SWAT Literature Database for Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Title:Quantification of modeled streamflows under climate change over the Flint River Watershed in northern Alabama 
Authors:Acharya, A. 
Year:2017 
Journal:Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 
Volume (Issue):22(9) 
Pages: 
Article ID:04017032 
DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001549 
URL (non-DOI journals): 
Model:SWAT 
Broad Application Category:hydrologic only 
Primary Application Category:climate change assessment 
Secondary Application Category:hydrologic assessment 
Watershed Description:Flint River, a tributary of the Tennessee River located in northern Alabama, U.S. 
Calibration Summary: 
Validation Summary: 
General Comments: 
Abstract:This study quantified the impacts of climate change on water availability over the Flint River subwatershed (FRW) located in the Wheeler Lake Watershed (WLW) in northern Alabama. The observed climate data were obtained from the Alabama Mesonet Stations, and the modeled climate was obtained from multiple models, multiple scenarios, and multiple projections available through the World Climate Research Program’s database. The hydrologic model, the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT), was calibrated and validated for the period of 2004 to 2013, based on daily meteorological forcing and monthly streamflow data. Various climate scenarios developed with respect to anticipated future climate until 2100, based on representative concentration pathways (RCPs), were forced into the calibrated SWAT model to quantify future water availability. The simulated average change in monthly streamflow varied from þ23 to −46%, þ29 to −48%, þ40 to −48%, and þ38 to −48% for scenarios RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 6.0, and RCP 8.5, respectively; the simulated total annual streamflow varied from þ18 to −28% for the same scenarios. However, average change in total annual streamflow based on all scenarios showed a decreasing streamflow pattern from −0.3 to −1.2% for future periods, except a slight increase of þ0.17% at the end of this century. The simulated results that quantified water availability under changing future climate conditions can be used by water managers, stakeholders, and decision makers in planning and managing available water resources and their allocations based on users and water demands, and in considering alternatives for monitoring and mitigating long-term impacts 
Language:English 
Keywords:Climate; Hydrologic modeling; ArcSWAT; Streamflow