Searching for a new paradigm in rainfall-runoff modelling
February 27, 2026
Searching for a new paradigm in rainfall-runoff modelling” by Prof. Basudev Biswal, IIT Bombay.Modern hydrological science can be said to have begun with the rational method for predicting peak discharge. It was Sherman's unit hydrograph concept that rationalized this method by proposing to consider runoff generation and routing as two distinct processes. The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) approach epitomized the unit hydrograph concept by considering soil as the main mediator of rainfall-runoff generation processes. The soil-centric paradigm, however, has left many unaddressed puzzles because of several reasons including parameter interaction. The main objective of this talk is to underscore the need for a new paradigm and argue that adopting a climate-centric viewpoint could advance rainfall-runoff modelling further.