Global optimization-based calibration algorithm for a 2D distributed hydrologic-hydrodynamic and water quality model

Abstract

Hydrodynamic models with rain-on-the-grid capabilities are usually computationally expensive for automatic parameter estimation. In this paper, we present a global optimization-based algorithm to calibrate a fully distributed hydrologic-hydrodynamic and water quality model (HydroPol2D) using observed data (i.e., discharge, or pollutant concentration) as input. The algorithm finds near-optimal set of parameters to explain observed gauged data. This framework, although applied in a poorly-gauged urban catchment, is adapted for catchments with more detailed observations. The results of the automatic calibration indicate NSE $=$ 0.99 for the V-Tilted catchment, RMSE $=$ 830 mg L^-1 for salt concentration pollutograph in a wooden-plane (i.e., 8.3% of the event mean concentration), and NSE $=$ 0.89 in a urban real-world catchment. This paper also explores the issue of equifinality (i.e., multiple parameters giving the same calibration performance) in model calibration indicating the performance variation of calibrating only with an outlet gauge or with multiple gauges within the catchment.