scholarly journals A Comparison of Streamflow and Baseflow Responses to Land-Use Change and the Variation in Climate Parameters Using SWAT

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Aboelnour ◽  
Margaret W. Gitau ◽  
Bernard A. Engel

Alteration of land use and climate change are among the main variables affecting watershed hydrology. Characterizing the impacts of climate variation and land use alteration on water resources is essential in managing watersheds. Thus, in this research, streamflow and baseflow responses to climate and land use variation were modeled in two watersheds, the Upper West Branch DuPage River (UWBDR) watershed in Illinois and Walzem Creek watershed in Texas. The variations in streamflow and baseflow were evaluated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model. The alteration in land use between 1992 and 2011 was evaluated using transition matrix analysis. The non-parametric Mann–Kendall test was adopted to investigate changes in meteorological data for 1980–2017. Our results indicate that the baseflow accounted for almost 55.3% and 33.3% of the annual streamflow in the UWBDR and Walzem Creek watersheds, respectively. The contribution of both land use alteration and climate variability on the flow variation is higher in the UWBDR watershed. In Walzem Creek, the alteration in streamflow and baseflow appears to be driven by the effect of urbanization more than that of climate variability. The results reported herein are compared with results reported in recent work by the authors in order to provide necessary information for water resources management planning, as well as soil and water conservation, and to broaden the current understanding of hydrological components variation in different climate regions.

Author(s):  
Mohamed Aboelnour ◽  
Margaret W. Gitau ◽  
Bernard Engel

Alteration of land use and climate change are among the main variables affecting watershed hydrology. Characterizing the impacts of climate variation and land use alteration on water resources is essential in managing watersheds. Thus, in this research, streamflow and baseflow responses to climate and land use variation were modeled in two watersheds, the Upper West Branch DuPage River (UWBDR) watershed in Illinois and Walzem Creek watershed in Texas. The variations in streamflow and baseflow were evaluated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model. The alteration in land use between 1992 and 2011 was evaluated using transition matrix analysis. The non-parametric Mann-Kendall test was adopted to investigate changes in meteorological data from 1980-2017. Our results indicated that the baseflow accounted for almost 55.3% and 33.3% of the annual streamflow in the UWBDR and Walzem Creek watersheds, respectively. The contribution of both land use alteration and climate variability on the flow variation is higher in the UWBDR watershed. In Walzem Creek, the alteration in streamflow and baseflow appears to be driven by the effect of urbanization more than that of climate variability. The results reported herein are compared with results reported in recent work by the authors in order to provide necessary information for water resources management planning, as well as soil and water conservation, and to broaden the current understanding of hydrological components variation in different climate regions.


Author(s):  
Mohamed Aboelnour ◽  
Margaret W. Gitau ◽  
Bernard A. Engel

The change in both streamflow and baseflow in urban catchments has received significant attention in the latest decades as a result of their drastic variability. In this research, effects of climate variation and dynamics of land use are measured separately and in combination on streamflow and baseflow in the Little Eagle Creek (LEC) watershed (Indianapolis, Indiana). These effects are examined using land use maps, statistical tests, and hydrological modeling. Transition matrix analysis was used to investigate the change in land use between 1992 and 2011. Temporal trends and changes in meteorological data were evaluated from 1980-2017 using the Mann-Kendall test. Changes in streamflow and baseflow were assessed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model using multiple scenarios that varied in land use and climate change. Evaluation of the model outputs showed streamflow and baseflow in LEC are well represented using SWAT; however, comparing the calibration and validation period showed SWAT performs better for the calibration. During 1992-2011, roughly 30% of the watershed experienced change, typically cultivated agricultural areas became urbanized. Baseflow is significantly affected by the observed urbanization; however, the combination of land and climate variability has a larger effect on the baseflow in LEC. Generally, the variability in the baseflow and streamflow appears to be heavily driven by the response to climate change in comparison to variability due to altered land use. The results reported herein expand the current understanding of variation in hydrological components, and provides useful information for management planning regarding water resources, as well as water and soil conservation in urban watersheds in Indiana and beyond.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Aboelnour ◽  
Margaret W. Gitau ◽  
Bernard A. Engel

The change in both streamflow and baseflow in urban catchments has received significant attention in recent decades as a result of their drastic variability. In this research, effects of climate variation and dynamics of land use are measured separately and in combination with streamflow and baseflow in the Little Eagle Creek (LEC) watershed (Indianapolis, Indiana). These effects are examined using land-use maps, statistical tests, and hydrological modeling. Transition matrix analysis was used to investigate the change in land use between 1992 and 2011. Temporal trends and changes in meteorological data were evaluated from 1980–2017 using the Mann–Kendall test. Changes in streamflow and baseflow were assessed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model using multiple scenarios that varied in land use and climate change. Evaluation of the model outputs showed streamflow and baseflow in LEC are well represented using SWAT. During 1992–2011, roughly 30% of the watershed experienced change, typically cultivated agricultural areas became urbanized. Baseflow is significantly affected by the observed urbanization; however, the combination of land and climate variability has a larger effect on the baseflow in LEC. Generally, the variability in the baseflow and streamflow appears to be heavily driven by the response to climate change in comparison to variability due to altered land use. The results reported herein expand the current understanding of variation in hydrological components, and provide useful information for management planning regarding water resources, as well as water and soil conservation in urban watersheds in Indiana and beyond.


2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 416-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abubaker Omer ◽  
Weiguang Wang ◽  
Amir K. Basheer ◽  
Bin Yong

Understanding the linear and nonlinear responses of runoff to environmental change is crucial to optimally manage water resources in river basins. This study proposes a generic framework-based hydrological model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)) and two approaches, to comprehensively assess the impacts of anthropogenic activities and climate variability on runoff over the representative Hutuo River Basin (HRB), China. Results showed that SWAT performed well in capturing the runoff trend in HRB; however, it exhibited better performance for the calibration period than for the validation. During 1961–2000, about 26.06% of the catchment area was changed, mainly from forest to farmland and urban, and the climate changed to warmer and drier. The integrated effects of the anthropogenic activities and climate variability decreased annual runoff in HRB by 96.6 mm. Direct human activities were responsible for 52.16% of runoff reduction. Climate (land use) decreased runoff by 45.30% (2.06%), whereas the combined (land use + climate) impact resulted in more runoff decrease, by 47.84%. Land use–climate interactive effect is inherent in HRB and decreased runoff by 1.02%. The proposed framework can be applied to improve the current understanding of runoff variation in river basins, for supporting sustainable water resources management strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 576
Author(s):  
Letícia Lopes Martins ◽  
Wander Araújo Martins ◽  
Jener Fernando Leite De Moraes ◽  
Mário José Pedro Júnior ◽  
Isabella Clerici De Maria

A dificuldade na gestão de recursos hídricos aliada à dinâmica do uso e ocupação do solo em bacias hidrográficas agrícolas são fatores relevantes para a conservação da água e solo. A gestão de bacias hidrográficas, bem como o monitoramento de cenários de expansão agrícola e mudança no uso do solo, podem se beneficiar de ferramentas de modelagem hidrossedimentológica, como o SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool). Entretanto, para que os resultados obtidos sejam confiáveis, os modelos precisam ser calibrados. Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, calibrar e validar o modelo SWAT, para a variável vazão, tendo como base a bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão do Pinhal, Limeira -São Paulo, que se caracteriza pela expansão da cana-de-açúcar sobre áreas citrícolas. Dados de vazão de um posto fluviométrico localizado no exutório da bacia foram utilizados para a calibração e validação, a partir de séries temporais diferentes.  Utilizou-se o software QSWAT para a simulação hidrológica e o SWAT-CUP para a calibração e validação do modelo. O modelo foi calibrado e validado resultando nos seguintes índices estatísticos NSE=0,64; PBIAS=15,2 e RSR=0,60 para calibração e NSE=0,68 PBIAS=-2,8 e RSR=0,56 para a validação. O ajuste de parâmetros do SWAT (USLE_P, USLE_C, CN2) e do calendário de operações da cana-de-açúcar em acordo com a situação real da bacia foi necessário para a calibração do modelo. Os resultados indicam que o modelo SWAT subestima as vazões extremas, no entanto, dentro de faixa aceitável. O SWAT, após a calibração, pode ser utilizado na gestão de recursos hídricos na bacia do Ribeirão do Pinhal.Hydrological calibration of the SWAT model in a watershed characterized by the expansion of sugarcane cultivationA B S T R A C TThe difficulty in water resources management combined with the dynamics of land use and occupation in agricultural watersheds are relevant factors for water and soil conservation. River basin management, as well as monitoring scenarios of agricultural expansion and land-use change, can benefit from hydrossedimentological modeling tools such as the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool). However, for the results to be reliable, the models must be calibrated. The objective of this study was to calibrate and validate the SWAT model for the flow variable, based on the Ribeirão do Pinhal watershed, Limeira-São Paulo, which is characterized by the expansion of sugarcane over citrus areas. Flow data from a fluviometric station located in the basin's outfall were used for calibration and validation from different time series. QSWAT software was used for hydrological simulation and SWAT-CUP for model calibration and validation. The model was calibrated and validated resulting in the following statistical indices NSE = 0.64; PBIAS = 15.2 and RSR = 0.60 for calibration and NSE = 0.68 PBIAS = -2.8 and RSR = 0.56 for validation. Adjustment of SWAT parameters (USLE_P, USLE_C, and CN2) and the sugarcane operation schedule according to the actual basin situation was necessary for model calibration. The results indicate that the SWAT model underestimates the extreme flow rates, however, within an acceptable range. After calibration, the SWAT can be used to manage water resources in the Ribeirão do Pinhal basin.Keywords: Hydrologic simulation; land use; flow rate.


2015 ◽  
Vol 737 ◽  
pp. 762-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Yuan Han ◽  
Tao Cai

To investigate the impacts of land-use patterns on the sediment yield characteristics in the upper Huaihe River, Xixian hydrological controlling station was selected as the case study site. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to simulate land-use change effects on sediment yield by the use of three-phase (1980s, 1990s and 2000s) land-use maps, soil type map (1:200000) and 1987 to 2008 daily time series of rainfall from the upper Huaihe River basin. On the basis of the simulated time series of daily sediment concentration, land-use change effects on spatio-temporal change patterns of soil erosion modulus. The results revealed that under the same condition of soil texture and terrain slope the advantage for sediment yield was descended by woodland, paddy field and farmland. The outputs of the paper could provide references for soil and water conservation and river health protection in the upper stream of Huaihe River.


2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.C.S. Negi

Mountains are fragile ecosystems and globally important as water towers of the earth. Sustainable use of mountains depends upon conservation and optimal use of soil and water resources (Ives & Messerli 1989). Despite regional and global efforts to understand the hydrology of the Himalayan region, soil and water conservation (SWC) programmes in this region mainly rely upon engineering measures. For want of cost-effective vegetative (bioengineering) measures (Deoja et al. 1991), and land use and land cover conducive to SWC, the fragile Himalayan watersheds continue to lose soil and water at alarming rates.


2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 870-881 ◽  

<div> <p>In this study, we investigated the separate and combined impacts of climate and land-use changes on hydrological response in the Central Highlands of Vietnam during the period 1981-2009. The Mann-Kendall and Pettit tests were applied to detect the trends in the hydro-meteorological data. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was setup in the region, and evaluation based on daily data highlights the models adequacy. From this, the responses of hydrology to climate variability and land-use changes were considered. Overall, variability in climate seems to strongly drive the variability in the hydrological response in comparison to alternations in the hydrological regime due to land-use change during the period 1981-2009. The results indicate that land-use change had a minor impact on the annual flow (0.4% reduction), whilst the impact from climate variability had been more significant (13.5% change). Under the impact of coupled climate variability and land-use change, the annual streamflow increased by 13.1%.</p> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p>


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document