Stochastic calibration of an orographic precipitation model

✍ Scribed by Lauren E. Hay

• Book ID: 102658930
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 720 KB
• Volume: 12
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6087
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1085(19980330)12:4<613::aid-hyp609>3.0.co;2-0

✦ Synopsis

In this study a stochastic approach to calibration of an orographic precipitation model (Rhea, 1978) was applied in the Gunnison River Basin of south-western Colorado. The stochastic approach to model calibration was used to determine: (1) the model parameter uncertainty and sensitivity; (2) the grid-cell resolution to run the model (10 or 5 km grids); (3) the model grid rotation increment; and (4) the basin subdivision by elevation band for parameter de®nition. Results from the stochastic calibration are location and data dependent. Uncertainty, sensitivity and range in the ®nal parameter sets were found to vary by grid-cell resolution and elevation. Ten km grids were found to be a more robust model con®guration than 5 km grids. Grid rotation increment, tested using only 10 km grids, indicated increments of less than 10 degrees to be superior. Basin subdivision into two elevation bands was found to produce `optimal' results for both 10 and 5 km grids.