v4.0 [Mar 18, 2014]
A number of new capabilities have been added to the program. Complete
descriptions are given below.
Basin Map
The hydrologic elements in a basin model have always been displayed using
icons. Reach elements have been represented with a straight line from the
upstream point of the reach to the downstream point of the reach. Subbasin
elements have been represented with an icon usually located at the centroid of
the subbasin. Reservoir elements have been represented with an icon most
often located at the outlet of the reservoir. A static background map can be
added to the basin model to provide additional visual cues to the location of
subbasin outlines and reach channels. There is now an option to represent the
elements with a higher level of spatial precision. A subbasin can be represented
with a polygon that shows the subbasin outline. A reach can be represented with
a polyline that shows the reach channel. A reservoir can be represented with a
polygon that shows the lake outline. The spatial data must be stored in the
Shape File format, and coordinated with the basin model. You can find more
information in the User's Manual on page 110.
Basin Model Zones
Basin model zones are designed to facilitate stream flow forecasting. One or
more zone configurations can be created in a basin model. Each zone
configuration includes one or more zones, and each subbasin is assigned to one
of the zones. Zone configurations have some use in the basin model where they
can be used in the global editors and global summary table. The primary use for
zone configurations is in the new forecast alternative where they facilitate
parameter adjustments to the subbasins in each zone. You can find more
information in the User's Manual on page 128.
Calibration Aids
Calibration aids are associated with computation points and designed to improve
the manual calibration process. Any element in a basin model can be designated
a computation point by using the Computation Point Manager. The Manager
also allows you to select parameters upstream of each selected computation
point and set the calibration range for each parameter. The parameter properties
are used to create a custom editor with a slider bar for each parameter. Custom
graphs can also be configured at each computation point with time-series results
selected from the upstream elements. The current simulation run is automatically
recomputed after each adjustment of a slider bar and the result graphs show the
updated results. You can find more information in the User's Manual on page
139.
Shortwave Radiation
Shortwave radiation in the context of hydrology refers to energy from the sun that
arrives at the land surface. Shortwave radiation is usually the dominate energy
source for evapotranspiration and snowmelt. A shortwave radiation method has
been added to the meteorologic model, with several available methods for
representing the energy flux. This new component will allow for better
representation of solar radiation in present modeling components and components planned for the future. You can find more information in the User's
Manual on page 238.
Specified Evapotranspiration
The specified evapotranspiration method within the meterologic model provides a
new option for setting the potential evapotranspiration rate for subbasin canopy
and loss rate components. The values for use in the method may be specified
manually or computed by an external model. The data values are stored in a
time-series gage, and one gage may be selected for each subbasin. You can
find more information in the User's Manual on page 259.
Forecast Alternatives
A new compute component has been created to join the current simulation run,
optimization trial, and depth-area analysis. The new forecast alternative includes
features specifically designed to streamline the process of producing a flow
forecast. Each forecast alternative is composed of a basin model and
meteorologic model along with a start time, forecast time, and end time. The
alternative works by starting from the parameter data in the basin model, and
then allowing the user to specify adjustments to those parameters. The
adjustments are specified with the help of a zone configuration, which reduces
the tediousness of setting adjustments separately for each element. You can
find more information in the User's Manual on page 323.
Erosion and Sediment Transport
It is now possible to evaluate erosion and sediment transport within the
watershed. Subbasin elements optionally have an erosion method, with choices
for agricultural and urban environments. Reach elements include erosion and
settling of sediment, with transport of the mass that exceeds the transport
capacity. Reservoir elements include settling of sediment and transport of the
mass that remains suspended in the water column. Sediment features are also
found in the source and diversion elements. The comprehensive approach
permits evaluation of erosion and sediment effects throughout the watershed.
