{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,9]],"date-time":"2026-07-09T20:52:44Z","timestamp":1783630364556,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Copernicus GmbH","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2011,9,16]],"date-time":"2011-09-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1316131200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Abstract. Catchments show a wide range of response behaviour, even if they are adjacent. For many purposes it is necessary to characterise and classify them, e.g. for regionalisation, prediction in ungauged catchments, model parameterisation.  In this study, we investigate hydrological similarity of catchments with respect to their response behaviour. We analyse more than 8200 event runoff coefficients (ERCs) and flow duration curves of 53 gauged catchments in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, for the period from 1993 to 2008, covering a huge variability of weather and runoff conditions. The spatio-temporal variability of event-runoff coefficients and flow duration curves are assumed to represent how different catchments \"transform\" rainfall into runoff. From the runoff coefficients and flow duration curves we derive 12 signature indices describing various aspects of catchment response behaviour to characterise each catchment.  Hydrological similarity of catchments is defined by high similarities of their indices. We identify, analyse and describe hydrologically similar catchments by cluster analysis using Self-Organizing Maps (SOM). As a result of the cluster analysis we get five clusters of similarly behaving catchments where each cluster represents one differentiated class of catchments.  As catchment response behaviour is supposed to be dependent on its physiographic and climatic characteristics, we compare groups of catchments clustered by response behaviour with clusters of catchments based on catchment properties. Results show an overlap of 67% between these two pools of clustered catchments which can be improved using the topologic correctness of SOMs.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.5194\/hess-15-2947-2011","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2011,9,16]],"date-time":"2011-09-16T09:41:51Z","timestamp":1316166111000},"page":"2947-2962","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":113,"title":["Catchment classification by runoff behaviour with self-organizing maps (SOM)"],"prefix":"10.5194","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"R.","family":"Ley","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M. C.","family":"Casper","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"H.","family":"Hellebrand","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"R.","family":"Merz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"3145","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2011,9,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Acreman, M. C. and Sinclair, C. D.: Classification of drainage basins according to their physical characteristics: an application for flood frequency analysis in Scotland, J. Hydrol., 84, 365\u2013380, 1986.","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-1694(86)90134-4"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Beven, K. J.: Uniqueness of place and process representations in hydrological modelling, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 4, 203\u2013213, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5194\/hess-4-203-2000, 2000.","DOI":"10.5194\/hess-4-203-2000"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Blume, T., Zehe, E., and Bronstert, A.: Rainfall-runoff response, event-based runoff coefficients and hydrograph separation, Hydrolog. Sci. J., 52, 843\u2013862, 2007.","DOI":"10.1623\/hysj.52.5.843"},{"key":"ref4","unstructured":"Bundesministerium f\u00fcr Umwelt: Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit (Hrsg), Hydrologischer Atlas von Deutschland, 2000."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Burn, D. H.: Catchment similarity for regional flood frequency analysis using seasonality measures, J. Hydrol., 202, 212\u2013230, 1997.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-1694(97)00068-1"},{"key":"ref6","unstructured":"Chapman, T. G. and Maxwell, A. I.: Baseflow Separation \u2013 Comparison of Numerical Methods with Tracer Experiments, I. E. Aust. Natl. conf. Publ. 96\/05, 539\u2013545, 1996."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Clausen, B. and Biggs, B. J. F.: Flow variables for ecological studies in temperate streams: grouping based on covariance, J. Hydrol., 237, 184\u2013197, 2000.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-1694(00)00306-1"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Di Prinzio, M., Castellarin, A., and Toth, E.: Data-driven catchment classification: application to the pub problem, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 1921\u20131935, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5194\/hess-15-1921-2011, 2011.","DOI":"10.5194\/hess-15-1921-2011"},{"key":"ref9","unstructured":"Gerlach, N.: INTERMET \u2013 Interpolation meteorologischer Gr\u00f6{\u00df}en, Veranstaltungen 3\/2006 \u2013 Niederschlag-Abfluss-Modellierung zur Verl\u00e4ngerung des Vorhersagezeitraumes operationeller Wasserstands- und Abflussvorhersagen, Kolloquium am 27 Sepember 2005 in Koblenz, Bundesanstalt f\u00fcr Gew\u00e4sserkunde, 2006."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hall, M. and Minns, A.: The classification of hydrologically homogeneous regions, Hydrolog. Sci. J., 44, 693\u2013704, 1999.","DOI":"10.1080\/02626669909492268"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hellebrand, H., Hoffmann, L., Juilleret, J., and Pfister, L.: Assessing winter storm flow generation by means of permeability of the lithology and dominating runoff production processes, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 1673\u20131682, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5194\/hess-11-1673-2007, 2007.","DOI":"10.5194\/hess-11-1673-2007"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hellebrand, H., M\u00fcller, C., Fenicia, F., Matgen, P., and Savenije, H.: A process proof test for model concepts: modelling the meso-scale, Phys. Chem. Earth, 36, 42\u201353, 2011.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pce.2010.07.019"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Herbst, M. and Casper, M. C.: Towards model evaluation and identification using Self-Organizing Maps, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 12, 657\u2013667, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5194\/hess-12-657-2008, 2008.","DOI":"10.5194\/hess-12-657-2008"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Herbst, M., Gupta, H. V., and Casper, M. C.: Mapping model behaviour using Self-Organizing Maps, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 13, 395\u2013409, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5194\/hess-13-395-2009, 2009a.","DOI":"10.5194\/hess-13-395-2009"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Herbst, M., Casper, M. C., Grundmann, J., and Buchholz, O.: Comparative analysis of model behaviour for flood prediction purposes using Self-Organizing Maps, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 9, 373\u2013392, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5194\/nhess-9-373-2009, 2009b.","DOI":"10.5194\/nhess-9-373-2009"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kalteh, A. M., Hjorth, P., and Berndtsson, R.: Review of the self-organizing map (SOM) approach in water resources: Analysis, modelling and application, Eviron. Modell Softw., 23, 835\u2013845, 2008.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2007.10.001"},{"key":"ref17","unstructured":"Kaski, S.: Data Exploration Using Self-Organizing Maps, Dr. thesis, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki, 57 pp., 1997."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kohonen, T.: Self-Organize Formation of Topologically Correct Feature Maps, Biol. Cybern., 43, 59\u201369, 1982.","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00337288"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kohonen, T.: Self-Organizing Maps, 3rd Edn., Information Sciences, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 501 pp., 2001.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-56927-2"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Maimon, O. and Rokach, L.: Data mining and knowledge discovery handbook, Springer, New York, 1383 pp., 2005.","DOI":"10.1007\/b107408"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"McDonnell, J. J. and Woods, R.: On the need for catchment classification, J. Hydrol., 299, 2\u20133, 2004.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-1694(04)00421-4"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Merz, R. and Bl\u00f6schl, G.: A process typology of regional floods, Water Resour. Res., 39, 1340, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1029\/2002WR001952, 2003.","DOI":"10.1029\/2002WR001952"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Merz, R., Bl\u00f6schl, G., and Parajka, J.: Spatio-temporal variability of event runoff coefficients, J. Hydrol., 331, 591\u2013604, 2006.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhydrol.2006.06.008"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Merz, R. and Bl\u00f6schl, G.: A regional analysis of event runoff coefficients with respect to climate and catchment characteristics in Austria, Water Resour. Res., 45, W01405, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1029\/2008WR007163, 2009.","DOI":"10.1029\/2008WR007163"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nathan, R. J. and McMahon, T. A.: Identification of homogenous regions for the purposes of regionalisation, J. Hydrol., 121, 217\u2013218, 1990.","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-1694(90)90233-N"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Norbiato, D., Borga, M., Merz, R., Bl\u00f6schl, G., and Carton, A.: Controls on event runoff coefficients in the eastern Italian Alps, J. Hydrol., 375, 312\u2013325, 2009.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhydrol.2009.06.044"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oudin, L., Kay, A., Andr\u00e9assian, V., and Perrin, C.: Are seemingly physically similar catchments truly hydrologically similar?, Water Resour. Res., 46, W11558, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1029\/2009WR008887, 2010.","DOI":"10.1029\/2009WR008887"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pfister, L., Iffly, J.-F., and Hoffmann, L.: Use of regionalized stormflow coefficients with a view to hydroclimatological hazard mapping, Hydrolog. Sci. J., 47, 479\u2013492, 2002.","DOI":"10.1080\/02626660209492948"},{"key":"ref29","unstructured":"Ramachandra Rao, A. and Srinivas, V. V.: Regionalization of watersheds, An Aproach based on Cluster Analysis, Springer Science + Business Media B. V., 2008."},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sankarasubramanian, A. and Vogel, R. M.: Annual hydroclimatology of the United States, Water Resour. Res., 38, 1\u201312, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1029\/2001WR000619, 2002.","DOI":"10.1029\/2001WR000619"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sivapalan, M., Takeuchi, K., Franks, S. W., Gupta, V. K., Karambiri, H., Lakshmi, V., Liang, X., McDonell, J. J., Mendiondo, E. M., O'Connell, P. E., Oki, T., Pomeroy, J. W., Schertzer, D., Uhlenbrook, S., and Zehe, E.: IAHS Decade on Predictions in Ungauged Basins (PUB), 2003\u20132012: Shaping an exciting future for the hydrological sciences, Hydrolog. Sci. J., 48, 857\u2013880, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1623\/hysj.48.6.857.51421, 2003.","DOI":"10.1623\/hysj.48.6.857.51421"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sivapalan, M.: Pattern, Process and Function: Elements of a Unified Theory of Hydrology at the CatchmentScale, in: Encyclopaedia of hydrological sciences, edited by: Anderson, M., John Wiley, London, 193\u2013219, 2005.","DOI":"10.1002\/0470848944.hsa012"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Spearman, C.: The Proof and Measurement of Association between Two Things, Am. J. Psychol., 15, 72\u2013101, 1904.","DOI":"10.2307\/1412159"},{"key":"ref34","unstructured":"Stedinger, J. R., Vogel, R. M., and Foufoula-Georgiou, E.: Frequency analysis of extreme events, in: Handbook of Hydrology, edited by: Maidment, D. R., McGraw-Hill, New York, p.18.35, 1992."},{"key":"ref35","unstructured":"Tan, P.-N., Steinbach, M., and Kumar, V.: Introduction to Data Mining, Pearson Education, Addison Wesley, Boston, 769 pp., 2006."},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Toth, E.: Classification of hydro-meteorological conditions and multiple artificial neural networks for streamflow forecasting, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 13, 1555\u20131566, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5194\/hess-13-1555-2009, 2009.","DOI":"10.5194\/hess-13-1555-2009"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"van Dijk, A. I. J. M.: Climate and terrain factors explaining streamflow response and recession in Australian catchments, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 159\u2013169, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5194\/hess-14-159-2010, 2010.","DOI":"10.5194\/hess-14-159-2010"},{"key":"ref38","unstructured":"Vesanto, J., Himgerg, J., Alhoniemi, E., and Parhankangas, J.: SOM Toolbox for Matlab 5, Helsinki University of Technology, Report A59, Espoo, Finland, 60 pp., 2000."},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vogel, R. M. and Fennesey, N. M.: Flow Duration Curves I: New Interpretation and Confidence Intervals, J. Water Res. Pl.-ASCE, 120, 485\u2013504, 1994.","DOI":"10.1061\/(ASCE)0733-9496(1994)120:4(485)"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wagener, T., Sivapalan, M., Troch, P. and Woods R.: Catchment Classification and Hydrologic Similarity, Geography Compass, 1\/4, 901\u2013931, 2007.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1749-8198.2007.00039.x"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Woods, R.: Seeing catchments with new eyes, Hydrol. Process., 16, 1111\u20131113, 2002.","DOI":"10.1002\/hyp.539"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yadav, M., Wagener, T., and Gupta, H.: Regionalization of constraints on expected watershed response behavior for improved predictions in ungauged basins, Adv. Water Resour., 30, 1765\u20131774, 2007.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.advwatres.2007.01.005"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yilmaz, K. K., Gupta, H. V., and Wagener, T.: A process-based diagnostic approach to model evaluation: Application to the NWS distributed hydrologic model, Water Resour. Res., 44, W09417, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1029\/2007WR006716, 2008.","DOI":"10.1029\/2007WR006716"}],"container-title":["Hydrology and Earth System Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/hess.copernicus.org\/articles\/15\/2947\/2011\/hess-15-2947-2011.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,15]],"date-time":"2025-02-15T12:47:16Z","timestamp":1739623636000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/hess.copernicus.org\/articles\/15\/2947\/2011\/"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2011,9,16]]},"references-count":43,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2011]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5194\/hess-15-2947-2011","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.5194\/hessd-8-3047-2011","asserted-by":"subject"},{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.5194\/hessd-8-3047-2011","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1607-7938"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1607-7938","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2011,9,16]]}}}