Calibrating a rainfall-runoff model for a catchment with limited data

A rainfall-runoff model has been established to simulate streamflow in a regulated catchment in southern India, where data were limited in relation to the basin's complexity. Within the basin is a network of hydropower reservoirs and tunnels that complicate the relationships between observed and natural flows. The basin is affected by two monsoons that dominate in different areas and can only be quantified through a relatively sparse raingauge network. These characteristics combine to make it difficult to satisfactorily define the spatial distribution of rainfall inputs to the basin. After critically assessing the data that were found to be inconsistent and unrepresentative, various assumptions about the operation of the system were tested. Despite incomplete streamflow data and the complex hydropower system, the limiting factor affecting successful simulations of streamflow at the basin outlet was the uncertain representativeness of the calculated areal rainfall. The final outcome is a model, which despite shortcomings, is considered to be a useful water resources management tool that provides a sound basis for further studies.