Input data resolution analysis for distributed hydrological modeling Roshan Shrestha a, * , Yasuto Tachikawa b , Kaoru Takara b a Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan b Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan Received 13 August 2003; revised 22 April 2005; accepted 28 April 2005 Abstract A distributed hydrological model is often needed to analyze spatially variable hydrologic behavior. Such a model can be difficult to set up, especially for an ungauged basin, as it demands a massive amount of data. Moreover, there is an additional challenge of selecting a proper grid resolution as the grid size selection generally leads to predictive uncertainty and also directly determines the amount of work required. In this study, a distributed macro-scale hydrological model, named as the MaScOD model, is applied with a 10-min spatial resolution to the Huaihe River basin, China, to simulate discharge at Bengbu (132,350 km 2 ) and at sub-basins at Wangjiaba (29,844 km 2 ) and at Suiping (2093 km 2 ). A range of input data resolutions are used, from 10 min to 2.58, based on an experimental hydro-meteorological input data set abstracted from the GAME re-analysis data and the Hubex-IOP EEWB data. Performance of the model is evaluated by comparing observed discharge against simulated discharge for a range of IC-ratio values (the ratio between the input forcing resolution and the Catchment area). Similar results are obtained for all three catchments, despite their different sizes. It is found that improvement in distributed model performance is more pronounced below the IC-ratio 1:10, whereas the rate of improvement is negligible above the IC- ratio 1:20. The IC-ratio range 1:10–1:20 is found to be the optimum performance range considering the data and resource demands of distributed models. This may provide a preliminary criterion for selecting the scale for distributed hydrological modeling in ungauged basins. q 2005 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved. Keywords: Input data resolution; Distributed hydrological modeling; Optimal model performance; IC-ratio; MaScOD model; Ungauged basins 1. Introduction To fulfill the heavy demand for distributed data is a major challenge in distributed hydrological modeling, despite the superior ability of such models to analyze spatially variable hydrologic behavior and the impacts of natural and human activities on runoff (Refsgaard and Abott, 1996). Ungauged basins present the greatest challenge, as most ungauged basins have basically no hydro-meteorological data other than that from regional or global data sets obtained from reanalysis of a limited number of observations using a General Circulation Model (GCM) or a meso- scale numerical weather prediction model. Regional Journal of Hydrology 319 (2006) 36–50 www.elsevier.com/locate/jhydrol 0022-1694/$ - see front matter q 2005 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.04.025 * Corresponding author. Address: Fluvial and Marine Disaster Research Division, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Uji Campus, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan. Tel.: C81 774 38 4127; fax: C81 774 38 4130. E-mail address: roshan@rdp.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp (R. Shrestha).