From hydrological modelling to decision support

authored by

U. Haberlandt

Abstract

Decision support for planning and management of water resources needs to consider many target criteria simultaneously like water availability, water quality, flood protection, agriculture, ecology, etc. Hydrologic models provide information about the water balance components and are fundamental for the simulation of ecological processes. Objective of this contribution is to discuss the suitability of classical hydrologic models on one hand and of complex eco-hydrologic models on the other hand to be used as part of decision support systems. The discussion is based on results from two model comparison studies. It becomes clear that none of the hydrologic models tested fulfils all requirements in an optimal sense. Regarding the simulation of water quality parameters like nitrogen leaching a high uncertainty needs to be considered. Recommended for decision support is a hybrid metamodel approach, which comprises a hydrologic model, empirical relationships for the less dynamic processes and makes use of simulation results from complex eco-hydrologic models through second-order modelling at a generalized level.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Hydrology and Water Resources Management

Type

Article

Journal

Advances in Geosciences

Volume

27

Pages

11-19

No. of pages

9

ISSN

1680-7340

Publication date

23.08.2010

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), Space and Planetary Science

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 13 - Climate Action

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.15488/597 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-27-11-2010 (Access: Open)