The Xinanjiang rainfall–runoff model has been successfully applied in many humid and sub-humid areas in China since 1973. The wide application is due to the simple model structure, the clear physical meaning of the parameters and the well-defined model calibration procedure. However, due to a data scarcity problem and short runoff concentration time, its applications to small drainage basins are difficult. Therefore, we investigate the model application in Lianghui, a small drainage basin of Zhejiang province in China. By using generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) methodology, the sensitivity of parameters of Xinanjiang model was investigated. The data clearly showed that equifinality phenomenon was evident in both water balance parameter calibration and runoff routing parameter calibration procedures. The results showed that K (evapotranspiration conversion coefficient), Cs (recession constant in channel system) and Sm (areal free water storage capacity of surface soil) are the most sensitive parameters for the water balance parameter calibration while Cs, Sm and Wm (mean area tension water capacity) are the most sensitive parameters for runoff routing parameter calibration. The conclusion is favourable for understanding parameters of Xinanjiang model in order to provide valuable scientific information for simulating hydrological processes in small drainage basins.
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Research Article|
February 01 2012
Sensitivity analysis of Xinanjiang rainfall–runoff model parameters: a case study in Lianghui, Zhejiang province, China
Danrong Zhang;
1State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
3College of Hydrology and Water resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
E-mail: [email protected]
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Liru Zhang;
Liru Zhang
2Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210029, China E-mail: [email protected]
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Yiqing Guan;
Yiqing Guan
3College of Hydrology and Water resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
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Xi Chen;
Xi Chen
1State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
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Xinfang Chen
Xinfang Chen
3College of Hydrology and Water resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
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Hydrology Research (2012) 43 (1-2): 123–134.
Article history
Received:
October 08 2009
Accepted:
August 17 2010
Citation
Danrong Zhang, Liru Zhang, Yiqing Guan, Xi Chen, Xinfang Chen; Sensitivity analysis of Xinanjiang rainfall–runoff model parameters: a case study in Lianghui, Zhejiang province, China. Hydrology Research 1 February 2012; 43 (1-2): 123–134. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2011.131
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