Hydrology and water resources

User-oriented adaptation of the Modeling System SWIM (Soil and Water Integrated Model) to boost local capacities in their sustainable planning for the water sector

This module will analyze and assess climate impacts on the water sector. Here, the SWIM Modeling System will be adapted to partner countries' needs in cooperation with local contributors. More specifically, this model will allow to test short- and medium-term predictions as well as long-term scenarios for water resources and for the water-energy-food nexus. Whenever possible, the operation is conducted in collaboration with doctoral students as well as master students from the respective countries.

HYDROLOGICAL MODELLING

The eco-hydrological process-based SWIM model can be seen as an assemblage of numerical representations of physical processes of hydrological cycle (runoff, evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge) as well as related processes, in particular, vegetation/crop growth, nutrient cycling, erosion and water management at the river basin scales.  Depending on the local interests and needs in each target country the SWIM model will be applied to selected river basins in order to quantify the impacts of climate change on the river discharge, crop yields and water management infrastructure. In India the SWIM model will also be linked to the monsoon offset and withdrawal forecasting for short-time prognosis of the river discharges.

Related information

• Krysanova, V., Müller-Wohlfeil, D. and Becker, A. (1998). Development and test of a spatially distributed hydrological/water quality model for mesoscale watersheds. Ecological Modelling, 106(2-3), pp.261-289. DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3800(97)00204-4

HYDROLOGY IN PERU

Our main research objective in Peru is to understand the hydrological processes of Andean and Amazonian basins of Peru and their sensitivity to climate change for better water resources management. This objective is motivated because there are few studies related to hydrology in Peru and most of these have focused mainly on streamflow simulation hence a detailed analysis of hydrological processes and quantification of water budget is needed. However, the implementation of the objective is very challenging because of the complex spatio-temporal variability of meteorological variables, which is underrepresented due to data scarcity in the region, being it even more critical over the rainforest region. To achieve the project objective we are conducting several studies described below:

(1)  Understanding of the vegetation and hydrological processes response of an Andean basin, the Vicanota river basin.
(2)  Developing new rainfall product which will be more appropriate for hydrometeorological applications over Peru.
(3)  Assessment of climate change impacts on the hydrological processes and water resources of Peruvian Amazonian basins and potentially of all Peruvian basins.

Contact person

Carlos A. Fernández Palomino

Hydrological Modelling, PhD Student

fernandez[at]pik-potsdam.de

 Scientific advisors