Principal Investigator: George A. Brook (University of Georgia)
Principal Investigator: Chin-Hong Sun (The University of Georgia)
Sponsor: GWRI
Start Date: 1985-08-01; Completion Date: 1985-08-01;
Keywords: Modelling, Simulation, Georgia, Hydrology, Lower Coastal Plain, Watershed, Ground Water, Streamflow
Description:
Overland flow to streams is rare in the Lower Coastal Plain watersheds of Georgia. As a result, commonly-used watershed hydrologic simulation models can not be used to predict streamflow accurately. Therefore, a distributed watershed hydrologic simulation model, named COASTAL, has been developed specifically for the Lower Coastal Plain regions of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. A basic assumption of the model, which can be run on a personal computer, is that all streamflow results from ground water discharge into stream channels. COASTAL was developed by combining surface and ground water simulation models. In modelling, the watershed is divided into rectangular grid elements. Input data for each grid element can be obtained easily from topographic maps, soil surveys, aerial photographs and generalized published tables. At least one year of measured daily streamflow data is needed to calibrate the model. Outputs from the model include daily stream discharge, a water budget, and average daily ground water level for each grid element within the watershed.
The model has been tested using data for the Hurricane Creek watershed of Georgia. Correlation coefficients between simulated and measured streamflow were in the range 0.8 to 0.9. Work is presently underway to improve COASTAL by installing an automatic calibration module.