Calibration, validation and sensitivity analysis of the MIKE-SHE model using the Neuenkirchen catchment as case study

Calibration and validation of the MIKE-SHE model was performed using the Neuenkirchen research catchment hydrologic characteristics and a two-year time series of stream flows at the outlet of the catchment. A reasonable match was obtained between the observed and simulated hydrograph at the catchment outlet with minor calibration effort. For the validation runs, the base flows were overestimated in the period of high rainfall intensity while the peak flows were reasonably matched. Sensitivity of the model to structural parameters such as grid size and time step, and to the functional parameters, including hydraulic resistance coefficient, surface and subsurface hydraulic properties, was investigated. The results indicated that the peak overland flow and the total overland flow were very sensitive to the flow resistance parameters and to the vertical hydraulic conductivity of the surface soil, while the peak aquifer discharge and the total aquifer discharge were sensitive to the horizontal hydraulic conductivity in the saturated zone. The model output variables considered were neither affected, to a significant extent, by the vegetation parameters nor by the specific storage coefficient.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]