Comparative assessment between GR model and tank model for rainfall-runoff analysis using Kalman filter- application to Algerian basins

Modeling the rainfall-runoff relationship with conceptual models has always been a fascinating subject for hydrologists in view of its practical importance and complexity. This study presents a comparative assessment of the performance of two well established rainfall-runoff conceptual models. A first model called: Model ‘Genie Rural’ (i.e. Agricultural Engineering) and abbreviated GR, developed by Cemagref has been extensively tested in the Mediterranean watersheds and some basins in African countries. When applied to Algerian basins, the different version of the GR model gave satisfactory results, particularly for long time steps (monthly and annual data). In this work, the tank Model by Sugawara using Kalman filter for adaptive calibration is developed and tested for the first time to assess rainfall-runoff in Algerian basins. The results appear to be very prominent and far better than those given by the GR models including daily time steps. Indeed, a comparison between the two models established for daily and monthly data was performed on the three (03) Algerian Basins (i.e. Isser, Zardezas basin and Cheffia). Calibration of the Tank model parameters was performed by Kalman filter. Furthermore, the structure of tank model (i.e: number of tanks, number of outlets in each tank, and their location) was determinated for the studied basins.