TRANSITION FROM

LUMPED TO DISTRIBUTED
SYSTEMS

Victor Koren, Michael Smith,

Seann Reed, Ziya Zhang
NOAA/NWS/OHD/HL, Silver Spring, MD

Distributed and Lumped

Modeling Dynamics
Research Efforts
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
1960

1970

1980
Distributed

1990

2000

2010

Lumped

Application Efforts
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
1960

1970

1980
Distributed

1990
Lumped

2000

2010

History Lessons

There is a similarity in dynamics of lumped and distributed model

developments
There is a large delay between model development and application
There is no unique best model. Selection for application is rather arbitrary
process that depends on an expertise of the user and practical requirements
Most successful models in an operational use are models which have well
developed parameterization tools

Distinguishing Features of
Lumped and Distributed Models
Physics

Does point rainfall-runoff model represent well field processes

Can hillslope/channel routing be represented well on practically
reasonable space/time scales

Does statistical approach solve a basin heterogeneity problem

Lumped

Distributed

Distinguishing Features of
Lumped and Distributed Models
(Continued)

Physics

Does statistical approach solve a basin

heterogeneity problem

-20

-40

-60

-80

-100
1E1

1E2
SAC-SMA
SWB

1E3
Grid scale, sq. km.

1E4

1E5

Reformulated SAC-SMA

Surface runoff simulated with and without

use of
rainfall distribution function at different
scales

Distinguishing Features of
Lumped and Distributed Models
(Continued)
Space/Time Variability

Does accounting for the space/time variability of input data and

parameters guarantee better results
Does scale effect significantly on the model structure
Is a lumped model a reasonable candidate in a distributed
system

30

25

20

15

10

0
1

10
Number of pixels per basin
Noise=0%

Noise=25%

Noise=50%

100

Noise=75%

Effect of noisy rainfall data on the peak volume

at different simulation scales.

Distinguishing Features of
Lumped and Distributed Models
(Continued)
Parameterization/Calibration

Can distributed model parameters be measured on the grid scale

Are distributed model parameters identifiable enough from
hydrograph analyses

How much does scale effect on model parameters

3.5

2.5

1.5

1
0

10
20
Relative scale, L(k)/L(0)

30

Change an effective parameter value at different

scales as a function of rainfall variability

HL-Research Modeling
System (HL-RMS)
Modeling framework for
testing lumped, semidistributed, and fully
distributed hydrologic
modeling approaches

HL-RMS Structure

Uses channel connectivity matrix defined on the HRAP grid

Each computational element consists of a number of uniform hillslopes and conceptual channels
Rainfall-runoff component (Sacramento model in the 1st version) generates fast and slow runoffs
Hillslope transforms (kinematic routing) fast runoff into lateral channel inflow
Channel inflow combined with slow runoff and upstream cell outflow is routed through a cell
conceptual channel
Ingests NEXRAD Stage III data
Includes features of lumping parameters/input data
Modular design to test other models

HL-RMS Structure

Conceptualization of a grid cell

HL-RMS Parameterization

A priori parameters:

Rainfall-runoff model parameter grids are estimated using soil/vegetation data

Hillslope/Channel routing parameter grids, slope, length, area above, are calculated based on DEM
Uniform channel shape and roughness coefficient is assumed at each grid cell

Parameter adjustment:

Scaling/Replacement based on lumped or semi-distributed calibration of rainfall-runoff model

Spatially variable channel shape and roughness parameters can be generated from discharge measurements at
outlets and geomorphological properties at each grid cell

Selected flood events for Baron Fo

nr Eldon (795 km2), Jan 1996-Jun 2000

D is c h a rg e , c m s

2000

1500

1000

500

0
900

1100

1300
1500
Time, hours

Observed

Distributed

1700

Lumped

1900

Selected flood events for Peacheat

Creek (64.8 km2), Jan 1996 - Jun 2000

D is c h a rg e , c m s

150

100

50

0
900

1100

1300
1500
Time, hours

Observed

Distributed

1700

Lumped

1900