Mean-value second-order uncertainty analysis method: application to water quality modelling

Abstract Uncertainty analysis in hydrology and water quality modelling is an important issue. Various methods have been proposed to estimate uncertainties on model results based on given uncertainties on model parameters. Among these methods, the mean-value first-order second-moment (MFOSM) method and the advanced mean-value first-order second-moment (AFOSM) method are the most common ones. This paper presents a method based on a second-order approximation of a model output function. The application of this method requires the estimation of first- and second-order derivatives at a mean-value point in the parameter space. Application to a Streeter–Phelps prototype model is presented. Uncertainties on two and six parameters are considered. Exceedance probabilities (EP) of dissolved oxygen concentrations are obtained and compared with EP computed using Monte Carlo, AFOSM and MFOSM methods. These results show that the mean-value second-order method leads to better estimates of EP.

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