Hourly rainfall-runoff modelling by combining the conceptual model with machine learning models in mostly karst Ljubljanica River catchment in Slovenia

Hydrological modelling, essential for water resources management, can be very complex in karst catchments with different climatic and geologic characteristics. In this study, three combined conceptual models incorporating the snow module with machine learning models were used for hourly rainfall-runoff modelling in the mostly karst Ljubljanica River catchment, Slovenia. Wavelet-based Extreme Learning Machine (WELM) and Wavelet-based Regression Tree (WRT) machine learning models were integrated into the conceptual CemaNeige Genie Rural a 4 parametres Horaires (CemaNeige GR4H). In this regard, the performance of the hybrid models was compared with stand-alone conceptual and machine learning models. The stand-alone WELM and WRT models using only meteorological variables performed poorly for hourly runoff forecasting. The CemaNeige GR4H model as stand-alone model yielded good performance; however, it overestimated low flows. The hybrid CemaNeige GR4H-WELM and CemaNeige-WRT models provided better simulation results than the stand-alone models, especially regarding the extreme flows. The results of the study demonstrated that using different variables from the conceptual model, including the snow module, in the machine learning models as input data can significantly affect the performance of rainfall-runoff modelling. The hybrid modelling approach can potentially improve runoff simulation performance in karst catchments with diversified geological formations where the rainfall-runoff process is more complex.

Automated summary

This study uses three hybrid models combining machine learning and conceptual models to simulate hourly rainfall-runoff in the Ljubljanica River catchment in Slovenia. The results demonstrate that using different variables from the conceptual model, including the snow module, in the machine learning models can significantly improve the simulation performance, especially for extreme flows. The hybrid modeling approach has the potential to enhance the runoff simulation performance in karst catchments with diversified geological formations.