3. Benchmark Datasets

A unified set of benchmark datasets is publicly available in a dedicated GitHub repository and is permanently archived on Zenodo with a version-controlled Digital Object Identifier (DOI).

These examples are provided for users to validate their tRIBS installation by running the model and comparing their outputs against a trusted set of reference values. This process is now fully automated with a Python-based verification script included in the repository.

3.1. Verification Workflow

The recommended workflow for using the benchmarks is as follows:

  1. Clone the Repository: Get the latest version of the benchmarks from GitHub.

  2. Run a Simulation: Follow the instructions in the repository’s README files to run one of the benchmark cases (e.g., the serial watershed model).

  3. Verify the Results: Use the provided verification script to automatically compare your model’s output to the official reference values. The script provides a clear [PASS] or [FAIL] status.

python verification/verify.py watershed-scale-serial

This automated check provides immediate confidence that your tRIBS installation is working correctly.

3.2. Benchmark Descriptions

The repository contains two primary benchmark cases for forested regions in northern Arizona, which test a wide range of model physics for interception, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, snowpack dynamics, and streamflow.

  • Point-Scale (Happy Jack, AZ): This case demonstrates the application of tRIBS in serial mode for a single point, ideal for testing vertical processes.

  • Basin-Scale (Big Spring, AZ): This case is a full watershed simulation that can be executed in either serial or parallel mode, testing spatial and routing processes.

Warning

Not all model capabilities are executed in the benchmark datasets. A user needs to exercise caution when changing model inputs or altering the selected processes.

3.3. Accessing the Benchmarks

  • Primary GitHub Repository: For the latest version of the input files and verification scripts, clone the tRIBS Benchmarks Repository.

  • Permanent Archive & Citation: To cite the benchmarks or download the specific version associated with a tRIBS release, please use the Zenodo Archive (DOI).