A Blueprint for an Integrated Watershed Hydrogeomorphic Modeling System

The hydrology of a river basin interacts with its geomorphic form. Despite significant advances in hydrological modeling, the dynamic interactions between geomorphic, hydrologic and ecological processes are not adequately captured at the basin scale. There is a need for advanced modeling tools that address both runoff and erosion prediction in sufficient spatial and temporal detail for exploring process couplings, feedbacks and complexity. In this paper we present a blueprint for integrating the Channel-Hillslope Integrated Landscape Development (CHILD) and TIN-based Real-time Integrated Basin Simulator (tRIBS) models in a hydro-eco-geomorphic framework where process interactions and feedbacks are characterized. The integration of these models opens new avenues to explore the topographic, vegetative and climatic controls on watershed process interactions. Here, we present the capabilities of the two models and discuss a strategy for model integration. We also provide an example of the erosion effect on thunderstorm runoff response in a semi-arid basin as a proof-of-concept for model integration.