Methods for integrating high-resolution land, climate, and infrastructure scenarios in a hydrologic simulation model

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Hydrology
• Water resource management

Background:

• Human activities significantly alter the global hydrologic cycle, leading to water scarcity and ecosystem degradation.
• Existing hydrologic models often neglect the integration of human infrastructures (HI) with bio-geophysical factors, limiting effective water resource management.
• Accurate modeling of water availability at relevant scales is crucial for addressing water challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an integrated framework for quantifying the combined effects of bio-geophysical drivers and human infrastructures on regional surface water hydrology.
• To enable the integration of high spatial and temporal anthropogenic alterations of water availability.
• To identify hot-spots and hot-moments of hydrological stresses within river segments.

Main Methods:

• Developed an integrated framework incorporating modeling and data requirements.
• Utilized a high-resolution river network with greater spatial granularity than typical Soil and Water Analysis Tool (SWAT) applications to represent HI.
• Estimated anthropogenic influence on water balance using data on water intakes, power production facilities, discharges, dams, and land transformation.

Main Results:

• The framework successfully integrated bio-geophysical and human infrastructure influences on surface water hydrology.
• High-resolution data allowed for a more detailed accounting of HI within the SWAT model.
• The study quantified anthropogenic impacts on water balance at individual river segments.

Conclusions:

• The proposed integrated framework enhances the understanding of regional water availability by incorporating human infrastructure.
• This approach facilitates the identification of critical hydrological stress areas and periods.
• The findings support more sustainable regional water resource management strategies.