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A stochastic model for sediment yield using the Principle of Maximum Entropy
Author(s) -
Singh V. P.,
Krstanovic P. F.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr023i005p00781
Subject(s) - principle of maximum entropy , mathematics , surface runoff , entropy (arrow of time) , probability distribution , bivariate analysis , hydrology (agriculture) , covariance , statistics , soil science , environmental science , geology , geotechnical engineering , thermodynamics , physics , ecology , biology
The principle of maximum entropy was applied to derive a stochastic model for sediment yield from upland watersheds. By maximizing the conditional entropy subject to certain constraints, a probability distribution of sediment yield conditioned on the probability distribution of direct runoff volume was obtained. This distribution resulted in minimally prejudiced assignment of probabilities on the basis of given information. The parameters of this distribution were determined from such prior information about the direct runoff volume and sediment yield as their means and covariance. The stochastic model was verified by using three sets of field data and was compared with a bivariate normal distribution. The model yielded sediment yield reasonably accurately.