Hydrologic Models with Radar Precipitation Data Input

Abstract

This study is intended to assess performance of radar quantitative precipitation estimate (QPE) input from Doppler Meteorology radar with two hydrologic models. Principal interest is not only streamflow outputs accuracy but also time require to run model simulations. The latter is crucial to
determine whether it is feasible to run the models in near-real-time for decision assistance to water management officials along Lower Chi and Lower Mun rivers. This study has been intended with a goal of accuracy assessing in near-real-time inflows from numerous sideflows of the Upper Chi and Upper Mun rivers. These inflows are problematic to reservoir operations in rare event of a heavy widespread rainfall into sideflow basins. The radar quantitative precipitation estimates (QPE) are obtained from WSR-8500S radar type of the Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation at Pimai site, A.Pimai, Nakhon Ratchasima province in the Northeast of Thailand, which used a reflectivity-rain intensity (Z-R) ; Z=294R^1.33 relationship tailored for the 10-14 August 2001 rain event. The results of hydrologic models performance with this QPE input found that both two hydrologic models, Vflo TM model and HEC-HMS model can give hydrographs output trend as similar to the hydrograph record, it indicated high performance of radar input.