Accounting for Uncertainty Propagation: Streamflow Forecasting using Multiple Climate and Hydrological Models

Water resources management depends on dealing inherent uncertainties stemming from climatic and hydrological inputs and models. Dealing with these uncertainties remains a challenge. Streamflow forecasts basically contain uncertainties arising from model structure and initial conditions. Recent enhancements in climate forecasting skill and hydrological modeling provide an breakthrough for delivering improved streamflow forecasts. However, little consideration has been given to methodologies that include coupling both multiple climate and multiple hydrological models, increasing the pool of streamflow forecast ensemble members and accounting for cumulative sources of uncertainty. The approach here proposes integration and coupling of global climate models (GCM), multiple regional climate models, and numerous hydrological models to improve streamflow forecasting and characterize system uncertainty through generation of ensemble forecasts.