Articles | Volume 28, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3079-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3079-2024
Research article
 | 
16 Jul 2024
Research article |  | 16 Jul 2024

Improving runoff simulation in the Western United States with Noah-MP and VIC models

Lu Su, Dennis P. Lettenmaier, Ming Pan, and Benjamin Bass

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Cited articles

Adam, J. C. and Lettenmaier, D. P.: Adjustment of global gridded precipitation for systematic bias, J. Geophys. Res., 108, 1–14, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JD002499, 2003. 
Adam, J. C., Clark, E. A., Lettenmaier, D. P., and Wood, E. F.: Correction of Global Precipitation Products for Orographic Effects, J. Climate, 19, 15–38, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI3604.1, 2006. 
Anghileri, D., Voisin, N., Castelletti, A., Pianosi, F., Nijssen, B., and Lettenmaier, D. P.: Value of Long-Term Streamflow Forecasts to Reservoir Operations for Water Supply in Snow-Dominated River Catchments, Water Resour. Res., 52, 4209–4225, 2016. 
Arsenault, R. and Brissette, F. P.: Continuous streamflow prediction in ungauged basins: The effects of equifinality and parameter set selection on uncertainty in regionalization approaches, Water Resour. Res., 50, 6135–6153, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013WR014898, 2014. 
Bass, B., Rahimi, S., Goldenson, N., Hall, A., Norris, J., and Lebow, Z. J.: Achieving Realistic Runoff in the Western United States with a Land Surface Model Forced by Dynamically Downscaled Meteorology, J. Hydrometeorol., 24, 269–283, 2023. 
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Short summary
We fine-tuned the variable infiltration capacity (VIC) and Noah-MP models across 263 river basins in the Western US. We developed transfer relationships to similar basins and extended the fine-tuned parameters to ungauged basins. Both models performed best in humid areas, and the skills improved post-calibration. VIC outperforms Noah-MP in all but interior dry basins following regionalization. VIC simulates annual mean streamflow and high flow well, while Noah-MP performs better for low flows.
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