Comparison between the HBV and TEMEZ precipitation-runoff models on a monthly scale. Case study Lake Cuitzeo Basin

Abstract

and Témez precipitation-runoff models on a monthly scale to decide which best represents the historical runoff. The analysis was conducted in the Cuitzeo Lake basin, through the analysis of three sub-basins under the natural regime during the period from 1960 to 1990. For the application of the models, the EvalHid software was used, as well as its calibrator. Based on the goodness of fit indices calculated from simulations carried out on a monthly scale, it was observed that the HBV model represents small and large flows more accurately, being closer to the average runoff. However, the HBV model tends to overestimate flows in some wet months, while Témez’s model significantly overestimates runoff in dry months. The proposed methodology requires few economic, material, human and technological resources, so the application of a precipitation model in areas with scarce information is effective for the evaluation of water resources, in the absence of methods that consider fewer variables of analysis and that generalize the phenomenon of the hydrological cycle.