The WRF-Driven Grid-Xin’anjiang Model and Its Application in Small and Medium Catchments of China

Abstract

The distributed Grid-Xin’anjiang (Grid-XAJ) model is very sensitive to the spatial and temporal distribution of data when used in humid and semi-humid small and medium catchments. We used the successive correction method to merge the gauged rainfall with rainfall forecasted by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to enhance the spatiotemporal accuracy of rainfall distribution. And we used the Penman–Monteith equation to calculate the potential evapotranspiration (PEPM). Then, we designed two forcing scenarios (WRF-driven rainfall (Wr) + PEPM, WRF-merged rainfall (Wm) + PEPM) to drive the Grid-XAJ model for flood forecasting. We found the WRF-driven Grid-XAJ model held significant potential in flood forecasting. The Grid-XAJ model provided only an approximation of flood hygrographs when driven by scenario Wr + PEPM. The results in scenario Wm + PEPM showed a high degree-of-fit with observed floods with mean Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) values of 0.94 and 0.68 in two catchments. Additionally, scenario Wm + PEPM performed better flood hygrographs than scenario Wr + PEPM. The flood volumes and flow peaks in scenario Wm + PEPM had an obvious improvement compare to scenario Wr + PEPM. Finally, we observed that the model exhibited superior performance in forecasting flood hydrographs, flow peaks, and flood volumes in humid catchments compared with semi-humid catchments.