheric moisture exchange, hydrological response, and biogeochemical processes. However, it is impossible to observe directly at catchment scale. Here, using data from 300...

journal article 2014

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A constraint-based search algorithm for parameter identification of environmental models

Gharari, S. (author), Shafiei, M. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Kumar, R. (author), Fenicia, F. (author), Gupta, H.V. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

Many environmental systems models, such as conceptual rainfall-runoff models, rely on model calibration for parameter identification. For this, an observed output time series (such as runoff) is needed, but frequently not available (e.g., when making predictions in ungauged basins). In this study, we provide an alternative approach for parameter...

journal article 2014

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Using expert knowledge to increase realism in environmental system models can dramatically reduce the need for calibration

Gharari, S. (author), Hrachowitz, M. (author), Fenicia, F. (author), Gao, H. (author), Savenije, H.H.G. (author)

Conceptual environmental system models, such as rainfall runoff models, generally rely on calibration for parameter identification. Increasing complexity of this type of models for better representation of hydrological process heterogeneity, typically makes parameter identification more difficult. Although various, potentially valuable,...

journal article 2014