The effect of model configuration on modelled hillslope–riparian interactions

Cloke, H. L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1472-868X, Renaud, J.-P., Claxton, A. J., McDonnell, J. J., Anderson, M. G., Blake, J. R. and Bates, P. D. (2003) The effect of model configuration on modelled hillslope–riparian interactions. Journal of Hydrology, 279 (1-4). pp. 167-181. ISSN 0022-1694 doi: 10.1016/S0022-1694(03)00177-X

Abstract/Summary

The transfer of hillslope water to and through the riparian zone forms a research area of importance in hydrological investigations. Numerical modelling schemes offer a way to visualise and quantify first-order controls on catchment runoff response and mixing. We use a two-dimensional Finite Element model to assess the link between model setup decisions (e.g. zero-flux boundary definitions, soil algorithm choice) and the consequential hydrological process behaviour. A detailed understanding of the consequences of model configuration is required in order to produce reliable estimates of state variables. We demonstrate that model configuration decisions can determine effectively the presence or absence of particular hillslope flow processes and, the magnitude and direction of flux at the hillslope–riparian interface. If these consequences are not fully explored for any given scheme and application, the resulting process inference may well be misleading.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/37908
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary Research Centres (IDRCs) > Walker Institute Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Geography and Environmental Science Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre
Publisher	Elsevier
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