SWAT Literature Database for Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Title:Impact of climate change on sediment yield in the Mekong River basin: A case study of the Nam Ou basin, Lao PDR 
Authors:Shrestha, B., M.S. Babel, S. Maskey, A. van Griensven, S. Uhlenbrook, A. Green and I. Akkharath 
Year:2013 
Journal:Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 
Volume (Issue):17 
Pages:1-20 
Article ID: 
DOI:10.5194/hess-17-1-2013 
URL (non-DOI journals): 
Model:SWAT 
Broad Application Category:hydrologic and pollutant 
Primary Application Category:climate change assessment 
Secondary Application Category:sediment loss and transport 
Watershed Description:26,180 km^2 Nam Ou River, located in northern Lao PDR. 
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Validation Summary: 
General Comments: 
Abstract:This paper evaluates the impact of climate change on sediment yield in the Nam Ou basin located in northern Laos. Future climate (temperature and precipitation) from four general circulation models (GCMs) that are found to perform well in the Mekong region and a regional circulation model (PRECIS) are downscaled using a delta change approach. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is used to assess future changes in sediment flux attributable to climate change. Results indicate up to 3.0 degree C shift in seasonal temperature and 27% (decrease) to 41% (increase) in seasonal precipitation. The largest increase in temperature is observed in the dry season while the largest change in precipitation is observed in the wet season. In general, temperature shows increasing trends but changes in precipitation are not unidirectional and vary depending on the greenhouse gas emission scenarios (GHGES), climate models, prediction period and season. The simulation results show that the changes in annual stream discharges are likely to range from a 17% decrease to 66% increase in the future, which will lead to predicted changes in annual sediment yield ranging from a 27% decrease to about 160% increase. Changes in intra-annual (monthly) discharge as well as sediment yield are even greater (−62 to 105% in discharge and −88 to 243% in sediment yield). A higher discharge and sediment flux are expected during the wet seasons, although the highest relative changes are observed during the dry months. The results indicate high uncertainties in the direction and magnitude of changes of discharge as well as sediment yields due to climate change. As the projected climate change impact on sediment varies remarkably between the different climate models, the uncertainty should be taken into account in both sediment management and climate change adaptation. 
Language:English 
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