Sensitivity Analysis of Soil Hydraulic Parameters for Improved Flow Predictions in an Atlantic Forest Watershed Using the MOHID-Land Platform
Soil controls water distribution, which is crucial for accurate hydrological modeling. MOHID-Land is a physically based, spatially distributed model that uses van Genuchten–Mualem (VGM) functions to calculate water content in porous media. The hydraulic soil parameters of VGM are dependent on soil t...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Dhiego da Silva Sales Jader Lugon Junior David de Andrade Costa Renata Silva Barreto Sales Ramiro Joaquim Neves Antonio José da Silva Neto |
| author_facet | Dhiego da Silva Sales Jader Lugon Junior David de Andrade Costa Renata Silva Barreto Sales Ramiro Joaquim Neves Antonio José da Silva Neto |
| author_sort | Dhiego da Silva Sales |
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| description | Soil controls water distribution, which is crucial for accurate hydrological modeling. MOHID-Land is a physically based, spatially distributed model that uses van Genuchten–Mualem (VGM) functions to calculate water content in porous media. The hydraulic soil parameters of VGM are dependent on soil type and are typically estimated from experimental data; however, they are often obtained using pedotransfer functions, which carry significant uncertainty. As a result, calibration is frequently required to account for both the natural spatial variability of soil and uncertainties estimation. This study focuses on a representative Atlantic Forest watershed. It assesses the sensitivity of channel flow to VGM parameters using a mathematical approach based on residuals derivative, aimed at enhancing soil calibration efficiency for MOHID-Land. The model’s performance significantly improved following calibration, considering only five parameters. The NSE improved from 0.16 on the base simulation to 0.53 after calibration. A sensitivity analysis indicated the curve adjustment parameter (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) as the most sensitive parameter, followed by saturated water content (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>θ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) considering the 10% variation. Additionally, a combined change in <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>θ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, residual water content (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>θ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>), curve adjustment parameter (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>α</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>), and saturated conductivity (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>K</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) values by 10% significantly improves the model’s performance, by reducing channel flow peaks and increasing baseflow. |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| series | Eng |
| spelling | doaj-art-d010b41add4f45b98d3f7e4c4eef692a2025-08-20T02:17:19ZengMDPI AGEng2673-41172025-03-01646510.3390/eng6040065Sensitivity Analysis of Soil Hydraulic Parameters for Improved Flow Predictions in an Atlantic Forest Watershed Using the MOHID-Land PlatformDhiego da Silva Sales0Jader Lugon Junior1David de Andrade Costa2Renata Silva Barreto Sales3Ramiro Joaquim Neves4Antonio José da Silva Neto5Department of Modeling and Technology for the Environment Applied to Water Resources (AMBHIDRO), Federal Fluminense Institute (IFF), St. Coronel Walter Kramer, 363, Pq Santo Antônio, Campos dos Goytacazes 28080-565, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilDepartment of Modeling and Technology for the Environment Applied to Water Resources (AMBHIDRO), Federal Fluminense Institute (IFF), St. Coronel Walter Kramer, 363, Pq Santo Antônio, Campos dos Goytacazes 28080-565, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilDepartment of Modeling and Technology for the Environment Applied to Water Resources (AMBHIDRO), Federal Fluminense Institute (IFF), St. Coronel Walter Kramer, 363, Pq Santo Antônio, Campos dos Goytacazes 28080-565, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Federal Fluminense Institute (IFF), Rod. Amaral Peixoto, Km 164, Imboassica, Macaé 27973-030, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilCenter for Environmental and Marine Science and Technology (MARETEC), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalMechanical Testing and Metrology Laboratory, Polytechnic Institute of Rio de Janeiro State University (IPRJ/UERJ), St. Bonfim, 25, Nova Friburgo 28625-570, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilSoil controls water distribution, which is crucial for accurate hydrological modeling. MOHID-Land is a physically based, spatially distributed model that uses van Genuchten–Mualem (VGM) functions to calculate water content in porous media. The hydraulic soil parameters of VGM are dependent on soil type and are typically estimated from experimental data; however, they are often obtained using pedotransfer functions, which carry significant uncertainty. As a result, calibration is frequently required to account for both the natural spatial variability of soil and uncertainties estimation. This study focuses on a representative Atlantic Forest watershed. It assesses the sensitivity of channel flow to VGM parameters using a mathematical approach based on residuals derivative, aimed at enhancing soil calibration efficiency for MOHID-Land. The model’s performance significantly improved following calibration, considering only five parameters. The NSE improved from 0.16 on the base simulation to 0.53 after calibration. A sensitivity analysis indicated the curve adjustment parameter (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) as the most sensitive parameter, followed by saturated water content (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>θ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) considering the 10% variation. Additionally, a combined change in <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>θ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, residual water content (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>θ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>), curve adjustment parameter (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>α</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>), and saturated conductivity (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>K</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) values by 10% significantly improves the model’s performance, by reducing channel flow peaks and increasing baseflow.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/6/4/65soil physical modellingwatershed modellingdeterministic calibration |
| spellingShingle | Dhiego da Silva Sales Jader Lugon Junior David de Andrade Costa Renata Silva Barreto Sales Ramiro Joaquim Neves Antonio José da Silva Neto Sensitivity Analysis of Soil Hydraulic Parameters for Improved Flow Predictions in an Atlantic Forest Watershed Using the MOHID-Land Platform Eng soil physical modelling watershed modelling deterministic calibration |
| title | Sensitivity Analysis of Soil Hydraulic Parameters for Improved Flow Predictions in an Atlantic Forest Watershed Using the MOHID-Land Platform |
| title_full | Sensitivity Analysis of Soil Hydraulic Parameters for Improved Flow Predictions in an Atlantic Forest Watershed Using the MOHID-Land Platform |
| title_fullStr | Sensitivity Analysis of Soil Hydraulic Parameters for Improved Flow Predictions in an Atlantic Forest Watershed Using the MOHID-Land Platform |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensitivity Analysis of Soil Hydraulic Parameters for Improved Flow Predictions in an Atlantic Forest Watershed Using the MOHID-Land Platform |
| title_short | Sensitivity Analysis of Soil Hydraulic Parameters for Improved Flow Predictions in an Atlantic Forest Watershed Using the MOHID-Land Platform |
| title_sort | sensitivity analysis of soil hydraulic parameters for improved flow predictions in an atlantic forest watershed using the mohid land platform |
| topic | soil physical modelling watershed modelling deterministic calibration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/6/4/65 |
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