zxie@lasg.iap.ac.cn

Abstract The hydrologically based three-layer variable infiltration capacity (VIC-3L) land surface model, with a new surface runoff model coupled with a routing scheme, is applied to simulate streamflow for the Yellow River basin. The routing scheme is represented by the unit hydrograph method for overland flow and the linear Saint-Venant method for channel flow. The soil parameters needed are derived from the soil classification information of global 5-min data provided by the NOAA hydrology office, the vegetation parameters are derived based on AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) and LDAS (Land Data Assimilation System) information, and the forcing data are obtained through interpolation methods based on 740 meteorological stations. All of the data (i.e. soil, vegetation and forcings) needed by VIC-3L are compiled with a 50 × 50 km² resolution for the Yellow River basin. The daily forcing data are available for the period 1980–1990. The VIC-3L model is applied to the Yellow River basin and the simulated daily runoff is routed to the outlet of two stations and compared to monthly observed streamflow at these stations. Results show that the model can accurately simulate the observations.