A process‐based diagnostic approach to model evaluation: Application to the NWS distributed hydrologic model

Distributed hydrological models have the potential to provide improved streamflow forecasts along the entire channel network, while also simulating the spatial dynamics of evapotranspiration, soil moisture content, water quality, soil erosion, and land use change impacts. However, they are perceived as being difficult to parameterize and evaluate, thus translating into significant predictive uncertainty in the model results. Although a priori parameter estimates derived from observable watershed characteristics can help to minimize obstacles to model implementation, there exists a need for powerful automated parameter estimation strategies that incorporate diagnostic information regarding the causes of poor…