Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Research article2014Peer reviewedOpen access

PERSiST: a flexible rainfall-runoff modelling toolkit for use with the INCA family of models

Futter, Martyn; Erlandsson, Martin; Butterfield, Dan A.; Whitehead, Paul G.; Oni, Stephen; Wade, A. J.

Abstract

Runoff generation processes and pathways vary widely between catchments. Credible simulations of solute and pollutant transport in surface waters are dependent on models which facilitate appropriate, catchment-specific representations of perceptual models of the runoff generation process. Here, we present a flexible, semi-distributed landscape-scale rainfall-runoff modelling toolkit suitable for simulating a broad range of user-specified perceptual models of runoff generation and stream flow occurring in different climatic regions and landscape types. PERSiST (the Precipitation, Evapotranspiration and Runoff Simulator for Solute Transport) is designed for simulating present-day hydrology; projecting possible future effects of climate or land use change on runoff and catchment water storage; and generating hydrologic inputs for the Integrated Catchments (INCA) family of models. PERSiST has limited data requirements and is calibrated using observed time series of precipitation, air temperature and runoff at one or more points in a river network. Here, we apply PERSiST to the river Thames in the UK and describe a Monte Carlo tool for model calibration, sensitivity and uncertainty analysis.

Published in

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
2014, volume: 18, number: 2, pages: 855-873
Publisher: COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH

SLU Authors

Associated SLU-program

SLU Future Forests

Global goals (SDG)

SDG6 Clean water and sanitation
SDG13 Climate action

UKÄ Subject classification

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-855-2014

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/53614