Comparing Model Effectiveness on Simulating Catchment Hydrological Regime

Numerical modeling is considered as a best way for studying hydrology of a defined catchment. Up to date, many hydrological models have been developed with different concepts. They have contributed significantly in getting more knowledge about hydrological phenomena, as well as forecasting future scenarios. Models have provided logical proofs for strategists and decision makers in charge of mitigating the impacts of extreme hydrological situations. However, the performance and the efficiency of hydrological models are not equivalent and have to be adjusted according to the objectives. With the aim to choose the most suitable model for simulating the hydrological phenomenon of Vu Gia Thu Bon catchment, a large catchment in central Vietnam, a systematic analysis has been performed. By comparing the effectiveness of three model types—distributed, semi-distributed, and lumped model, the analysis demonstrates the capacity of each kind of model in simulating the Vu Gia Thu Bon catchment hydrological regime. The paper provides recommendation regarding the selection and the implementation of hydrological models and could be used as a reference for similar studies that could be implemented on similar regional catchments.