Assessing the value of stable water isotopes in hydrologic modeling: a dual-isotope approach
Loading...
Date
2016
Authors
Holmes, Tegan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This thesis presents the development of a dual-isotope simulation in a hydrological model, and its application to the lower Nelson River basin. The purpose of this study is to find if the simulation of stable water isotopes aids in hydrological simulation, and if a dual-isotope simulation is an improvement over a single-isotope simulation.
The isoWATFLOOD model was enhanced to include δ2H and improve physical representativeness. The model was calibrated using various isotope and flow simulation error functions. Internal hydrologic storages and fluxes were verified by comparing simulated isotope values to observed isotope data.
Adding isotope error to the calibration resulted in small but consistent improvements to the physical basis of calibrated parameter values. Isotope simulation error was found to be the best predictor of streamflow simulation performance beyond the calibration period. The dual-isotope simulation identified a number of model limitations and potential improvements from the verification of internal hydrologic storages.
Description
Keywords
Hydrological modelling, Hydrologic models, Stable water isotopes, Iso-hydrologic modeling, Isotope tracers