Abstract:
In river flow simulation and forecasting where there is insufficient data and
minimum gauging stations, hydrological models are appropriate operational
tools to simulate and extend the time series.
The aim of this study was to inter- compare the performance of four
deterministic- Lumped rainfall-runoff models in the Abaya Chamo River
Basin. In this River Basin the meteorological & hydrological data from Bilate
and Kulfo catchtnents were considered for the analysis.
The Simple Linear Model (SLM), The Linear Perturbation Model (LPM), the
Soil Moisture Accounting and Routing Model (SMAR) and HBV models were
used for the study.
The selected mpdeis performance was evaluated and compared for the two
catchments. Visual comparison of the simulated and observed runoff
response, Nash efficiency criterion (R^), the index of volumetric fit (IVF) and
the relative error of peak (RE) criteria were used to compare the models
outputs. The optimum parameters which give better simulation result were
determined for the calibration periods of each model. The verification have
been made for the optimum parameters obtained during the calibration
period.
The SMAR, HBV and LPM gave better model performance in Bilate
compared to the result in Kulfo catchment. Out of the four models the SMAR
model result was better in both the catchments.
Therefore, the SMAR model can be used to estimate discharge in the two
catchments. Further investigation has to be made to generalize the
applicability of this model to all Abaya Chamo River Basins.
