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Original Articles

Global hydrological models: a review

Revue des modèles hydrologiques globaux

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Pages 549-565 | Received 20 Jun 2013, Accepted 30 Apr 2014, Published online: 10 Mar 2015
 

Abstract

Global hydrological models (GHMs) have effectively become a separate research field in the last two decades. The paper reviews and compares 12 known global modelling efforts since 1989, the year the first GHM was published. Structure, strengths and weaknesses of individual models are examined, and the objectives of model development and their initial applications are documented. Issues such as model uncertainty, data scarcity, integration with remote sensing data and spatial resolution are discussed.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis

Résumé

Les modèles hydrologiques globaux (MHG) sont en fait devenus un domaine de recherche distinct au cours des deux dernières décennies. Cet article examine et compare 12 démarches de modélisation globale connues depuis 1989, année de publication du premier MHG. La structure, les forces et faiblesses de chaque modèle ont été examinées et les objectifs de développement des modèles et leurs premières applications ont été décrits. Des questions telles que l’incertitude du modèle, la rareté des données, l’intégration des données de télédétection et la résolution spatiale ont été discutées.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge comments provided by Robyn Johnston (IWMI, Colombo) in reviewing the manuscript. Comments provided by two anonymous reviewers are also acknowledged.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE).

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