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On the use of multiple criteria for a posteriori model rejection: Soft data to characterize model performance
Author(s) -
Vaché Kellie B.,
McDonnell Jeffrey J.,
Bolte John
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl021577
Subject(s) - hydrograph , a priori and a posteriori , monte carlo method , hydrological modelling , computer science , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , statistics , mathematics , geology , climatology , surface runoff , geotechnical engineering , ecology , philosophy , epistemology , biology
Land surface hydrologic models are commonly evaluated based upon the degree of correspondence between measured and modeled discharge. In this paper we illustrate significant shortcomings associated with the simple discharge based evaluation strategy. A standard conceptual hydrologic model is applied within a Monte Carlo framework to two catchments representing significantly different hydrologic regimes. Time source hydrograph separations are derived, in addition to modeled discharge, and used to more completely characterize model functioning, across the entire a priori parameter distribution. The inclusion of hydrograph separation results in improved characterization of parameter uncertainty, and in one of the cases, complete model rejection.