Abstract: In order to study the time-lag of groundwater recharge peaks due to rainfall infiltration, the distributed hydrological model of Skjern watershed in Denmark was established through MIKE SHE software and ArcGIS technology, and was calibrated by observed data. Through the comparison between observed data and simulated data, the influence of climate and groundwater depth on the hydrological response was also analysed. The measured data matched well with the predicted values. Results suggest that since Denmark has temperate marine climate, the groundwater recharge of Skjern catchment mainly concentrates from September to November, and January to March. When groundwater level is 1m, the peak time-lag of rainfall infiltration is short (1-2d); as the depth of groundwater increases to 2-5m, the peak time-lag of rainfall infiltration is 4-5d; whereas when the groundwater depth is more than 10m, the peak time-lag is long. This model has satisfactory result and application potential in simulating Skjern catchment.

Key words: coupling of surface water and groundwater, Skjern catchment, hydrology response of groundwater, Denmark, MIKE SHE