Calibration examples (controlled basins) | SWATGenX

Scope and intent

These are calibration examples for two controlled basins. They are meant to show how a generated SWAT+ project moves through initialization, calibration, verification, and sensitivity analysis. They are not intended to claim national predictive skill.

Each model below includes (1) a compact model identity record, (2) interactive figures sourced from the same exported artifacts used in the publication, and (3) a Morris-ranked parameter subset and split-sample metrics table for quick comparison.

Parameter bounds and transformation rules come from the SWATGenX calibration template documented on /calibration-methods. For each basin below, the calibration run uses a Morris-trimmed subset of those candidate parameters.

Florida controlled basin (USGS 02297600)

Calibration station: 02297600 (gage channel 2).

Use the figure controls to compare calibration and validation performance at the same station and to see the Morris screening outcome that selected the calibration subset.

Interactive figures: switch between calibration, validation, and sensitivity outputs. Hydrograph plots include the run-stage metrics on the figure (as in the publication artifacts).

CalibrationValidationSensitivityDailyMonthlyInit pool bestGlobal best

Calibration global best (daily)

• Calibration: compares the pre-optimization initialization pool and the calibrated global best for the scored calibration window.
• Validation: shows the independent holdout window results (no overlap with the scored calibration period).
• Sensitivity: Morris tornado plot used to rank candidate parameters and pick the trimmed calibration subset.

Field	Value
model_id	0310/huc12/02297600
VPUID / level	0310 / huc12
Scored calibration window	2013-01-01 to 2018-12-31
Scored verification window	2019-01-01 to 2024-12-31
PSO settings (run)	START_YEAR=2010, END_YEAR=2018, nyskip=3, particles=36, iterations=70, concurrent=6

Sensitivity analysis (Morris)

Morris screening runs a fixed evaluation budget and reports μ* (magnitude of the elementary effect) and σ (interaction / nonlinearity signal). The table below lists the top drivers by μ*.

Rank	Parameter	μ*
1	surq_lag	0.6435
2	perco	0.288
3	cn3_swf	0.1413
4	alpha_bf	0.0921
5	dep_wt	0.0882
6	spec_yld	0.0545
7	flo_min	0.0519
8	dp_es	0.05

Sensitive parameters (top 8 by μ*): surq_lag, perco, cn3_swf, alpha_bf, dep_wt, spec_yld, flo_min, dp_es.

Parameters selected for calibration in this example: 8 (the Morris-trimmed subset above). The complete candidate parameter template and bounds are documented on /calibration-methods.

Calibration and verification results

Metrics are reported for daily and monthly time steps (NSE, KGE, and PBIAS). Values below are pulled from the exported run summary tables used in the publication workflow evaluation.

Stage	Period	Daily NSE	Monthly NSE	Daily KGE	Monthly KGE	PBIAS (%)
Initialization pool best	2013–2018	0.795	0.843	0.68	0.713	28.127
Calibration global best	2013–2018	0.837	0.897	0.816	0.886	9.791
Verification global best	2019–2024	0.729	0.798	0.747	0.817	7.48

Illinois controlled basin (USGS 05536265)

Calibration station: 05536265 (gage channel 25).

Use the figure controls to compare calibration and validation performance at the same station and to see the Morris screening outcome that selected the calibration subset.

Interactive figures: switch between calibration, validation, and sensitivity outputs. Hydrograph plots include the run-stage metrics on the figure (as in the publication artifacts).

CalibrationValidationSensitivityDailyMonthlyInit pool bestGlobal best

Calibration global best (daily)

• Calibration: compares the pre-optimization initialization pool and the calibrated global best for the scored calibration window.
• Validation: shows the independent holdout window results (no overlap with the scored calibration period).
• Sensitivity: Morris tornado plot used to rank candidate parameters and pick the trimmed calibration subset.

Field	Value
model_id	0712/huc12/05536265
VPUID / level	0712 / huc12
Scored calibration window	2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31
Scored verification window	2012-01-01 to 2015-12-31
PSO settings (run)	START_YEAR=2018, END_YEAR=2024, nyskip=2, particles=48, iterations=50, concurrent=6

Sensitivity analysis (Morris)

Morris screening runs a fixed evaluation budget and reports μ* (magnitude of the elementary effect) and σ (interaction / nonlinearity signal). The table below lists the top drivers by μ*.

Rank	Parameter	μ*
1	melt_min	3.82
2	k	3.6832
3	cn3_swf	3.3198
4	perco	3.1507
5	melt_max	2.9509
6	urban_cn_c	2.8681
7	mann	1.782
8	surq_lag	1.7715

Sensitive parameters (top 8 by μ*): melt_min, k, cn3_swf, perco, melt_max, urban_cn_c, mann, surq_lag.

Parameters selected for calibration in this example: 8 (the Morris-trimmed subset above). The complete candidate parameter template and bounds are documented on /calibration-methods.

Calibration and verification results

Metrics are reported for daily and monthly time steps (NSE, KGE, and PBIAS). Values below are pulled from the exported run summary tables used in the publication workflow evaluation.

Stage	Period	Daily NSE	Monthly NSE	Daily KGE	Monthly KGE	PBIAS (%)
Initialization pool best	2020–2024	0.202	0.405	0.605	0.61	2.856
Calibration global best	2020–2024	0.371	0.6	0.548	0.792	-7.201
Verification global best	2012–2015	0.223	0.416	0.442	0.659	-21.581

Notes

• Calibration objective: minimize the negative sum of daily NSE and monthly NSE at the gaged channel (see calibration methods).
• Verification uses an independent window with no overlap with the scored calibration period (split-sample).
• If you order a calibration run on your own model, the UI will show runtime/cost estimates before execution.