Modeling Concepts
Various models from simple to complex have been developed for analyzing and predicting factors involved in runoff. The choice of a specific model depends on the type of information required and how the results are to be applied.
The number and types of assumptions within a model, the kinds of data needed, and the level of complexity are important factors when deciding which model to use.
In this section you will:
- Understand the basic concepts in runoff modeling
- Recognize why complex versus simple models are used
- Describe how a lumped model works
- Describe how a semi-distributed model works
- Describe how a distributed model works and the potential advantages as well as limitations
- Discover some popular examples of each type of model