Use of Performance Criteria in Calibrating Methods for Modeling and Simulating the Pollution Phenomena of Surface Waters

National Institute for Research and Development in Mine Safety and Protection to Explosion – INSEMEX Petrosani, 32-34 G-ral Vasile Milea Street, Petroşani 332047, Romania

^* Corresponding author: lorand.toth@insemex.ro

Abstract

The release of certain substances into surface waters (lakes, rivers, estuaries and oceans) to the point where they interfere with beneficial use of water or with natural functioning of ecosystems defines the phenomenon of pollution. When stating aspects of pollution modelling, we refer to constitutive equations of the model, which may involve different values, so that the shape of equation is flexible while maintaining its structure. Quantifying the phenomenon of water pollution through simulation and spatial-temporal modelling requires the use of hydrological models that use characteristic parameters such as: bathymetry, hydrodynamic roughness, speed, Model Boundary Conditions, etc. The current paper is driven by lack of clear performance guidelines for pollution models for software users trying to demonstrate to customers and/or end users that a model is fit for purpose. Thus, common problems associated with data availability, errors and uncertainty as well as model examination will be addressed, including its calibration and validation on a case study materialized on a watercourse located in the Jiu Valley, Romania. The scientific article is intended to be a point of reference both for software users (numerical modelers) and for specialists in charge of interpreting the accuracy and validity of results from hydrodynamic models.