Application of hydrological models

Authors

  • Orianna Sofía Travisany Rodríguez Programa de Investigación, Estudios Nacionales y Servicios del Ambiente, PIENSA. Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, UNI, Nicaragua
  • Ruth Méndez Rivas Programa de Investigación, Estudios Nacionales y Servicios del Ambiente, PIENSA. Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, UNI, Nicaragua.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5377/elhigo.v12i2.15228

Keywords:

Hydrologic model, VIC, SWAT, VELMA, WEAP

Abstract

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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Author Biographies

Orianna Sofía Travisany Rodríguez, Programa de Investigación, Estudios Nacionales y Servicios del Ambiente, PIENSA. Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, UNI, Nicaragua

Estudiante de Ingeniería Ambiental en la Universidad Centroamericana (UCA), realizando practicas profesionalizantes en el Programa de Investigación, Estudios Nacionales y Servicios del Ambiente, PIENSA en la Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (UNI).

Ruth Méndez Rivas, Programa de Investigación, Estudios Nacionales y Servicios del Ambiente, PIENSA. Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, UNI, Nicaragua.

Ingeniería Civil (UNI), con Maestría en Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Docente-investigadora del Programa de Investigación de Estudios Nacionales y Servicios del Ambiente (PIENSA) de la UNI.

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Published

2022-12-01

How to Cite

Travisany Rodríguez, O. S. ., & Méndez Rivas, R. . (2022). Application of hydrological models. Journal of Science and Technology El Higo, 12(2), 59–80. https://doi.org/10.5377/elhigo.v12i2.15228

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Review article