Evaluation of the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis data for hydrological model in the Arctic watershed Målselv

Abstract The high-resolution Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) data have recently become an alternative input for hydrological models in data-sparse regions. However, the quality of CFSR running Arctic is not well studied yet. This paper aims to compare with ground-based modeling watershed, Målselv. QSWAT model, a coupling model SWAT (soil and water assessment tool) QGIS, was applied this study. ran from 1995 2012 3-year warm-up period (1995–1997). Calibration (1998–2007), validation (2008–2012), uncertainty analyses were performed by Sequential Uncertainty Fitting Version 2 (SUFI-2) algorithm Uncertainties Program each dataset at five hydro-gauging stations within watershed. objective function Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient efficiency calibration 0.65–0.82 0.55–0.74 data, which indicate higher performance than existing scattered data. weather grid points showed variation precipitation across whole calculated average annual rainfall watershed approximately 24% that results some balance components. also demonstrates its high capacities replicate streamflow hydrograph, terms timing magnitude peak low flow. Through examination coefficients P-factors (≥0.7) R-factors (≤1.5), study concludes reliable source