IESc Seminar Series: “Addressing the Challenges of Catchment Characterization, Model Selection and Evaluation in Large-Sample Hydrology: Application to Great Britain” By Assist. Prof. Melike Kiraz Safari

Institute of Environmental Sciences Seminar Series

“Addressing the Challenges of Catchment Characterization, Model Selection and Evaluation in Large-Sample Hydrology: Application to Great Britain”

By Assist. Prof. Melike Kiraz Safari

Boğaziçi University, Institute of Environmental Sciences

We cordially invite you to our seminar “Addressing the Challenges of Catchment Characterization, Model Selection and Evaluation in Large-Sample Hydrology: Application to Great Britain”, by Assist. Prof. Melike Kiraz Safari, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Boğaziçi University.

When: 1 April 2024, Monday, 14:00-15:30

Where: Institute of Environmental Sciences Seminar Room (Hisar Campus E-Block)

Contact: pinar.ertor@bogazici.edu.tr for any questions.

Abstract:

Rainfall-runoff models play a vital role in understanding hydrologic processes, estimating streamflow, and predicting flood and drought risks across various scales. However, hydrological modelling still faces significant uncertainties and challenges. Difficulties arise in identifying and characterizing hydrological processes (e.g. subsurface losses), selecting and evaluating model structures, and dealing with uncertainties in observational data and model structures. These problems become even more complex in large-sample hydrology due to the heterogeneity of catchment types, the need of selecting multiple model structures, and the variability in data quality and human influence. Within the scope of my doctoral research, I addressed three challenges in rainfall-runoff modelling across a large sample of Great Britain catchments. These challenges are: (1) Accounting for subsurface groundwater losses is not easy task with the available catchment descriptors. (2) There is no clear relationship between catchment types and model structures. (3) Current model evaluation metrics lack valuable hydrologic information and cannot be calculated in ungauged catchments. In this seminar, I will present the outcomes of my research on tackling these longstanding problems in rainfall-runoff modelling.

Short bio:

Dr. Melike Kiraz Safari is a hydrologist interested in developing, using and evaluating mathematical models to gain an understanding of the processes involved in large-sample hydrology. She holds B.S. and M.Sc. degrees in Environmental Engineering at Middle East Technical University, Türkiye. During her M.Sc. study, she received the 1st award from German Water Partnership Award Turkey 2016 with her project named "Sustainable water management and the water-energy nexus in Middle East Technical University Campus". Subsequently, she secured a scholarship for her Ph.D. studies through the Ministry of National Education's Study Abroad Program. She earned her Ph.D. degree from the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Bristol, UK. She is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Boğaziçi University, Türkiye. Her research areas include hydrologic similarity and classification of catchments, hydrologic modelling, diagnostic model evaluation and streamflow prediction. Through her work, she aspires to support decision-makers in developing comprehensive and coherent strategies for sustainable water management that cater to the needs of both society and the environment.