Article (Scientific journals)
Conceptual model uncertainty in groundwater modeling: Combining generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation and Bayesian model averaging
Rojas, Rodrigo; Feyen, Luc; Dassargues, Alain
2008In Water Resources Research, 44, p. 12418
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Keywords :
Groundwater modelling; conceptual uncertainty; GLUE method; uncertainty estimation; conceptual model uncertainty; Bayesian model averaging
Abstract :
[en] Uncertainty assessments in groundwater modeling applications typically attribute all sources of uncertainty to errors in parameters and inputs, neglecting what may be the primary source of uncertainty, namely, errors in the conceptualization of the system.Confining the set of plausible system representations to a single model leads to underdispersive and prone-to-bias predictions. In this work, we present a general and flexible approach that combines generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) and Bayesian model averaging (BMA) to assess uncertainty in model predictions that arise from errors in model structure, inputs, and parameters. In a prior analysis, a set of plausible models is selected, and the joint prior input and parameter space is sampled to form potential simulators of the system. For each model, the likelihood measures of acceptable simulators, assigned to thembased on their ability to reproduce observed systembehavior, are integrated over the joint input and parameter space to obtain the integrated model likelihood. The latter is used to weight the predictions of the respective model in the BMA ensemble predictions. For illustrative purposes, we applied the methodology to a three-dimensional hypothetical setup. Results showed that predictions of groundwater budget terms varied considerably among competing models; despite this, a set of 16 head observations used for conditioning did not allow differentiating between the models. BMA provided average predictions that were more conservative than individual predictions obtained for individual models. Conceptual model uncertainty contributed up to 30% of the total uncertainty. The results clearly indicate the need to consider alternative conceptualizations to account for model uncertainty.
Research center :
Aquapôle - ULiège
Disciplines :
Geological, petroleum & mining engineering
Author, co-author :
Rojas, Rodrigo;  Katholieke Universiteit Leuven - KUL > Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences > Applied Geology and Mineralogy
Feyen, Luc;  DG Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra > Institute for Environment and Sustainability > Land Management and Natural Hazards Unit
Dassargues, Alain  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Argenco : Secteur GEO3 > Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement
Language :
English
Title :
Conceptual model uncertainty in groundwater modeling: Combining generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation and Bayesian model averaging
Publication date :
2008
Journal title :
Water Resources Research
ISSN :
0043-1397
eISSN :
1944-7973
Publisher :
American Geophysical Union, Washington, United States - District of Columbia
Volume :
44
Pages :
W12418
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 06 January 2009

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