| Title: | Mathematical modeling of watersheds as a subsidy for reservoir water balance determination: The case of Paranoá Lake, Federal District, Brazil |
| Authors: | Nunes, G., R.T. Minoti and S. Koide |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Journal: | Hydrology |
| Volume (Issue): | 7(4) |
| Pages: | |
| Article ID: | 85 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/hydrology7040085 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic only |
| Primary Application Category: | calibration, sensitivity, and/or uncertainty analysis |
| Secondary Application Category: | hydrologic assessment |
| Watershed Description: | 1020 km^2 Paranoá Lake drainage area, located in the Federal District of central Brazil. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | Paranoá Lake, Federal District (DF), Brazil, is one of the most important urban lakes in the
country and it receives inputs from basins with different characteristics, from natural and preserved
to intensely urbanized and agricultural areas. The study of the hydrological processes in these basins,
as well as the water balance in each of them, is fundamental for planning current and future water
uses in Paranoá Lake. Using an extensive database (35 years) and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool
(SWAT) model, we modelled five sub-basins. The outflow rates of the model for each sub-basin served
as input for determining the water balance of Paranoá Lake, which recently became part of the DF
public water supply system. Despite extensive flow monitoring in the main lake tributaries, about 20%
of the lake basin is composed of direct contribution or non-monitored tributaries. Additionally,
the lake outflow is composed of a spillway and a hydropower generation unit that does not have
proper flow measurements, and thus a correct basin hydrological simulation is essential for water
balance aiming to water management scenarios. The results show an average long-term balance of
18.073 m3, with minimum flows around 13 m3 and maximum flows close to 30 m3. This is a pioneering study that associates the extensive monitored database and the hydrological simulation of
all affluent basins with the water balance of Paranoá Lake. The results obtained are essential to water
management and hydrodynamic modeling of the lake. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | streamflow; SWAT; sensitivity analysis; calibration; uncertainty analysis; water balance; reservoir |