CS(AR)-209: Application of conceptual catchment water balance model to the Sarada river basin, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

The conceptual model of catchment water balance is used to simulate changes in runoff and base flow with annual precipitation in the Sarada River Basin, Andhra Pradesh, India. The model is based on the sequential separation of annual precipitation into surface runoff and wetting, and wetting into base flow and vaporization. Model calibration using six years of rainfall-runoff data (1981-86) was successfully accomplished using a root-mean-square minimization technique. This application shows that the model can simulate changes in runoff and base flow with annual precipitation in a large subtropical basin (1,980 km²) with a spatial mix of semiarid and subhumid climatic conditions.