Grusson, Youen
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Research article2020Peer reviewedOpen access
Hydrological Alteration Index as an Indicator of the Calibration Complexity of Water Quantity and Quality Modeling in the Context of Global Change
Cakir, Roxelane; Raimonet, Mélanie; Sauvage, Sabine; Paredes-Arquiola, Javier; Grusson, Youen; Roset, Laure; Meaurio, Maite; Navarro, Enrique; Sevilla-Callejo, Miguel; Lechuga-Crespo, Juan Luis; Gomiz Pascual, Juan Jesús; Bodoque, José Maria; Sánchez-Pérez, José Miguel
Abstract
Modeling is a useful way to understand human and climate change impacts on the water resources of agricultural watersheds. Calibration and validation methodologies are crucial in forecasting assessments. This study explores the best calibration methodology depending on the level of hydrological alteration due to human-derived stressors. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is used to evaluate hydrology in South-West Europe in a context of intensive agriculture and water scarcity. The Index of Hydrological Alteration (IHA) is calculated using discharge observation data. A comparison of two SWAT calibration methodologies are done; a conventional calibration (CC) based on recorded in-stream water quality and quantity and an additional calibration (AC) adding crop managements practices. Even if the water quality and quantity trends are similar between CC and AC, water balance, irrigation and crop yields are different. In the context of rainfall decrease, water yield decreases in both CC and AC, while crop productions present opposite trends (+33% in CC and −31% in AC). Hydrological performance between CC and AC is correlated to IHA: When the level of IHA is under 80%, AC methodology is necessary. The combination of both calibrations appears essential to better constrain the model and to forecast the impact of climate change or anthropogenic influences on water resources
Keywords
SWAT; calibration; large-scale; water resource; quality; global change
Published in
Water
2020, volume: 12, number: 1, article number: 115
SLU Authors
Global goals (SDG)
SDG6 Clean water and sanitation
SDG13 Climate action
UKÄ Subject classification
Climate Science
Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010115
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/105142