Prediction of streamflow by regional climate models.

The introduction of complex land surface parameterization schemes into regional climate models has been focused on improving the modeling of land surface feedbacks to the atmosphere. As such the modelling of streamflow by these models has recieved relatively little attention, and has generally been considered a by-product of the water balance. Comparison of three regional climate models (regCM2, MM5/BATS and MM5/SHEELS) and a simple hydrology model (CMD-IHACRES) demonstrates the improvement in streamflow characteristics and prediction which may be achieved using CMD-IHACRES. The conceptual structure of CMD-IHACRES allows it to be 'incorporated' into the regional climate models, improving their streamflow predictions, as is demonstrated for the FIFE region of central USA.

Figure 3: Double mass plots simulated by the models.