Erosion parameter identification in overland flow areas: Application of a global and local search algorithm

Abstract

Two optimization algorithms and two objective functions were applied to determine erosion parameters for a physically-based, event-oriented model designed to simulate the processes of sedimentation for small watersheds. Three different flow-induced erosion equations were also tested with the four optimization procedures to examine the predictive capabilities of the equations. Synthetic error-free data as well as data contaminated with correlated and random error provided the means for determining the effectiveness of the four optimization procedures studied. After selecting the most effective optimization procedure and flow-induced erosion equation, the model was tested using sediment data from rainfall simulator plots and a small experimental watershed. The results from the rainfall simulator studies indicated that a structural problem may exist within the model. The agreement between simulated and observed responses for the watershed events studied indicated that the model was capable of describing sedimentation processes when they occurred on a larger scale.