Abstract

The effect of compartment resolution-scale, i.e. number of compartments and sompartment size, on prediction of transport of water and solute mass i watersheds is analysed by using numerical discretisation and temporal moments methods. The one-dimensional advection-diffusion model is used as a theoretical frame of reference for representing transport along a single series of compartments along a pathway in the surface water or ecosystem. Criteria for parameterisation of compartment models and error estimates are derived for two cases: (1) requiring and exact match with the advection-diffusion model; and (2) requiring as good match as possible with a simplified compartment model using a small number of compartments. The matching criteria are based on a comparison of numerical discretisation and temporal moments of the compartmental backflow model with those of the one-dimensional advection-diffusion ewuation and compartmental backflow model with arbitrary input concentration vs. time boundary cinditions and the physical parameters of the advective-diffusive equation. Data from tracer experiments were compared with model predictions to provide a practical fram of reference

Keywords

Compartment model; Advection-diffusion equation; Temporal moments

Published in

Journal of Hydrology
2007, volume: 335, number: 3-4, pages: 364-373
Publisher: Elsevier

Authors' information