A large-scale, high-resolution hydrological model parameter data set for climate change impact assessment for the conterminous US

摘要

To extend geographical coverage, refine spatial resolution, and improvemodeling efficiency, a computation- and data-intensive effort was conductedto organize a comprehensive hydrologic data set with post-calibrated modelparameters for hydro-climate impact assessment. Several key inputs forhydrologic simulation – including meteorologic forcings, soil, land class,vegetation, and elevation – were collected from multiple best-available datasources and organized for 2107 hydrologic subbasins (8-digit hydrologicunits, HUC8s) in the conterminous US at refined 1/24°(~4 km) spatial resolution. Using high-performance computingfor intensive model calibration, a high-resolution parameter data set wasprepared for the macro-scale variable infiltration capacity (VIC) hydrologicmodel. The VIC simulation was driven by Daymet daily meteorological forcingand was calibrated against US Geological Survey (USGS) WaterWatch monthly runoff observations foreach HUC8. The results showed that this new parameter data set may helpreasonably simulate runoff at most US HUC8 subbasins. Based on thisexhaustive calibration effort, it is now possible to accurately estimate theresources required for further model improvement across the entireconterminous US. We anticipate that through this hydrologicparameter data set, the repeated effort of fundamental data processing can belessened, so that research efforts can emphasize the more challenging taskof assessing climate change impacts. The pre-organized model parameterdata set will be provided to interested parties to support furtherhydro-climate impact assessment.