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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #242939
Title: How to: applying and interpreting the SWAT autocalibration tools

Author
item Veith, Tameria - Tamie
item GHEBREMICHAEL, LULA - University Of Vermont

Submitted to: Soil and Water Assessment Tool International Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2009
Publication Date: 12/18/2009
Citation: Veith, T.L., Ghebremichael, L.T. 2009. How to: applying and interpreting the SWAT autocalibration tools. In: Proceedings of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool International Conference, August 5-7, 2009, Boulder, Colorado. p. 26-33.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: Watershed-level modelers have expressed a need, through ongoing discussions within the USDA-ARS Conservation Effects Assessment Program and the broader international research community, for a better understanding of uncertainty related to hard-to-measure input parameters and to the remaining internal processes of a model. One water quality model of interest in this regard is the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), which is being used internationally to aid in assessing the effects of various conservation practices. This paper defines and explains the main outputs provided by the three components of the SWAT Autocalibration Tool: parameter sensitivity analysis, parameter uncertainty, and model uncertainty. The goal of the paper is to aid future users by demonstrating a straightforward process for applying and interpreting the results of the Auto¬calibration Tool relative to a specific watershed or region. The paper is intended to serve as a reference guide to the Autocalibration Tool user community.