Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1279
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1279
06 Dec 2022
 | 06 Dec 2022

Validation of precipitation reanalysis products for rainfall-runoff modelling in Slovenia

Marcos Julien Alexopoulos, Hannes Müller-Thomy, Patrick Nistahl, Mojca Šraj, and Nejc Bezak

Abstract. Observational data scarcity often limits the potential of rainfall-runoff modelling around the globe. In ungauged catchments, earth-observations or reanalysis products could be used to replace missing ground-based station data. However, performance of different datasets needs to be thoroughly tested, especially at finer temporal resolutions such as hourly time steps. This study evaluates the performance of ERA5-Land and COSMO-REA6 precipitation reanalysis products (PRPs) using 16 meso-scale catchments located in Slovenia, Europe. These two PRPs are firstly compared with a gridded precipitation dataset that was constructed based on ground observational data. Secondly, a comparison of the temperature data of these reanalysis products with station-based air temperature data is conducted. Thirdly, several data combinations are defined and used as input for the rainfall-runoff modelling using the GR4H model. A special focus is on the application of an additional snow module. Both tested PRPs underestimate, for at least 20 %, extreme rainfall events that are the driving force of natural hazards such as floods. In terms of air temperature both tested reanalysis products show similar deviations from the observational dataset that was catchment-specific. Additionally, air temperature deviations are smaller in winter compared to summer. In terms of rainfall-runoff modelling, the ERA5-Land yields slightly better performance than COSMO-REA6. If a re-calibration with PRP has been carried out, the performance is similar compared to the simulations where station-based data was used as input. Model recalibration proves to be essential in providing relatively sufficient rainfall-runoff modelling results. Hence, tested PRPs could be used as an alternative to the station-based based data in case that precipitation or air temperature data are lacking, but model calibration using discharge data would be needed to improve the performance.

Marcos Julien Alexopoulos et al.

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1279', Anonymous Referee #1, 28 Jan 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Hannes Müller-Thomy, 14 Mar 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1279', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Mar 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Hannes Müller-Thomy, 14 Mar 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Hannes Müller-Thomy, 14 Mar 2023

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1279', Anonymous Referee #1, 28 Jan 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Hannes Müller-Thomy, 14 Mar 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1279', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Mar 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Hannes Müller-Thomy, 14 Mar 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Hannes Müller-Thomy, 14 Mar 2023

Marcos Julien Alexopoulos et al.

Marcos Julien Alexopoulos et al.

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Short summary
For the rainfall-runoff simulation from a certain area hydrological models are used, which require precipitation and temperature data as input. Since these are often not available as observations, we tested simulation results from atmospheric models. Two products were tested (ERA5-Land & COSMO-REA6) for Slovenian catchments, both lead to good simulations results. Their usage enables the of rainfall-runoff simulation in unobserved catchments as a requisite for e.g. flood protection measures.