| Summary: | Traditional hydrological model inputs are often deemed inadequate in areas where stations are sparse, such as the northern extents of the Canadian Prairie basins. The Canadian Precipitation Analysis (CaPA) combines GEM (Global Environmental Multi-scale model) data and available observation data to provide enhanced precipitation estimates. The CaPA analysis has recently been extended to produce high-resolution precipitation data over the Canadian Prairies, encompassing the Nelson-Churchill River Basin. Manitoba Hydro and other water practitioners in Manitoba have expressed interest in potentially using CaPA precipitation as hydrological model forcing for Prairie watersheds. A three step validation approach was designed and applied to assess CaPA for hydrologic modelling applications in the Nelson-Churchill River basin. Results of validation show that the quality of CaPA data varies among regions and seasons, with CaPA proving beneficial in both data-sparse regions and winter seasons most prominently. Overall, CaPA shows promise for water resource application in the Canadian Prairies. February 2014
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