A5 carefully benchmarks the GWF and collaborator land surface hydrologic models including MESH, VIC, WRF-Hydro (as applied by GLERL), HYPE, and GEM-Hydro amongst others to explore and improve modelling processes. Initial work with Lake Erie watershed modelling will be followed by the Great Lakes Basin and Saskatchewan-Nelson-Churchill River Basins (sub-basins selected in consultation with collaborators) in six years.

In Phase I of IMPC (Lake Erie and Great Lakes), models will be compared from both an ‘out-of-the-box’ perspective and driving a community effort to collectively identify common datasets, forcing datasets and model performance measures. The first phase developed frameworks to collaboratively make decisions and provide unified model setup information to ease the comparison of individual modeling decisions. Phase I also identified the large group of collaborators significantly exceeding the project team initially suggested. The project is based on three main objectives: comparing models for low-impact streamflow gauges, streamflow gauge stations most downstream to the lake(s), and comparing models based on their ability to simulate net basin supply.

In Phase II (Nelson-Churchill), we will apply the unified methodology for modelling intercomparison derived in Phase I, including time frames for model analysis, performance metrics, input data selection, and forcing data sets. The analysis will evaluate how and why models differ from a process-based perspective in unregulated basins, and evaluate methods of representing human impacts in the basin and their relative influence on model performance.

Area of focus:

  • Lake Erie (GRIP-E)
  • Great Lakes (GRIP-GL)
  • Nelson-Chruchill (Nelson MiP)

Models in Use:

  • MESH
  • VIC
  • WRF-Hydro
  • HYPE
  • GEM-Hydro
  • Many more.

 

In the News

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IMPC Researcher Featured as Canadian Showcase for Copernicus Climate Change Service

Dr. Tricia Stadnyk mobilizes research knowledge with Manitoba Hydro to explore uncertainty in future streamflows and data inputs. Read more...

March 1, 2019

 

Year 1-3: Develop a framework for inter-comparison of models (including at least MESH, VIC, HYPE, and GEM-Hydro) starting with Lake Erie. Complete Lake Erie comparison. 

Year 4: Determine how models differ in terms of streamflow prediction capability with user-led model setup and evaluation based on standard forcing data (Nelson-Churchill)

Year 5: Using standardized data for model setup, determine why models differ from a process-based perspective (Nelson-Churchill).

Year 6: Apply models in regulated basins with streamflow and process outputs to assess model set up accuracy and performance in representing human impacts (Nelson-Churchill).

Progress so far:

(i) several additional models are participating in at least one objective of the comparison process (WATFLOOD, RAVEN-GR4J, SWAT);
(ii) framework for model inter-comparison is developed and several phases of comparison (e.g. using the same meteorological forcing data and calibration strategy) are completed for Lake Eerie with a sub-set of models (e.g. HYPE);
(iii) the Great Lakes scale comparison from deterministic assessment perspective is expected to be complete by Y3, including the generation of a net basin supply for each lake.

Lead:

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Bryan Tolson

Associate Professor
University of Waterloo | Civil and Environmental Engineering

Photograph of Tricia Stadnyk

 

Trish Stadnyk

Associate Professor
University of Calgary | Department of Geography

Co-Leads:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Saman Razavi

 

Saman Razavi

Assistant Professor
University of Saskatchewan | School of Environment & Sustainability

 

 

Highly Qualified Personnel:

Julie Mai

Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Waterloo
2018-

 

Research: Watershed hydrological modelling; water quality modelling
Supervisor: Bryan Tolson (University of Waterloo)

Hongren Shen

PhD
University of Waterloo
2017-

  

Research: Hydrological modelling
Supervisor: Bryan Tolson (University of Waterloo)

Oyemonbade (Hervé) Awoye

Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Calgary
2018-

  

Research: Climate data analysis and hydrological modelling
Supervisor: Tricia Stadnyk (UManitoba) & Masoud Asadzadeh (UManitoba)

Jack Kostick

Undergraduate
University of Saskatchewan
May 2018-Aug 2018

 

Research: Climate data analysis and hydrological modelling
Supervisor: Tricia Stadnyk (UManitoba) & Masoud Asadzadeh (UManitoba)

The research team has engaged in a number of knowledge mobilization activities and plans to continue this general strategy of engagement. Existing collaborators includes Environment and Climate Change Canada, the US Army Corps of Engineers, Manitoba Hydro; additional collaborators can include Sask Power and Manitoba Infrastructure as the project moves into the Nelson-Churchill basin. Collaborators are direct participants in the research team and provide in-kind time, models and data. The team communicates on monthly basis with remote or in-person meetings, using additional tools such as surveys and site visits to enhance collaboration and negotiation around a shared terms of reference guiding modelling intercomparison.
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United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)

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United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE)

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National Oceanin and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

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University of Michigan

 

 

US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

 

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Manitoba Hydro

  • Maier H.R., Razavi S., Kapelan, Z., Matott L.S., Kasprzyk J., and Tolson, B.A., (2019), Introductory Overview: Optimization using Evolutionary Algorithms and other Metaheuristics, Environmental Modelling & Software (Invited Contribution).

  • Wong, J.S., Razavi, S., Bonsal, B.R., Wheater, H.S., Asong, Z.E. (2017), Inter-comparison of daily precipitation products for large-scale hydro-climatic applications over Canada, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. doi: 10.5194/hess-21-2163-2017.