A Review on Monthly Water Balance Models for Water Resources Investigations

Research on the development and application of monthly water balance models has been carried out since the 1940s. A good body of experience has been gained for many models, and a review of these models is needed. Beginning with the development of monthly water balance models from the earliest times, this paper discusses the relevance of various aspects of the practical application of such models. Monthly water balance models were introduced originally to evaluate the importance of different hydrologic parameters under a variety of hydrologic conditions. Present applications of water balance models are directed along three main lines: reconstruction of the hydrology of catchments, assessment of climatic impact changes, and evaluation of the seasonal and geographical patterns of water supply and irrigation demand.