Articles | Volume 27, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2397-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2397-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
When best is the enemy of good – critical evaluation of performance criteria in hydrological models
Guillaume Cinkus
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
HydroSciences Montpellier (HSM), CNRS, IRD, Univ. Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France
Naomi Mazzilli
UMR 1114 EMMAH (AU-INRAE), Université d'Avignon, 84000 Avignon,
France
Hervé Jourde
HydroSciences Montpellier (HSM), CNRS, IRD, Univ. Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France
Andreas Wunsch
Institute of Applied Geosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Tanja Liesch
Institute of Applied Geosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Nataša Ravbar
Karst Research Institute, ZRC SAZU, Titov trg 2, 6230 Postojna,
Slovenia
Zhao Chen
Institute of Groundwater Management, Technical University of Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
Nico Goldscheider
Institute of Applied Geosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Viewed
Total article views: 6,983 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 15 Nov 2022)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,070 | 1,785 | 128 | 6,983 | 129 | 166 |
- HTML: 5,070
- PDF: 1,785
- XML: 128
- Total: 6,983
- BibTeX: 129
- EndNote: 166
Total article views: 5,147 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 03 Jul 2023)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,995 | 1,052 | 100 | 5,147 | 115 | 150 |
- HTML: 3,995
- PDF: 1,052
- XML: 100
- Total: 5,147
- BibTeX: 115
- EndNote: 150
Total article views: 1,836 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 15 Nov 2022)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,075 | 733 | 28 | 1,836 | 14 | 16 |
- HTML: 1,075
- PDF: 733
- XML: 28
- Total: 1,836
- BibTeX: 14
- EndNote: 16
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 6,983 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 6,762 with geography defined
and 221 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 5,147 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 4,989 with geography defined
and 158 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 1,836 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 1,773 with geography defined
and 63 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
37 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Beyond the Curve Number methodology: Power law-based calibration and a nonparametric approach for enhancing urban runoff estimation Y. Cheong et al.
- A Novel Sequential Weighting and Standardisation Framework for Robust Drought Assessment Using CMIP6 Projections H. Abbas et al.
- Assessing the Applicability of the LTSF Algorithm for Streamflow Time Series Prediction: Case Studies of Dam Basins in South Korea J. Park et al.
- Enhancing hourly streamflow simulation in karst basins: Development of the modified DK-XAJ-EW hydrological model integrating epikarst water storage function dynamics W. Yang et al.
- Improvement of the KarstMod modelling platform for a better assessment of karst groundwater resources V. Sivelle et al.
- Impact of Hydroclimatic Changes on Water Security in the Cantareira Water Production System, Brazil J. Tercini & A. Mello Júnior
- Unveiling the most effective model to predict streamflow capabilities from versatile hydrological models G. Wubu et al.
- Performance and projections of the NEX‐GDDP‐CMIP6 in simulating precipitation in the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado biomes L. de Mendonça et al.
- Satellite-derived evapotranspiration for calibrating a spatially distributed hydrological model in a highly regulated Iranian river basin A. Jahanshahi
- Streamflow forecasting using machine learning for flood management and mitigation in the White Volta basin of Ghana J. Katsekpor et al.
- SEAWAT Scenarios Evaluating Links between the Southern Gabès (TN) Confined Aquifer and the Mediterranean Sea K. Wederni et al.
- Water resources projection using CMIP6 global climate models and water balance uncertainty F. Daliri & V. Singh
- Statistical Development of Rainfall IDF Curves and Machine Learning-Based Bias Assessment: A Case Study of Wadi Al-Rummah, Saudi Arabia I. Alhbib et al.
- The compounding effects of agricultural expansion and snow drought on lake urmia’s drying crisis A. Shahbazi et al.
- Analysis of Climate Trends from 1981 to 2050 for Precipitation and Temperatures in the Mouhoun Watershed (Samandeni, Burkina Faso) Based on CMIP6 Simulations Corrected Using NEX-GDDP D. Somda et al.
- Optimizing category-based statistical metrics for selecting global climate models in rainfall projections for Peninsular Malaysia Z. Sa’adi et al.
- A parsimonious model for springs discharge reconstruction and forecast for drought management: Lessons from a case study in Central Italy N. Guyennon et al.
- A semi-automated sensitivity-based approach for simplifying marine biogeochemical models for targeted applications: A case study with the Eco3M-MED model Y. Zhang et al.
- Evaluation of NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 to simulate precipitation using multi-criteria decision-making analysis over Türkiye M. Yılmaz et al.
- Neural networks in catchment hydrology: a comparative study of different algorithms in an ensemble of ungauged basins in Germany M. Weißenborn et al.
- A transfer learning approach to improve suspended sediment concentration prediction in data-scarce rivers T. Hamadene et al.
- A controlled model experiment for the global hydrological model WaterGAP3: Understanding recent and new advances in the model structure J. Kupzig & M. Flörke
- Probabilistic Assessment of Crop Yield Loss Under Drought and Global Warming in the Canadian Prairies M. Zare et al.
- Assessment of Satellite and Reanalysis Precipitation Data Using Statistical and Wavelet Analysis in Semi-Arid, Morocco A. Chakri et al.
- Relationship between skills of multimodel hydrologic ensemble predictions and atmospheric circulation patterns: a case study from the Nysa Kłodzka river basin (SW Poland) T. Niedzielski et al.
- Beyond streamflow: Plausible hydrological modelling for the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia A. Mohamed et al.
- SC-PREC4SA: A serially complete daily precipitation dataset for South America A. Huerta et al.
- Karst aquifer discharge response to rainfall interpreted as anomalous transport D. Elhanati et al.
- Projected changes in rain-on-snow events and their impacts on summer low streamflow in the Great lakes basin Y. Aryal et al.
- How well do hydrological models simulate streamflow extremes and drought-to-flood transitions? E. Muñoz-Castro et al.
- Potential of snow data to improve the consistency and robustness of a semi-distributed hydrological model using the SAFRAN input dataset D. Ruelland
- Sustainable Spring Water Extraction—A Remedy to Water Shortage? B. Ferencz & J. Dawidek
- Estimating transient vertical hyporheic exchange fluxes from streambed temperatures using LSTM-autoencoder-enhanced physics-informed neural networks L. Ju et al.
- Beyond a fixed number: Investigating uncertainty in popular evaluation metrics of ensemble flood modeling using bootstrapping analysis T. Huang & V. Merwade
- Hydrological evaluation of top-down and bottom-up rainfall products in West Africa: Model performance, parameter range and uncertainty propagation R. Yonaba et al.
- Machine learning approaches coupled with variational mode decomposition: a novel method for forecasting monthly reservoir inflows F. Ahmadi et al.
- A review of post-wildfire adaptations of surface-water-quality models: Synthesis, gaps, and opportunities Z. Shephard et al.
37 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Beyond the Curve Number methodology: Power law-based calibration and a nonparametric approach for enhancing urban runoff estimation Y. Cheong et al.
- A Novel Sequential Weighting and Standardisation Framework for Robust Drought Assessment Using CMIP6 Projections H. Abbas et al.
- Assessing the Applicability of the LTSF Algorithm for Streamflow Time Series Prediction: Case Studies of Dam Basins in South Korea J. Park et al.
- Enhancing hourly streamflow simulation in karst basins: Development of the modified DK-XAJ-EW hydrological model integrating epikarst water storage function dynamics W. Yang et al.
- Improvement of the KarstMod modelling platform for a better assessment of karst groundwater resources V. Sivelle et al.
- Impact of Hydroclimatic Changes on Water Security in the Cantareira Water Production System, Brazil J. Tercini & A. Mello Júnior
- Unveiling the most effective model to predict streamflow capabilities from versatile hydrological models G. Wubu et al.
- Performance and projections of the NEX‐GDDP‐CMIP6 in simulating precipitation in the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado biomes L. de Mendonça et al.
- Satellite-derived evapotranspiration for calibrating a spatially distributed hydrological model in a highly regulated Iranian river basin A. Jahanshahi
- Streamflow forecasting using machine learning for flood management and mitigation in the White Volta basin of Ghana J. Katsekpor et al.
- SEAWAT Scenarios Evaluating Links between the Southern Gabès (TN) Confined Aquifer and the Mediterranean Sea K. Wederni et al.
- Water resources projection using CMIP6 global climate models and water balance uncertainty F. Daliri & V. Singh
- Statistical Development of Rainfall IDF Curves and Machine Learning-Based Bias Assessment: A Case Study of Wadi Al-Rummah, Saudi Arabia I. Alhbib et al.
- The compounding effects of agricultural expansion and snow drought on lake urmia’s drying crisis A. Shahbazi et al.
- Analysis of Climate Trends from 1981 to 2050 for Precipitation and Temperatures in the Mouhoun Watershed (Samandeni, Burkina Faso) Based on CMIP6 Simulations Corrected Using NEX-GDDP D. Somda et al.
- Optimizing category-based statistical metrics for selecting global climate models in rainfall projections for Peninsular Malaysia Z. Sa’adi et al.
- A parsimonious model for springs discharge reconstruction and forecast for drought management: Lessons from a case study in Central Italy N. Guyennon et al.
- A semi-automated sensitivity-based approach for simplifying marine biogeochemical models for targeted applications: A case study with the Eco3M-MED model Y. Zhang et al.
- Evaluation of NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 to simulate precipitation using multi-criteria decision-making analysis over Türkiye M. Yılmaz et al.
- Neural networks in catchment hydrology: a comparative study of different algorithms in an ensemble of ungauged basins in Germany M. Weißenborn et al.
- A transfer learning approach to improve suspended sediment concentration prediction in data-scarce rivers T. Hamadene et al.
- A controlled model experiment for the global hydrological model WaterGAP3: Understanding recent and new advances in the model structure J. Kupzig & M. Flörke
- Probabilistic Assessment of Crop Yield Loss Under Drought and Global Warming in the Canadian Prairies M. Zare et al.
- Assessment of Satellite and Reanalysis Precipitation Data Using Statistical and Wavelet Analysis in Semi-Arid, Morocco A. Chakri et al.
- Relationship between skills of multimodel hydrologic ensemble predictions and atmospheric circulation patterns: a case study from the Nysa Kłodzka river basin (SW Poland) T. Niedzielski et al.
- Beyond streamflow: Plausible hydrological modelling for the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia A. Mohamed et al.
- SC-PREC4SA: A serially complete daily precipitation dataset for South America A. Huerta et al.
- Karst aquifer discharge response to rainfall interpreted as anomalous transport D. Elhanati et al.
- Projected changes in rain-on-snow events and their impacts on summer low streamflow in the Great lakes basin Y. Aryal et al.
- How well do hydrological models simulate streamflow extremes and drought-to-flood transitions? E. Muñoz-Castro et al.
- Potential of snow data to improve the consistency and robustness of a semi-distributed hydrological model using the SAFRAN input dataset D. Ruelland
- Sustainable Spring Water Extraction—A Remedy to Water Shortage? B. Ferencz & J. Dawidek
- Estimating transient vertical hyporheic exchange fluxes from streambed temperatures using LSTM-autoencoder-enhanced physics-informed neural networks L. Ju et al.
- Beyond a fixed number: Investigating uncertainty in popular evaluation metrics of ensemble flood modeling using bootstrapping analysis T. Huang & V. Merwade
- Hydrological evaluation of top-down and bottom-up rainfall products in West Africa: Model performance, parameter range and uncertainty propagation R. Yonaba et al.
- Machine learning approaches coupled with variational mode decomposition: a novel method for forecasting monthly reservoir inflows F. Ahmadi et al.
- A review of post-wildfire adaptations of surface-water-quality models: Synthesis, gaps, and opportunities Z. Shephard et al.
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 06 May 2026
Short summary
The Kling–Gupta Efficiency (KGE) is a performance criterion extensively used to evaluate hydrological models. We conduct a critical study on the KGE and its variant to examine counterbalancing errors. Results show that, when assessing a simulation, concurrent over- and underestimation of discharge can lead to an overall higher criterion score without an associated increase in model relevance. We suggest that one carefully choose performance criteria and use scaling factors.
The Kling–Gupta Efficiency (KGE) is a performance criterion extensively used to evaluate...