EFAS hydrological models transform the meteorological forcing forecasts into hydrological forecasts by mimicking the hydrological land processes by a set of equations. In EFAS, the hydrological model LISFLOOD is primarily used for medium- and seasonal-range forecasts, whilst conceptual hydrological algorithms are used for the flash flood indicators.
Geographical extent of the EFAS domain (blue)
LISFLOOD is a spatially distributed rainfall-runoff-routing model. It was first developed at the Joint Research Centre in 2000, and has been used for operational flood forecasting at the pan-European scale since the beginning of EFAS. Driven by meteorological forcing data (of precipitation, temperature, potential evapotranspiration, and evaporation rates for open water and bare soil surfaces), LISFLOOD calculates a complete water balance at a 6-hourly or daily time step for every 5km grid cells of the EFAS domain. The runoff produced at every grid cell is routed through the river network using a kinematic wave approach. The model also includes options to simulate lakes, reservoirs and water abstraction. LISFLOOD is coded using the Python programming language and a PCRaster Python extension. LISFLOOD and its associated tools are all open-source. The LISFLOOD source code, model documentation, test catchments and tools can be found at the LISFLOOD OS page.
