Comparative analysis of different hydrological models in flood forecasting for the upper Juma River basin

Accurate flood forecasting is of critical importance for flood control and disaster mitigation. This study focuses on the upper basin of the Juma River and employs the China Flash Flood Hydrological Model (CNFF) to calibrate model parameters using three specific runoff generation models implemented...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ting Li, Shilong Hao, Fuxin Chai, Kuang Li, Haoqiang Tong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Water
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2025.1617212/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1839619562890330112
author Ting Li
Shilong Hao
Fuxin Chai
Kuang Li
Haoqiang Tong
author_facet Ting Li
Shilong Hao
Fuxin Chai
Kuang Li
Haoqiang Tong
author_sort Ting Li
collection DOAJ
description Accurate flood forecasting is of critical importance for flood control and disaster mitigation. This study focuses on the upper basin of the Juma River and employs the China Flash Flood Hydrological Model (CNFF) to calibrate model parameters using three specific runoff generation models implemented within the CNFF platform: the Xin’anjiang three-source saturation-excess runoff model, the vertical mixed runoff model, and the Dahuofang model. These models, respectively, represent three distinct physical runoff mechanisms—saturation-excess, vertical mixing, and infiltration-excess. The primary scientific objective is to systematically compare the flood forecasting accuracy of these models and to identify the most suitable one for flood forecasting in this basin. The results indicate that the overall forecasting accuracy of the Xin’anjiang model is superior to that of the vertical mixed runoff model and the Dahuofang model. The absolute value of the relative error in peak discharge and the relative error in mean runoff depth simulated by the Xin’anjiang model are 6.8 and 10.7%, respectively. The absolute value of the mean peak arrival time error is 0.47 h, and the average Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient is 0.69. The Xin’anjiang model demonstrated superior performance, achieving an average Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) approximately 0.21 higher than the other models across the evaluated events. When flood discharge is high and exhibits a single-peak pattern, the simulation performance of all runoff models improves. Overall, the Xin’anjiang model achieves a Class B accuracy level in flood simulation for the upper Juma River basin. These findings provide a reference for hydrological simulation, flood forecasting, and early warning in the upper Juma River basin.
format Article
id doaj-art-b74e86038e3341de8e5d0fbd3b3d32a9
institution Matheson Library
issn 2624-9375
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Water
spelling doaj-art-b74e86038e3341de8e5d0fbd3b3d32a92025-07-23T05:35:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Water2624-93752025-07-01710.3389/frwa.2025.16172121617212Comparative analysis of different hydrological models in flood forecasting for the upper Juma River basinTing Li0Shilong Hao1Fuxin Chai2Kuang Li3Haoqiang Tong4School of Geomatics and Geographic Information, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, ChinaSchool of Geomatics and Geographic Information, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, ChinaChina Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, ChinaChina Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Geomatics and Geographic Information, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, ChinaAccurate flood forecasting is of critical importance for flood control and disaster mitigation. This study focuses on the upper basin of the Juma River and employs the China Flash Flood Hydrological Model (CNFF) to calibrate model parameters using three specific runoff generation models implemented within the CNFF platform: the Xin’anjiang three-source saturation-excess runoff model, the vertical mixed runoff model, and the Dahuofang model. These models, respectively, represent three distinct physical runoff mechanisms—saturation-excess, vertical mixing, and infiltration-excess. The primary scientific objective is to systematically compare the flood forecasting accuracy of these models and to identify the most suitable one for flood forecasting in this basin. The results indicate that the overall forecasting accuracy of the Xin’anjiang model is superior to that of the vertical mixed runoff model and the Dahuofang model. The absolute value of the relative error in peak discharge and the relative error in mean runoff depth simulated by the Xin’anjiang model are 6.8 and 10.7%, respectively. The absolute value of the mean peak arrival time error is 0.47 h, and the average Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient is 0.69. The Xin’anjiang model demonstrated superior performance, achieving an average Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) approximately 0.21 higher than the other models across the evaluated events. When flood discharge is high and exhibits a single-peak pattern, the simulation performance of all runoff models improves. Overall, the Xin’anjiang model achieves a Class B accuracy level in flood simulation for the upper Juma River basin. These findings provide a reference for hydrological simulation, flood forecasting, and early warning in the upper Juma River basin.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2025.1617212/fullChina flash flood hydrological modelXin’anjiang modelvertical mixed runoff modelJuma Riverflood forecasting
spellingShingle Ting Li
Shilong Hao
Fuxin Chai
Kuang Li
Haoqiang Tong
Comparative analysis of different hydrological models in flood forecasting for the upper Juma River basin
Frontiers in Water
China flash flood hydrological model
Xin’anjiang model
vertical mixed runoff model
Juma River
flood forecasting
title Comparative analysis of different hydrological models in flood forecasting for the upper Juma River basin
title_full Comparative analysis of different hydrological models in flood forecasting for the upper Juma River basin
title_fullStr Comparative analysis of different hydrological models in flood forecasting for the upper Juma River basin
title_full_unstemmed Comparative analysis of different hydrological models in flood forecasting for the upper Juma River basin
title_short Comparative analysis of different hydrological models in flood forecasting for the upper Juma River basin
title_sort comparative analysis of different hydrological models in flood forecasting for the upper juma river basin
topic China flash flood hydrological model
Xin’anjiang model
vertical mixed runoff model
Juma River
flood forecasting
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2025.1617212/full
work_keys_str_mv AT tingli comparativeanalysisofdifferenthydrologicalmodelsinfloodforecastingfortheupperjumariverbasin
AT shilonghao comparativeanalysisofdifferenthydrologicalmodelsinfloodforecastingfortheupperjumariverbasin
AT fuxinchai comparativeanalysisofdifferenthydrologicalmodelsinfloodforecastingfortheupperjumariverbasin
AT kuangli comparativeanalysisofdifferenthydrologicalmodelsinfloodforecastingfortheupperjumariverbasin
AT haoqiangtong comparativeanalysisofdifferenthydrologicalmodelsinfloodforecastingfortheupperjumariverbasin