Sensitivity analysis and parameter estimation for the distributed modeling of infiltration excess overland flow

International audienceThe variational methods widely used for other environmental systems are applied to a spatially distributed flash flood model coupling kinematic wave overland flow and Green Ampt infiltration. Using an idealized configuration where only parametric uncertainty is addressed, the potential of this approach is illustrated for sensitivity analysis and parameter estimation. Adjoint sensitivity analysis provides an extensive insight into the relation between model parameters and the hydrological response and enables the use of efficient gradient based optimization techniques