COMPARISON OF ANNUAL STREAMFLOW MODELS

The operational importance of the form of an annual synthetic streamflow model and the level of its parameters was investigated. Both short-term and long-term memory models were used to generate flow traces which were run through the Thomas-Fiering Sequent Peak Algorithm. Population parameters were used in the models in all cases. Operation life was held constant at 40 yrs. The coupled flow generation-flow demand situations examined showed the marginal distribution parameters to be much more important, even in cases where substantial long-term persistence is present, than had earlier been thought. The most important conclusion to be drawn from the tests is that the effect of uncertainty in any of the model parameters cannot be dismissed a priori; failure to accurately estimate and model the marginal distribution as well as the correlation structure of flow may result in substantial design errors. /ASCE/

• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Burges, S J
  • Lettenmaier, D P
• Publication Date: 1977-9

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 991
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Hydraulics Division
  • Volume: 102
  • Issue Number: HY9
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Estimating; Flow; Mathematical models; Streamflow; Streams
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models; Parameters
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00164899
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: ASCE 13194
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 23 1977 12:00AM