Hydrological Modeling of Krishna Upper Catchment Area of India Using Multisite Calibration and Validation of SWAT Model

Abstract

Multisite calibration & validation of model reduces the uncertainty present in the model parameters and improve the SWAT model output. In the present study, an effort was made to set up SWAT model along with multisite calibration and validation for Kishna upper basin of India. A total of six gauging stations maintained by Central water commission across the area were selected for SWAT model calibration and validation.  Sequential Uncertainty Fitting (SUFI-2) programme of SWAT-CUP (Calibration and Uncertainty Programme) was employed to calibrate the SWAT model. During sensitivity analysis of SWAT model, parameters which are highly sensitive that influences flow characteristics of different gauging station were identified. These parameters along with parameter range were used to calibration and validation of SWAT model each of the sub basins. Observed flow and predicted stream flows were compared with certain model performance indices. These indices indicated that for all six gauging stations, the SWAT model found to be very good. The performance indices like   R2, NSE, RSR and PBIAS were ranged from 0.70 to 0.84, 0.67 to 0.76, 0.49 to 0.57 and -11.7 to 24.0% respectively during model calibration period and 0.70 to 0.93, 0.67 to 0.83, 0.41 to 0.58 and 8.5 to 22.9% respectively during model validation period. A good agreement between observed and simulated flows at all the gauging stations were observed.  It can be concluded that SWAT model output was improved with multisite calibration and validation of the model.