Combination of two evolutionary methods for groundwater recharges estimation in semi-arid regions, Northeastern Algeria

Abstract

Hydrograph recession analysis is widely used in hydrologic research and water resources planning and management. The most common applications are in the forecasting of low flows, rainfall runoff models, hydrograph analysis, and estimation of groundwater resources in a catchment. In this study, two different methods were used to estimate groundwater recharge in a catchment. The methods are based on different recession analysis techniques, and vary in their formulation. The first is an automated technique that was developed to calculate slope of the baseflow recession curve from streamflow records, which is commonly used as an indicator of groundwater reserves. This technique is an adaptation of the master recession curve (MRC) procedure. A second is the Meyboom method, which uses regression equations to calculate the recharge volume that occurs between two recessions. These methods were applied to a 30-year time series of daily discharge measured in the Seybouse Basin (6,450 km2) of Algeria. The results make clear that the recession constant provides reliable information about water availability in the study area.