Sediment Calibration using SWAT-CUP

Aziz Essalhi

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May 28, 2024, 7:18:38 AMMay 28

to SWAT-CUP

Good day:

I'm calibrating Sediment data in Canadian watershed located in Eastern Canada where we have Snow accumulation from December to April every year. My observed data is from May to November for 2022 and 2023 and will have more data in 2024. I use a turbidimeter that records the data in mVolt and we do sediment rating curve to convert the mVolt to mg/L using a linear function (as best in R2).
Now I'm in the process to calibrate my observed data (2022-2023) along with flow data (already calibrated (KGE=81%/NSE=62%)) using SWAT-CUP. I choose the Routing Method#2 as the best one I got. No I'm having difficulties calibrating the sediments as it won't align with observed data (I have an overestimated results) ; please see attached.

Any help will be much appreciated. Many thanks!

Cheers,

Aziz

CR_SedimentCalibration_AE.xlsx

Oscar M Cabezas-Nivin

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May 29, 2024, 12:28:11 PMMay 29

to SWAT-CUP

Hi,

I also calibrated my SWAT model with sediment records sucessfully in a highly-erosive watershed in Peru (South America). I must advise you to calibrate your model using the SED_OUT variable. How to do so, you have the SEDCONC (mg/L) and FLOW_OUT (m3/s) then multiple them you have SED_OUT (metric ton), it is far easy to calibrate your model with SED_OUT rather than with SEDCONC. Also, SWAT tends to overstimate the Sediment values, so do not expect a high NSE value in your best simulation. If you have any more question, I would be happy to answer them.

Kind regards,

Oscar M. Cabezas-Nivin

Jahaira Sota

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Jun 21, 2024, 10:00:31 PM (8 days ago) Jun 21

to SWAT-CUP

Hi Oscar, I am form Peru, can you tell me how did you obtain the sediment data for calibration? I would be happy if you can help me with that also the process in SWAT.

Best regards,

Jahaira Sota

Oscar M Cabezas-Nivin

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Jun 21, 2024, 10:29:48 PM (8 days ago) Jun 21

to SWAT-CUP

Hi Jahaira,

To get sediment data in our country, you need to ask to the organization that may have it (usually reservoir's operators, or MINAM among others), it is really hard to have this data freely available. If you need help to calibrate your SWAT model, send me an email to go into more details.