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Assessing the Performance of SHETRAN Simulating a Geologically Complex Catchment

Abstract:

Despite recent progress in terms of cheap computing power, the application of physically-based distributed (PBD) hydrological codes still remains limited, particularly, because some commercial-license codes are expensive, even under academic terms. Thus, there is a need for testing the performance of free-license PBD codes simulating complex catchments, so that cheap and reliable mechanistic modelling alternatives might be identified. The hydrology of a geologically complex catchment (586 km2) was modelled using the free-license PBD code SHETRAN. The SHETRAN evaluation took place by comparing its pbkp_redictions with (i) discharge and piezometric time series observed at different locations within the catchment, some of which were not taken into account during model calibration (i.e., multi-site test); and (ii) pbkp_redictions from a comparable commercial-license code, MIKE SHE. In general, the discharge and piezometric pbkp_redictions of both codes were comparable, which encourages the use of the free-license SHETRAN code for the distributed modelling of geologically complex systems.