Development of an Event-Based Water Quality Model for Sparsely Gauged Catchments

This paper describes an event-based water quality model for sparsely gauged catchments. The model was cultivated in a robust way to cope with practical issues, such as limited available data and error propagation. A simplified model structure and fewer input parameters are the most appealing features of this model. All model components are coupled and controlled within an Excel Spreadsheet Macro as an operational tool. Herein, the geomorphological instantaneous unit hydrograph (GIUH), the simplified process erosion and sedimentation component, the loading function, and the river routing from different existing modeling systems are adopted and linked together. Furthermore, an add-on Monte Carlo simulation tool is provided to deliver an uncertainty analysis for calibration of the output obtained from the model results. The model was successfully applied to simulate nutrient dynamics for small catchment scales during flood events in Vietnam. The success of the model application shows the ability of our model, which can adapt the model complexity to the data availability, i.e., the dominant processes in the system should be captured, whereas the minor processes may be neglected or treated in a less complex manner.