Summary PRMS is a modular-design, deterministic, distributed-parameter modeling system developed to evaluate the impacts of various combinations of precipitation, climate, and land use on streamflow, sediment yields, and general basin hydrology. Basin response to normal and extreme rainfall and snow melt can be simulated to evaluate changes in water-balance relationships, ... flow regimes, flood peaks and volumes, soil-water relationships, sediment yields, and ground-water recharge. Parameter-optimization and sensitivity analysis capabilities are provided to fit selected model parameters and evaluate their individual and joint effects on model output. The modular design provides a flexible framework for continued model-system enhancement and hydrologic-modeling research and development.
A watershed is divided into subunits based on such basin characteristics as slope, aspect, elevation, vegetation type, soil type, land use, and precipitation distribution. Two levels of partitioning are available. The first divides the basin into homogeneous response units (HRU) based on the basin characteristics. Water and energy balances are computed daily for each HRU. The sum of the responses of all HRU's, weighted on a unit-area basis, produces the daily system response and streamflow for a basin. A second level of partitioning is available for storm hydrograph simulation. The watershed is conceptualized as a series of interconnected flow planes and channel segments. Surface runoff is routed over the flow planes into the channel segments; channel flow is routed through the watershed channel system. An HRU can be considered the equivalent of a flow plane or it can be delineated into a number of flow planes.
Name:
WATER WEBSERVER TEAM - USGS
Phone:
703-648-4000;1-800-426-9000
Email:
h2oteam at usgs.gov
Contact Address:
USGS National Center
Water Resources Division
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive City:
Reston
Province or State:
VA
Postal Code:
20192-0002
Country:
USA
Distribution Media
Distribution_Media:
Online
Fees:
No fees
Personnel
TYLER
B.
STEVENS Role:
SERF AUTHOR
Phone:
(301) 614-6898
Fax:
301-614-5268
Email:
Tyler.B.Stevens at nasa.gov
Contact Address:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Global Change Master Directory City:
Greenbelt
Province or State:
MD
Postal Code:
20771
Country:
USA
WATER RESOURCES
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Role:
TECHNICAL CONTACT
Email:
h2osoft at usgs.gov
Contact Address:
U.S.G.S.
Hydrologic Analysis Software Support Program
437 National Center City:
Reston
Province or State:
VA
Postal Code:
20192
Country:
USA
Publications/References Carey, W.P., and Simon, A., 1984, Physical basis and potential estimation techniques for soil erosion parameters in the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS): U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 82-4218, 32 p.
Cary, L.E., 1984, Application of the U.S. Geological Survey's Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System to the Prairie ... Dog Creek basin, Southeastern Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Water- Resources Investigations Report 84-4178, 98 p.
Kidd, R.E., and Bossong, C.R., 1987, Application of the precipitation-runoff model in the Warrior Coal Field, Alabama: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2036, 42 p.
Kuhn, G., 1989, Application of the U.S. Geological Survey's Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System to Williams Draw and Bush Draw basins, Jackson County, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 88-4013, 38 p.
Norris, J.M., and Parker, R.S., 1985, Calibration procedure for a daily flow model of small watersheds with snowmelt runoff in the Green River coal region of Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 83-4263, 32 p.
Parker, R.S., and Norris, J.M., 1989, Simulation of streamflow in small drainage basins in the southern Yampa River Basin, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 88-4071, 47 p.
Puente, C., and Atkins, J.T., 1989, Simulation of rainfall-runoff response in mined and unmined watersheds in coal areas of West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2298, 48 p.
Scott, A.G., 1984, Analysis of characteristics of simulated flows from small surface-mined and undisturbed Appalachian watersheds in the Tug Fork basin of Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 84-4151, 169 p.
Creation and Review Dates
SERF Creation Date:
2005-12-07
SERF Last Revision Date:
2007-04-19
Links
