The anatomy and uncertainty of a Canadian National River Gauging Network
Abstract
Catchment model evaluation and diagnostics is dependent on the whole model experimental design. This ideally includes an understanding of the quality and provenance of hydrological observations. The challenge of reconciling these individual observational uncertainties into model diagnostics for large sample hydrology is considerable and at present almost impossible to quantify for most national gauging networks. In this study we explore the anatomy and uncertainty of the national network of Canadian streamflow gauges provided by Water Survey of Canada. We firstly describe the terminologies that are essential to describe the process of inferring the streamflow based on stream stage through the "rating curves". We try to understand and communicate the general processes that are used in creation of rating curves over the Canadian gauges. Notably, we elaborate on the change in the rating curve including updating of rating curves and continuous shifting over time. We present our result for approximately 1750 active streamflow gauges across Canada and further elaborate our findings for a handful of gauges with more detailed and expert knowledge. Finally, we call upon measures that can better help quantification of uncertainties in the rating curve and their possible documentation in existing digital archives and datasets to aid model evaluation and diagnostics.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021AGUFM.H54I..01F