A sensitivity analysis of SWAT model in Ghareh Su watershed, Ardabil

In hydrologic models, a sensitivity analysis could be performed to identify important parameters and reduce their numbers in an easier and faster calibration process. This study describes an application of a useful method for sensitivity analysis of Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. This method determines parameters with the greatest impact on model results and gives a sensitivity ratio and an input-output relationship graph for each parameter. In this study, the SWAT model is used for a monthly rainfall-runoff simulation in Ghareh Su watershed with an area of 4062 km2. Calibration of the model were performed manually, using the recorded weather data from 2003 to 2008 and the validation was performed, using the recorded data from 2009 and 2010. The sensitivity analysis has been performed using One Factor At a Time (OAT) method to evaluate and demonstrate the influences of the model parameters on four major components of water balance, including surface runoff, lateral flow, groundwater and evapotranspiration. The results showed that the parameters of initial SCS runoff curve number for moisture condition Π (CN2), soil available water capacity (SOL_AWC), soil bulk density (SOL_BD), saturated hydraulic conductivity (SOL_K), maximum canopy storage (CANMX), soil evaporation compensation factor (ESCO) and minimum melt rate for snow during the year (SMFMN) have the greatest influence on remarked parts of water balance.