Effects of Model Spatial Structure and Basin Characteristics on the Performance of Three Hydrologic Models

F. Sencer Kacar (), Kayhan Bayhan, Andreas Gassner, Enes Ergun, Oguzhan Murat Halat, Mustafa Nuri Balov, Mahmud Sami Demirel, Muhammet Bahattin Avcuoglu, Salih Babagiray, Suleyman Selim Calli, Roghayeh Ghasempour, V. S. Ozgur Kirca, Mehmet Cuneyd Demirel and Martijn J. Booij
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F. Sencer Kacar: Istanbul Technical University, Department of Civil Engineering
Kayhan Bayhan: Istanbul Technical University, Department of Civil Engineering
Andreas Gassner: University of Natural Resources and Life Science, Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment
Enes Ergun: Istanbul Technical University, Department of Civil Engineering
Oguzhan Murat Halat: Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, İstanbul Gelişim University, Department of Civil Engineering
Mustafa Nuri Balov: Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, İstanbul Gelişim University, Department of Civil Engineering
Mahmud Sami Demirel: General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI)
Muhammet Bahattin Avcuoglu: General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI)
Salih Babagiray: General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI)
Suleyman Selim Calli: Faculty of Engineering, Ankara University, Geological Engineering Department
Roghayeh Ghasempour: Istanbul Technical University, Department of Civil Engineering
V. S. Ozgur Kirca: Istanbul Technical University, Department of Civil Engineering
Mehmet Cuneyd Demirel: Istanbul Technical University, Department of Civil Engineering
Martijn J. Booij: Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Water Engineering and Management

Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), 2025, vol. 39, issue 14, No 10, 7573-7592

Abstract: Abstract Hydrologic model selection plays a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability and accuracy of hydrologic modeling studies. This decision is mostly based on availability or researcher’s prior experience rather on a systematic evaluation of model structure and basin characteristics. This study aims to address this problem by comparing the effect of basin characteristics and hydrologic model structures on the streamflow prediction performance of lumped and distributed hydrologic models. For that, two lumped hydrologic models, Genie Rural à 4 Paramètres Journalier (GR4J) and Technische Universität Wien (TUW), and a distributed hydrologic model, mesoscale Hydrologic Model (mHM), are calibrated and validated in Dandalas subbasin, where Karacasu dam construction has taken place from 1998 to 2012, and in the karstic Çakıtsuyu subbasin. The model calibration was performed using the daily Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) as objective function whereas the validation performance was assessed with both daily and monthly NSE and Kling-Gupta Efficiency (KGE) metrics. Our results revealed the mHM model outperformed the other two models in both the calibration and validation periods in the karstic Çakıtsuyu subbasin, achieving the highest daily NSE during calibration (0.72) and validation (0.61). Notably, GR4J outperformed in Dandalas validation (KGE: 0.53 daily, 0.66 monthly). The superior performance of mHM can be attributed to its multi-parameter regionalization approach, detailed soil structure up to six horizons, elaborated flow routing scheme and representation of geological features using multiple karstic domains.

Keywords: Modified basins; Karstic catchment; GR4J; TUW model; MHM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11269-025-04308-1

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