Rainfall runoff models

A rainfall runoff model is used to derive runoff for a particular area from inputs of rainfall and potential evapotranspiration (or areal potential evapotranspiration). All rainfall runoff models in Source are conceptual models that represent catchment hydrological response to rainfall as a series of mathematical relationships. They provide runoff output from each functional unit as total discharge, which is split into quick flow (surface flow) and slow flow (baseflow) proportions. Refer to the Source Scientific Reference Guide for more detail.

Choosing the right model

Choosing and calibrating your rainfall runoff model is essential. The quality of your rainfall runoff calibration can interact with, and affect output from other models. For example, where constituent load is calculated as the product of flow and concentration, any errors in flow estimates will be propagated through to load estimates.

Consider the following when choosing a rainfall runoff model:

What models do you and other people in your organisation have experience with;
Have any rainfall runoff models worked well for your catchment in the past;
What type of catchment are you modelling? (urban, forested, mixed land use);
What data do you have available? You need to parameterise any models you choose; and
Do you have any information on previous rainfall runoff model calibrations? If calibrated models already exist, you can re-use the models and parameter sets.

The following might also be useful:

Run a range of different models and determine which ones work best; and
Consider using different models or parameters, in different sub-catchments or functional units. What works best in one functional unit may not work well in another. For example, different models may be useful where sub-catchments/FUs have different soil types (different soil water holding capacity) or different proportions of urban areas (large differences in impervious runoff).

Refer to the Source Scientific Reference Guide for details on the types of rainfall runoff models.

Working with rainfall runoff models

Once a geographic scenario has been created using the Geographic Wizard for catchments, rainfall runoff models can be configured using the Rainfall Runoff Model Configuration dialog (Figure 1). Choose Edit » Rainfall Runoff Models... to open this dialog and configure rainfall runoff models in the following order:

Assign a rainfall runoff model - The total discharge generated from rainfall runoff depends on which model is specified for the sub-catchment/FU combination. Choose the appropriate model by double-clicking on the cell that you wish to assign the model to. Then, click on the drop-down arrow that appears and choose the required model from the drop-down menu. If runoff is not of interest, or not applicable (eg. you may have FUs that represent water bodies), leave the entries in the this column to Nil runoff;
Adding input data - In the PET and Rainfall columns, click on the links in the respective cells to open the Select Source dialog where you can assign a single value, a time series, or a function as data inputs; and
Parameterise data - A parameter set consists of a set of variables that you can assign values to. The number of parameters that appear depends on the model that is chosen in Step 1. You can accept the defaults or change these values by double-clicking in the cell and updating it.

In this dialog, you can carry out the following operations (in addition to those listed in the Feature Table):

Figure 1. Rainfall Runoff Model Configuration

Assign rainfall runoff models

The Grid-Based Input Assignment method allows you to load a time series of input data for each FU and sub-catchment combination in the model. You can assign inputs using a table or map. To assign input data using a table, do the following:

ln the PET or Rainfall columns, select a sub-catchment or FU cell for which you have climate data;
From the drop-down menu in the cell, choose Load;
Navigate to the input file and click Open; and
Choose the input file, which now appears on the drop-down menu for all cells in that column.

If required, refer to Using the Apply-to options to assign data to multiple sub-catchments and FUs.

The Climate Data Import tool allows you to upload spatial, gridded input data using the import tool. Refer to the Climate data import tool.

Note: Once you apply a parameter set to the models in a FU or sub-catchment, the models’ parameter values are fixed. Any subsequent changes to the parameter set values do not change the values applied to the models. If you have to change the parameters in a parameter set, you must re-apply the changed parameter set with the Using the Apply-to options.