CEG8526: Hydrosystems modelling and management
Assignment 2024-2025
Coursework 1

Background

Assignment

Task A: perceptual model

You should provide a written description of the physical and hydrological characteristics of a catchment and discuss the key hydrological inputs, processes and outputs. You should construct a diagram of a perceptual model of the catchment, explaining the extent to which it represents the features you have described. This could include human interventions in the catchment e.g. drainage, or storage. Each student will be assigned their own catchment on Canvas.

To complete this task you should first investigate the catchment characteristics (e.g.urban/rural, land cover, climate, water storage). This might include reviewing the available data and catchment characteristics provided for Task B. You should then provide a description (with diagram) of the processes you consider to be controlling the hydrological response of the catchment.

Task B: calibration and validation of a physically-based model using historical data

You should then calibrate a physically-based model of the catchment using historical data. You should focus primarily on the flow at the catchment outlet, but also consider the internal catchment processes as represented in the model. You should consider that the main focus is on the management of hydrological extremes, with concerns the ability of the ,model to represent low and high flows.

You will be provided with a Shetran model already set up on a 1km x 1km grid for a catchment in England. Your task is to calibrate/validate the Shetran model using a 12-year period of data (1990-2001).

First you should review the available data and catchment characteristics. You should then decide on appropriate methods to use for comparison of the results with observed river flow data, including which objective functions to use alongside other methods (e.g. time series, scatter plots, flow duration curves), and which parts of the data set to use forcalibration and validation. You should use only 3 parameters during calibration (that themodel has generally been found to be most sensitive to): hydraulic conductivity, Strickler coefficient, and max AE/PE ratio. During calibration, you should consider and explain how changes in parameter values affect representation of internal hydrological responses (e.g. overall water balance, distributed groundwater levels) as well as the outlet hydrograph, and how the catchment characteristics influence hydrological response.

Observed daily flow data for your catchment should be obtained from the National River Flow Archive using the search box below the map to find the correct catchment.

Formatting and indicative marking schedule:

Report format: the report should be a maximum of 2,000 words (excluding titles/contents, figure and table captions, and references) and use 11pt font with normal spacing. Text should be accompanied by relevant figures.

Marking criteria and schedule: this coursework comprises 35% of the overall module assessment. It will be marked according to the standard SAgE faculty marking criteria (see information provided on Canvas) taking into account the following:

Marks will be allocated as follows: