Catchment Responses in Time and Space to Parameter Uncertainty in Distributed Rainfall-Runoff Modeling

분포형 강우-유출 모형의 매개변수 불확실성에 대한 시.공간적 유역 응답

For model calibration in rainfall-runoff modeling, streamflow data at a specific outlet is obviously required but is not sufficient to identify parameters of a model since numerous parameter combinations can result in very similar model performance measures (i.e. objective functions) and indistinguishable simulated hydrographs. This phenomenon has been called 'equifinality' due to inherent parameter uncertainty involved in rainfall-runoff modeling. This study aims to investigate catchment responses in time and space to various uncertain parameter sets in distributed rainfall-runoff modeling. Seven plausible (or behavioral) parameter sets, which guarantee identically-good model performances, were sampled using deterministic and stochastic optimization methods entitled SCE and SCEM, respectively. Then, we applied them to a computational tracer method linked with a distributed rainfall-runoff model in order to trace and visualize potential origins of streamflow at a catchment outlet. The results showed that all hydrograph simulations based on the plausible parameter sets were performed equally well while internal catchment responses to them showed totally different aspects; different parameter values led to different distributions with respect to the streamflow origins in space and time despite identical simulated hydrographs. Additional information provided by the computational tracer method may be utilized as a complementary constraint for filtering out non-physical parameter set(s) (or reducing parameter uncertainty) in distributed rainfall-runoff modeling.