Advantages of Using NEXRAD Data in Watershed Rainfall-Runoff Modeling with HSPF Model

Abstract

This research explores the usefulness of radar data in hydrology calibration of watershed rainfall runoff models. Rainfall runoff models are popularly used as a tool in developing total daily maximum load (TMDL). All the TMDL models involve two stage calibration processes. First stage is hydrology calibration and the second stage is water quality calibration. Discrepancies in hydrology calibration can substantially affect the water quality calibration. With the help a case study, advantages of using radar data for developing water rainfall runoff model is described in this study. Public domain software called Hydrologic Simulation Program Fortran (HSPF) was used for this purpose. Hourly rainfall data were extracted for different storms from RADAR data using user friendly software created for this purpose. Results indicated improved performance when RADAR data was used in hydrology calibration.