Hydrologic models are simplified, conceptual representations of a part of the hydrologic cycle.

They are primarily used for hydrologic prediction and for understanding hydrologic processes.
Two major types of hydrologic models can be distinguished:

Stochastic Models. These models are black box systems, based on data and using
mathematical and statistical concepts to link a certain input (for instance rainfall) to the model
output (for instance runoff). Commonly used techniques are regression, transfer
functions, neural networks and system identification. These models are known as stochastic
hydrology models.
Process-Based Models. These models try to represent the physical processes observed in
the real world. Typically, such models contain representations of surface runoff, subsurface
flow, evapotranspiration, and channel flow, but they can be far more complicated. These
models are known as deterministic hydrology models. Deterministic hydrology models can
be subdivided into single-event models and continuous simulation models.

Hydrologic cycle

Recent research in hydrologic modelling tries to have a more global approach to the
understanding of the behaviour of hydrologic systems to make better predictions and to face the
major challenges in water resources management

Contents
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1Groundwater modelling
2Surface water modelling
o 2.1Runoff model (empirical)
o 2.2Runoff model (reservoir)
o 2.3Hydrological transport model
o 2.4Distributed hydrological model
o 2.5Composite models
3Agricultural hydro-salinity modelling
4See also
5References

Groundwater modelling[edit]
Aquifer conditions

Main article: Groundwater models

Groundwater models are computer models of groundwater flow systems, and are used
by hydrogeologists. Groundwater models are employed to simulate and
predict aquifer conditions.[1]

Surface water modelling[edit]

Surface water cycle

Runoff model (empirical)[edit]

Main article: Runoff model (empirical)
These models use an empirical method to convert rainfall volume into runoff volume. An example
is the Curve Number method.[2]
The runoff curve number (also called a curve number or simply CN) is an empirical parameter
used in hydrology for predicting direct runoff or infiltration from rainfall excess. It can be used with
a unit hydrograph to derive the runoff rate from the direct runoff by convolution.

Runoff model (reservoir)[edit]

Main article: Runoff model (reservoir)
These models describe rainfall-runoff relations using the concept of a (non)linear
reservoir.[3] Examples include: Vflo.

Hydrological transport model[edit]

Main article: Hydrological transport model
These models describe the flow and routing of water once it has entered a river/stream system
and the transport of dissolved or suspended material and debris in a river/stream.[4]Examples
include MIKE 11, MOHID, WAFLEX and DSSAM.

Distributed hydrological model[edit]

Distributed hydrological models are grid-cell based and take into account the spatial variability of
meteorological input and other inputs like terrain, soils, vegetation and land use. In distributed
hydrological models runoff generated in a grid cell is transported downstream through a grid cell
to grid cell network using the local drain direction of each grid cell. Examples of distributed
hydrological models are PCR-GLOBWB, DHSVM, HL-RDHM and the glacio-
hydrological SPHY model

Composite models[edit]
Many models combine two of these types, for example HBV, which is combines an empirical
runoff model and a hydrological transport model. Some models combine elements of surface
water models and groundwater models, for example GSSHA, MIKE SHE, WEAP and RS
MINERVE.

Agricultural hydro-salinity modelling[edit]

Saltmod components

Main article: SaltMod

Agricultural hydro-salinity models like SaltMod,[5] Swatre [6] and Drainmod [7] are models
integrating hydrological factors like irrigation, evapotranspiration and groundwater flow to
simulate the behavior of the water table and soil salinization and to assess agricultural
engineering measures like watertable control and soil salinity control by subsurface
drains, drainage by wells and salt leaching.
Main article: SahysMod
SahysMod [8] is a polygonal combination of SaltMod with a groundwater model.