MIKE SHE modeling of ecohydrological processes: Merits, applications, and challenges

MIKE SHE is one of the most extensively used physically based distributed hydrological models that are capable of credibly interpreting the response mechanism of ecohydrological processes to ecosystem components and organization. However, implementing MIKE SHE in integrated catchment modeling is a complex task requiring an experienced modeling team with skills in a variety of disciplines, making it difficult for scientists without a background in hydrology or computer science to utilize this useful model. This review, from the perspective of ecology and environmental science, illustrates the important role of a physically based distributed model as a solution to issues related to ecohydrological processes, offering a major discussion of issues that received little attention from the previous reviewers and that would interest researchers without a hydrology background. The inevitable and possible difficulties confronting these potential users at the beginning and early stages of utilizing the model are also brought to light, with suggestions for solutions. This paper offers a brief review of MIKE SHE development and elaborates its main merits, key problems, and research on the model's theories and practices implemented by scholars. Lingering problems in current solutions are analyzed, and potential approaches to solutions are proposed. We hope that this paper provides some practical advice to researchers who want to initiate study of water issues related to modeling ecohydrological processes by employing MIKE SHE.