Evaluación del modelo HEC-HMS para la simulación hidrológica de una cuenca de páramo

Abstract

This study evaluated the performance of the semi-distributed model HEC-HMS, for the simulation of rain-runoff processes in a paramo basin. This analysis was carried out in the upper part of the Quinuas River basin (southern Ecuador) located within El Cajas National Park (2 ° 47`S, 79 ° 11`O) with an approximate area of 21.8 km2 and an altitudinal gradient between 3612 and 4400 m asl. The calibration and validation was performed for a period of 3 years from july-2013 to june-2016. The Soil Moisture Accounting (SMA) module was used as the main method. For the rainfall distribution, the Thiessen polygons were used, while the evapotranspiration was calculated with the Penman-Monteith method. The results reveal that (1) 83% of the water infiltrates the soil while only 17% is retained in plants and the soil surface, (2) the water is retained for approximately 42 days before getting to the river and (3) that more than 60% of the flow corresponds to sub-surface flow.