Distributed-Parameter Large Basin Runoff Model. I: Model Development

Abstract

We present a case study of modifying an existing macroscale rainfall-runoff model, the large basin runoff model (LBRM), developed at NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, to the microscale in a two-dimensional representation. First, we review the LBRM and then describe changes in several process submodels, which were originally designed specifically for large areas. We also change the model structure so that we may use the LBRM on an individual cell at the microscale within a watershed. We then discuss spatial scaling of model parameters to enable an (initial) application to the microscale with parameters available from the macroscale. We then organize watershed cells and flow routing and conclude with notes on computer implementation. In the accompanying companion paper, we present details of the model calibration, application, and experimentation on the Kalamazoo River watershed.