SWAT Literature Database for Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Title:Incorporation of climate change in water availability modeling 
Authors:Wurbs, R.A., R.S. Muttiah and F. Felden 
Year:2005 
Journal:Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 
Volume (Issue):10(5) 
Pages:375-385 
Article ID: 
DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0699(2005)10:5(375) 
URL (non-DOI journals): 
Model:SWAT 
Broad Application Category:hydrologic only 
Primary Application Category:climate change assessment 
Secondary Application Category:hydrologic assessment 
Watershed Description:118,000 km^2 Brazos River, which extends from northeast New Mexico across Texas to Gulf of Mexico, U.S. 
Calibration Summary: 
Validation Summary: 
General Comments: 
Abstract:The state of Texas recently implemented a water-availability modeling (WAM) system to support planning and regulatory activities. River basin hydrology is represented in the WAM system by sequences of historical monthly naturalized streamflows and net reservoir evaporation rates. This paper describes a case study investigation of the potential effects of climate-change on assessments of water-supply capabilities and focuses on whether and how climate change considerations should be incorporated in the WAM system. A modeling approach was adopted to explore the impacts of climate change on hydrologic and institutional water availability for the numerous water users who depend on supplies provided by the 118,000 km2 Brazos River Basin. Analyses of historical naturalized streamflows indicate hidden but significant multiple-year cycles but no long-term trends during the twentieth century. A climate model and watershed hydrology model are used to adjust the WAM system hydrology to reflect anomalous climate during 2040–2060. The future climate scenario generally results in decreased mean streamflows and greater variability. However, the effects on water availability vary significantly in different regions of the river basin and among water users. 
Language:English 
Keywords:Climatic changes; Water supply; Reservoir systems; River basins; Computer models; Texas.