thumbnail

Documentation of a restart option for the U.S. Geological Survey coupled Groundwater and Surface-Water Flow (GSFLOW) model

Techniques and Methods 6-D3
Prepared in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/tm6D3

Links

Abstract

A new option to write and read antecedent conditions (also referred to as initial conditions) has been developed for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Groundwater and Surface-Water Flow (GSFLOW) numerical, hydrologic simulation code. GSFLOW is an integration of the USGS Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) and USGS Modular Groundwater-Flow Model (MODFLOW), and provides three simulation modes: MODFLOW-only, PRMS-only, and GSFLOW (or coupled). The new capability, referred to as the restart option, can be used for all three simulation modes, such that the results from a pair (or set) of spin-up and restart simulations are nearly identical to results produced from a continuous simulation for the same time period. The restart option writes all results to files at the end of a spin-up simulation that are required to initialize a subsequent restart simulation. Previous versions of GSFLOW have had some capability to save model results for use as antecedent condiitions in subsequent simulations; however, the existing capabilities were not comprehensive or easy to use. The new restart option supersedes the previous methods. The restart option was developed in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service as part of the Integrated Water Resources Science and Services Partnership. The primary focus for the development of the restart option was to support medium-range (7- to 14-day) forecasts of low streamflow conditions made by the National Weather Service for critical water-supply basins in which groundwater plays an important role.

The spin-up simulation should be run for a sufficient length of time necessary to establish antecedent conditions throughout a model domain. Each GSFLOW application can require different lengths of time to account for the hydrologic stresses to propagate through a coupled groundwater and surface-water system. Typically, groundwater hydrologic processes require many years to come into equilibrium with dynamic climate and other forcing (or stress) data, such as precipitation and well pumping, whereas runoff-dominated surface-water processes respond relatively quickly. Use of a spin-up simulation can substantially reduce execution-time requirements for applications where the time period of interest is small compared to the time for hydrologic memory; thus, use of the restart option can be an efficient strategy for forecast and calibration simulations that require multiple simulations starting from the same day.

Suggested Citation

Regan, R.S., Niswonger, R.G., Markstrom, S.L., and Barlow, P.M., 2015, Documentation of a restart option for the U.S. Geological Survey coupled groundwater and surface-water flow (GSFLOW) model: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 6, chap. D3, 19 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/tm6D3.

ISSN: 2328-7055 (online)

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Modifications to GSFLOW for the Restart Option
  • Steps for Making a Restart Simulation
  • Tests of the Restart Option
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Documentation of a restart option for the U.S. Geological Survey coupled Groundwater and Surface-Water Flow (GSFLOW) model
Series title Techniques and Methods
Series number 6-D3
DOI 10.3133/tm6D3
Year Published 2015
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Office of Ground Water
Description vii, 19 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Larger Work Title Section D: Ground-water/Surface-water in Book 6
Public Comments This report is Chapter 3 of Section D: Surface-Water/Ground-Water in Book 6 Modeling Techniques.
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details