scholarly journals On the value of combined event runoff and tracer analysis to improve understanding of catchment functioning in a data-scarce semi-arid area

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 2007-2024 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hrachowitz ◽  
R. Bohte ◽  
M. L. Mul ◽  
T. A. Bogaard ◽  
H. H. G. Savenije ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Runoff Generation ◽  
Direct Flow ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources Management ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. Hydrological processes in small catchments are not quite understood yet, which is true in particular for catchments in data scarce, semi-arid regions. This is in contrast with the need for a better understanding of water fluxes and the interactions between surface- and groundwater in order to facilitate sustainable water resources management in such environments, where both floods and droughts can result in severe crop loss. In this study, event runoff coefficient analysis and limited tracer data of four small, nested sub-catchments (0.4–25.3 km2) in a data scarce, semi-arid region of Tanzania helped to characterize the distinct response of the study catchments and to gain insights into the dominant runoff processes. The estimated event runoff coefficients were very low and did not exceed 0.09. They were found to be significantly related to the 5-day antecedent precipitation totals as well as to base flow, indicating a close relation to changes in soil moisture and thus potential switches in runoff generation processes. The time scales of the "direct flow" reservoirs, used to compute the event runoff coefficients, were up to one order of magnitude reduced for extreme events, compared to "average" events, suggesting the activation of at least a third flow component, besides base- and direct flow, assumed to be infiltration overland flow. Analysis of multiple tracers highlighted the importance of pre-event water to total runoff, even during intense and high yield precipitation events. It further illustrated the distinct nature of the catchments, in particular with respect to the available water storage, which was suggested by different degrees of tracer damping in the individual streams. The use of multiple tracers subsequently allowed estimating uncertainties in hydrograph separations arising from the use of different tracers. The results highlight the presence of considerable uncertainties, emphasizing the need for multiple tracers in order to avoid misleading results. This study shows the value of hydrological data collection over one whole wet season using multi-tracers to improve the understanding of hydrological functioning and thus for water resources management in data scarce, semi-arid environments.

scholarly journals Groundwater-surface water interactions, vegetation dependencies and implications for water resources management in the semi-arid Hailiutu River catchment, China – A synthesis

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 13251-13290
Author(s):  
Y. Zhou ◽  
J. Wenninger ◽  
Z. Yang ◽  
L. Yin ◽  
J. Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
River Catchment ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources Management ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Willow Trees

Abstract. During the last decades, large scale land use changes took place in the Hailiutu River catchment, a semi-arid area in northwest China. These changes had significant impacts on the water resources in the area. Insights into groundwater and surface water interactions and vegetation-water dependencies help to understand these impacts and formulate sustainable water resources management policies. In this study, groundwater and surface water interactions were identified using the baseflow index at the catchment scale, and hydraulic and temperature methods as well as event hydrograph separation techniques at the sub-catchment scale. The results show that almost 88% of the river discharge consists of groundwater. Vegetation dependencies on groundwater were analyzed from the relationship between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and groundwater depth at the catchment scale and along an ecohydrogeological cross-section, and by measuring the sap flow of different plants, soil water contents and groundwater levels at different research sites. The results show that all vegetation types, i.e. trees (willow (Salix matsudana) and poplar (Populus simonii)), bushes (salix (Salix psammophila)) and agricultural crops (maize (Zea mays)), depend on groundwater as the dominant water source for transpiration. The comparative analysis indicates that maize crops use the largest amount of water, followed by poplar trees, salix bushes, and willow trees. For sustainable water use with the objective of satisfying water demand for socio-economical development and to prevent desertification, more water use efficient crops such as sorghum, barley and millet should be promoted to reduce the consumptive water use for irrigation. Willow trees should be used as wind-breaks in croplands and along roads, and dry resistant and less water use intensive plants (for instance native bushes) should be used to vegetate sand dunes.

scholarly journals IMPACTS OF EXTREME HYDROLOGICAL EVENTS ON SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN WELL-BEING

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
SANDRA STANKOVIĆ ◽  
DEJAN VASOVIĆ ◽  
NENAD ŽIVKOVIĆ
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Primary Methods ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources Management ◽  
Extreme Hydrological Events ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this research is to emphasize the impact of extreme hydrological phenomena on thesustainable management of water-related societal needs. Therefore, it provides a definition of extreme hydrological events, as well as a survey of extreme hydrological events in the Republic of Serbia. It also gives a brief overview of Agenda 2030 with particular respect to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No 6 and highlights the impacts of extreme hydrological phenomena on the water resources, both from the perspective of the ecosystem and the society. Root-cause analysis and synthesis of data related to extreme hydrological events that occurred in the Republic of Serbia for characteristic years have been used as primary methods. The conclusion highlights the necessity of ensuring sustainable management of water resources in order to achieve the desired state of human well-being, as well as a healthy ecosystem. Keywords: extreme hydrological events, ecosystem services, sustainability, water resources, management

scholarly journals Toward sustainable water resources management: critical assessment on the implementation of integrated water resources management and water–energy–food nexus in Afghanistan

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajmal Khan Shams ◽  
Nur Shazwani Muhammad
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
National Level ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
Current State ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources Management ◽  
State Of Affairs

Abstract Afghanistan has abundant water resources; however, the current state of affairs is dismal because of the lack of integrated water resources management (IWRM) practices and prolonged war and conflict in the country. Therefore, there is a need for a systematic approach to water management, which can be materialized by integrating IWRM and the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus approach to maintain a critical balance of available water resources and their various uses at the national level. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of Afghanistan's water resource management, including the current state, challenges, opportunities, and way forward. The identified challenges are categorized as social and environmental issues, engineering and technical and regulatory, policy and government role. These challenges are inter-connected and a novel framework toward the implementation of IWRM and the WEF nexus in Afghanistan is proposed. This framework can be used by the relevant stakeholders to prepare a roadmap for sustainable management of water resources. Such integrative approaches will enhance Afghanistan's water, food, and energy security and significantly contribute to its economic development. Moving forward, the Afghanistan government must play a crucial role with regards to the efficient management of the country's water resources in an integrated manner as suggested in this paper.

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