Analysis and comparison of the flood simulations with the routing model CaMa-Flood at different spatial resolutions in the CONUS

Abstract

Accurate flood modelling is crucial for disaster prevention. Fine-resolution global routing models can offer more detailed flood information, but balancing model efficiency with accuracy remains challenging. This study examines the conditions under which a fine-resolution model outperforms a coarser one, using the CaMa-Flood model at 0.05°, 0.083°, 0.1°, and 0.25° resolutions across the contiguous United States. The results indicate finer resolution does not improve the simulation of flood timing, but better simulates the daily river discharge and flood peak flow due to better representation of the river network in small rivers. Notably, the improvement in daily discharge simulation is greater than that in peak flow. Nevertheless, uncertainties in channel parameters mean that a more detailed river network does not necessarily yield better flood simulations. For rivers with upstream drainage areas greater than 500 km², a 0.25° model is sufficient if high-precision channel parameters are unavailable.