Comprehensive hydrologic calibration of SWAT and water balance analysis in mountainous watersheds in northwest China

Model calibration is important for streamflow simulations using distributed hydrological models, especially in highland and cold areas of northwest China with scarce data. Quantitative analysis of water balance based on the accurate simulation is also essential for reasonably planning and managing water resources in these river basins facing a severe water shortage. In this study, a comprehensive method was proposed to calibrate the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in the Yingluoxia watershed, upstream area of the Heihe River basin; it was based on multi-temporal, multi-variable and multi-site integrated drainage characteristics. Meanwhile a fresh approach of the parameter transferability and model validation was used by applying the set of calibrated parameters in its tributary to other area of the watershed. The results indicated that the method was effective and feasible; the values of Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) and Coefficient of Determination (r2) were greater than 0.81 and as high as 0.94 and the absolute values of the Percent Bias (PBIAS) were less than 2. Based the output of model the water balance in the Yingluoxia watershed was analyzed, that the mean annual precipitation, evapotranspiration, and discharge of the watershed from 1990 to 2000 were 491.8 mm, 334 mm, and 157.8 mm, respectively. The comprehensive calibration method based on multi-temporal, multi-variable and multi-site integrated drainage characteristics can better portray the hydrological processes of watershed and improve the model simulation; and the output of the model then provide a reliable reference for assessing and managing water resource of the watershed.