Hydrologic and Water Quality Models: Use, Calibration, and Validation

TLDR

The models span field to watershed scales, simulating hydrology, sediment, nutrients, bacteria, and pesticides from hourly to annual time steps. The article introduces and summarizes key aspects of 25 hydrologic and water quality models and establishes a common platform for developing calibration and validation guidelines through invited technical articles. It compiles a special collection of 22 research articles that detail calibration and validation concepts for each of the 25 models. The collection delivers detailed, model‑specific guidance on calibration, validation, and use, and collectively offers a consistent framework to support the development of ASABE calibration and validation guidelines.

Abstract

To provide a common background and platform for consensual development of calibration and validation guidelines, model developers and/or expert users of the commonly used hydrologic and water quality models globally were invited to write technical articles recommending calibration and validation procedures specific to their model. This article introduces a special collection of 22 research articles that present and discuss calibration and validation concepts in detail for 25 hydrologic and water quality models. The main objective of this introductory article is to introduce and summarize key aspects of the hydrologic and water quality models presented in this collection. The models range from field to watershed scales for simulating hydrology, sediment, nutrients, bacteria, and pesticides at temporal scales varying from hourly to annually. Individually, the articles provide model practitioners with detailed, model-specific guidance on model calibration, validation, and use. Collectively, the articles in this collection present a consistent framework of information that will facilitate development of a proposed set of ASABE model calibration and validation guidelines.