Application of hydrological models
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5377/elhigo.v12i2.15228Keywords:
Hydrologic model, VIC, SWAT, VELMA, WEAPAbstract
Hydrologic models are essential for planning and managing water resources and the environment. In recent decades, several hydrological models have been developed, each with specific characteristics and parameters, with the aim of better representing the microphysics of the hydrological cycle, although some researchers have found that even the use of complex modeling techniques does not guarantee a better assessment, due to soil heterogeneity and climate change that plays a determining role in the behavior of the hydrological regime. In this article, a summary of eleven different hydrological models, eight of which are freely available, is presented. The models included corresponding to the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model, TOPMODEL, HBV, MIKE SHE, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), HSPF, VELMA, PIHM, KINEROS, WEAP, and HEC-HMS. Considering aspects such as the region of application, the performance given by the efficiency coefficient NSE, input data, and whether the interface is user-friendly and intuitive, it is concluded that the SWAT model followed by the HEC-HMS and WEAP models are the most versatile and suitable to be applied in regions such as Nicaragua. This study provides a guide for modelers to identify the type of hydrological model they should apply in a particular watershed to solve a given problem, as well as to determine the feasibility of one model over the other depending on the availability of the required input data and the available computer and financial resources.
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