A retrospective on hydrological catchment modelling based on half a century with the HBV model

<p>Hydrological catchment models are important tools that are commonly used as the basis for water resource management planning. In the 1960s and 1970s, the development of several relatively simple models to simulate catchment runoff started, and a number of so-called conceptual (or bucket-typ...

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Main Authors: J. Seibert, S. Bergström
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2022-03-01
Series:Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/26/1371/2022/hess-26-1371-2022.pdf
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author J. Seibert
J. Seibert
S. Bergström
S. Bergström
author_facet J. Seibert
J. Seibert
S. Bergström
S. Bergström
author_sort J. Seibert
collection DOAJ
description <p>Hydrological catchment models are important tools that are commonly used as the basis for water resource management planning. In the 1960s and 1970s, the development of several relatively simple models to simulate catchment runoff started, and a number of so-called conceptual (or bucket-type) models were suggested. In these models, the complex and heterogeneous hydrological processes in a catchment are represented by a limited number of storage elements and the fluxes between them. While computer limitations were a major motivation for such relatively simple models in the early days, some of these models are still used frequently despite the vast increase in computational opportunities. The HBV (Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning) model, which was first applied about 50 years ago in Sweden, is a typical example of a conceptual catchment model and has gained large popularity since its inception. During several model intercomparisons, the HBV model performed well despite (or because of) its relatively simple model structure. Here, the history of model development, from thoughtful considerations of different model structures to modelling studies using hundreds of catchments and cloud computing facilities, is described. Furthermore, the wide range of model applications is discussed. The aim is to provide an understanding of the background of model development and a basis for addressing the balance between model complexity and data availability that will also face hydrologists in the coming decades.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-017264166a3e489b97f3421f2a9f41352022-12-21T18:35:51ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382022-03-01261371138810.5194/hess-26-1371-2022A retrospective on hydrological catchment modelling based on half a century with the HBV modelJ. Seibert0J. Seibert1S. Bergström2S. Bergström3Department of Geography, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Swedenformerly at: Hydrological Research, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, 60176 Norrköping, Swedenretired<p>Hydrological catchment models are important tools that are commonly used as the basis for water resource management planning. In the 1960s and 1970s, the development of several relatively simple models to simulate catchment runoff started, and a number of so-called conceptual (or bucket-type) models were suggested. In these models, the complex and heterogeneous hydrological processes in a catchment are represented by a limited number of storage elements and the fluxes between them. While computer limitations were a major motivation for such relatively simple models in the early days, some of these models are still used frequently despite the vast increase in computational opportunities. The HBV (Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning) model, which was first applied about 50 years ago in Sweden, is a typical example of a conceptual catchment model and has gained large popularity since its inception. During several model intercomparisons, the HBV model performed well despite (or because of) its relatively simple model structure. Here, the history of model development, from thoughtful considerations of different model structures to modelling studies using hundreds of catchments and cloud computing facilities, is described. Furthermore, the wide range of model applications is discussed. The aim is to provide an understanding of the background of model development and a basis for addressing the balance between model complexity and data availability that will also face hydrologists in the coming decades.</p>https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/26/1371/2022/hess-26-1371-2022.pdf
spellingShingle J. Seibert
J. Seibert
S. Bergström
S. Bergström
A retrospective on hydrological catchment modelling based on half a century with the HBV model
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
title A retrospective on hydrological catchment modelling based on half a century with the HBV model
title_full A retrospective on hydrological catchment modelling based on half a century with the HBV model
title_fullStr A retrospective on hydrological catchment modelling based on half a century with the HBV model
title_full_unstemmed A retrospective on hydrological catchment modelling based on half a century with the HBV model
title_short A retrospective on hydrological catchment modelling based on half a century with the HBV model
title_sort retrospective on hydrological catchment modelling based on half a century with the hbv model
url https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/26/1371/2022/hess-26-1371-2022.pdf
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