Climate Variability and Change—Hydrological Impacts (Proceedings of the Fifth FRIEND World Conference held at Havana, Cuba, November 2006), IAHS Publ. 308, 2006, 239–243.

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Rainfall–runoff modelling of Bua River basin, Malawi

S. H. MKHANDI¹ & P. G. KUMAMBALA²

1 University of Dar es Salaam, PO Box 35131, Tanzania

s_mkhandi@yahoo.com

2 M & G Consulting Engineers, PO 219, Mzuzu, Malawi

Abstract This paper investigates the applicability of three systems-types of models: a Simple Linear Model (SLM), a Seasonally Varying Runoff Coefficient Model (SVRC) and a Linear Perturbation Model (LPM), and two conceptual models: NAM and SMAR, in six sub-catchments of the Bua catchment located in the central region of Malawi. The results of the study indicate that the LPM performed better in simulating streamflow series in the study area than the other system-type models and the two conceptual models. Comparison of the performance of the two conceptual models indicated that the NAM model performed better than the SMAR model.

Key words Bua River; rainfall–runoff modelling; system type of model; lumped conceptual models

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