HYDROLOGICAL MODELS

Abstract

This paper discusses the highly topical issue of forming and using hydrological models. Their significance in water resource management and achieving sustainable development goals is underlined, particularly in the context of climate change. Some shortcomings in hydrological process modelling are pointed out, ones that can significantly affect the probability of achieving reliable results. Given the important role water plays, it is necessary to understand the complexity of producing hydrological models. Indeed, hydrological models themselves play an important role, and they must as such meet several important assumptions. Above all, they must consistently follow the basic principles of hydrology. We find that contemporary modelling technology (computer use, rapid development of numerical methods, use of state-of-the-art monitoring techniques) has strongly surpassed the level of our knowledge regarding physical hydrological processes and their interactions with the living and non-living environments that we aim to model. The complexity of the procedures and the problem of transferring information from one dimension to another in space and/or time have been highlighted. The need for further development of hydrological models, involving strict verification of the results provided by these models, has been underlined.