Does the Budyko curve reflect a maximum-power state of hydrological systems? A backward analysis

Westhoff, M.; Zehe, E.; Archambeau, P.; Dewals, B.

doi:10.5194/hess-20-479-2016

Articles | Volume 20, issue 1

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-479-2016

© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Special issue:

Catchment co-evolution: space–time patterns and functional...

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-479-2016

© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Articles | Volume 20, issue 1

Research article

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28 Jan 2016

Research article | Highlight paper |

| 28 Jan 2016

Does the Budyko curve reflect a maximum-power state of hydrological systems? A backward analysis

M. Westhoff, E. Zehe, P. Archambeau, and B. Dewals

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Short summary

We derived mathematical formulations of relations between relative wetness and gradients driving run-off and evaporation for a one-box model such that, when conductances are optimized with the maximum power principle, the model leads exactly to a point on the Budyko curve. With dry spells and dynamics in actual evaporation added, the model compared well with catchment observations without calibrating any parameter. The maximum-power principle may thus be used to derive the Budyko curve.