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Modification of SWAT auto-calibration for accurate flow estimation at all flow regimes

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Abstract

To secure accuracy in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) simulation for various hydrology and water quality studies, calibration and validation should be performed. When calibrating and validating the SWAT model with measured data, the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) is widely used, and is also used as a goal function of auto-calibration in the current SWAT model (SWAT ver. 2009). However, the NSE value has been known to be influenced by high values within a given dataset, at the cost of the accuracy in estimated lower flow values. Furthermore, the NSE is unable to consider direct runoff and baseflow separately. In this study, the existing SWAT auto-calibration was modified with direct runoff separation and flow clustering calibration, and current and modified SWAT auto-calibration were applied to the Soyanggang-dam watershed in South Korea. As a result, the NSE values for total streamflow, high flow, and low flow groups in direct runoff, and baseflow estimated through modified SWAT auto-calibration were 0.84, 0.34, 0.09, and 0.90, respectively. The NSE values of current SWAT auto-calibration were 0.83, 0.47, −0.14, and 0.90, respectively. As shown in this study, the modified SWAT auto-calibration shows better calibration results than current SWAT auto-calibration. With these capabilities, the SWAT-estimated flow matched the measured flow data well for the entire flow regime. The modified SWAT auto-calibration module developed in this study will provide a very efficient tool for the accurate simulation of hydrology, sediment transport, and water quality with no additional input datasets.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Geo-Advanced Innovative Action (GAIA) Project (No. 2014000540003, Surface Soil Resources Inventory & Integration: SSORII Research Group) in South Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Seitz Hall, RM 214-F, Virginia Tech 155 Ag Quad Lane, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Hyunwoo Kang

  2. Department of Agricultural Engineering, National Academy of Agricultural Science, 310 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, South Korea

    Jongpil Moon

  3. Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, College Station, Daegu, South Korea

    Yongchul Shin

  4. Department of Water Environment Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42 Hwangyeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon, South Korea

    Jichul Ryu

  5. Department of Regional Infrastructure Engineering, Kangwon National University, Hyoja-2 Dong, Chuncheon, South Korea

    Dong Hyuk Kum, Joongdae Choi & Kyoung Jae Lim

  6. Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 310C Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Chunhwa Jang

  7. Department of Life Science, Kyonggi University, 94-6 Yiui-Dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, South Korea

    Dong Soo Kong

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  1. Hyunwoo Kang
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  2. Jongpil Moon
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  3. Yongchul Shin
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  4. Jichul Ryu
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  5. Dong Hyuk Kum
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  6. Chunhwa Jang
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  7. Joongdae Choi
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  8. Dong Soo Kong
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  9. Kyoung Jae Lim
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Correspondence to Kyoung Jae Lim.

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Kang, H., Moon, J., Shin, Y. et al. Modification of SWAT auto-calibration for accurate flow estimation at all flow regimes. Paddy Water Environ 14, 499–508 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-015-0519-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-015-0519-6

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