Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1753
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1753
21 May 2025
 | 21 May 2025

Runoff Evaluation in an Earth System Land Model for Permafrost Regions

Xiang Huang, Yu Zhang, Bo Gao, Charles J. Abolt, Ryan L. Crumley, Cansu Demir, Richard P. Fiorella, Bob Busey, Bob Bolton, Scott L. Painter, and Katrina E. Bennett

Abstract. Modeling of hydrological runoff is essential for accurately capturing spatiotemporal feedbacks within the land–atmosphere system, particularly in sensitive regions such as permafrost landscapes. However, substantial uncertainties persist in the terrestrial runoff parameterization schemes used in Earth system and land surface models. This is particularly true in permafrost regions, where landscape heterogeneity is high and reliable observational data are scarce. In this study, we evaluate the performance of runoff parameterization schemes in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) land model (ELM). Our proposed framework leverages simulation results from the Advanced Terrestrial Simulator (ATS), which is a physics-rich integrated surface/subsurface hydrologic model that has been successfully evaluated previously in Arctic tundra regions. We used ATS to simulate runoff from 22 representative hillslopes in the Sagavanirktok River basin, located on the North Slope of Alaska, then compared the output with ELM’s parameterized representation of total runoff. Results show that 1) ELM’s total runoff was the same order of magnitude as the ATS simulations, and both models were similarly variable over time; 2) minor adjustments to coefficients in ELM’s runoff parameterization improved the match between the ATS simulation and ELM’s parameterized representation of annual and seasonal total runoff; 3) overall, runoff responses in ATS and ELM are more similar in flat hillslope environments compared to steep hillslopes; and 4) shallower active layer thicknesses and higher precipitation simulations resulted in lower correlations between the two models due to greater total runoff. By incorporating the optimized runoff coefficients from the Sagavanirktok River basin into ELM, the simulated total runoff better matched the streamflow observations at a small watershed located on the Seward Peninsula of Alaska. Our findings revealed important insights into the effectiveness of runoff parameterizations in land surface models and pathways for improving runoff coefficients in typical Arctic regions.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
Share
Xiang Huang, Yu Zhang, Bo Gao, Charles J. Abolt, Ryan L. Crumley, Cansu Demir, Richard P. Fiorella, Bob Busey, Bob Bolton, Scott L. Painter, and Katrina E. Bennett

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CEC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1753 - No compliance with the policy of the journal', Juan Antonio Añel, 21 Jun 2025
    • CC1: 'Reply on CEC1', Katrina Bennett, 24 Jun 2025
      • CEC2: 'Reply on CC1', Juan Antonio Añel, 24 Jun 2025
      • CEC3: 'Reply on CC1', Juan Antonio Añel, 24 Jun 2025
        • CC2: 'Reply on CEC3', Katrina Bennett, 28 Jun 2025
          • CEC4: 'Reply on CC2', Juan Antonio Añel, 28 Jun 2025
            • CC3: 'Reply on CEC4', Katrina Bennett, 01 Jul 2025
              • CC4: 'Reply on CC3', Katrina Bennett, 04 Jul 2025
                • CEC5: 'Reply on CC4', Juan Antonio Añel, 09 Jul 2025
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1753', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 Jul 2025
    • CC5: 'Reply for Review #1', Katrina Bennett, 14 Jul 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1753', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Aug 2025
Xiang Huang, Yu Zhang, Bo Gao, Charles J. Abolt, Ryan L. Crumley, Cansu Demir, Richard P. Fiorella, Bob Busey, Bob Bolton, Scott L. Painter, and Katrina E. Bennett
Xiang Huang, Yu Zhang, Bo Gao, Charles J. Abolt, Ryan L. Crumley, Cansu Demir, Richard P. Fiorella, Bob Busey, Bob Bolton, Scott L. Painter, and Katrina E. Bennett

Viewed

Total article views: 763 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
659 69 35 763 17 33
  • HTML: 659
  • PDF: 69
  • XML: 35
  • Total: 763
  • BibTeX: 17
  • EndNote: 33
Views and downloads (calculated since 21 May 2025)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 21 May 2025)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 754 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 754 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 30 Aug 2025
Download
Short summary
Predicting hydrological runoff in Arctic permafrost regions is difficult due to limited observations and complex terrain. We used a detailed physics-based model to improve runoff estimates in a Earth system land model. Our method improved runoff accuracy and worked well across two different Arctic regions. This helps make climate models more reliable for understanding water flow in permafrost areas under a changing climate.
Share