Water Balance Elements Research Articles

Многолетние изменения уровня озера Ханка и проблемы его регулирования

Water balance regularities and level fluctuations of the transboundary Lake Khanka have been considered. It has been shown that anthropogenic factors associated primarily with irrigation farming on both Russian and Chinese parts of the lake basin are important factors affecting the lake hydrological regime along with climatic factors. Water supply for rice cultivation is provided at the expense of construction of complicated engineering systems for water resources redistribution. Account of these engineering systems’ impact on the Lake Khanka level fluctuations, as well as assessment of effectiveness of probable measures on mitigation of flooding risk for riparian territories have been accomplished with the multi-variant calculations method and simulation experiments with the lake and its catchment hydrological system model with the use of new data concerning all the water body water balance elements for the 1949-2015 period.

Applying profile- and catchment-based mathematical models for evaluating the run-off from a Nordic catchment

Abstract Knowledge of hydrological processes and water balance elements are important for climate adaptive water management as well as for introducing mitigation measures aiming to improve surface water quality. Mathematical models have the potential to estimate changes in hydrological processes under changing climatic or land use conditions. These models, indeed, need careful calibration and testing before being applied in decision making. The aim of this study was to compare the capability of five different hydrological models to predict the runoff and the soil water balance elements of a small catchment in Norway. The models were harmonised and calibrated against the same data set. In overall, a good agreement between the measured and simulated runoff was obtained for the different models when integrating the results over a week or longer periods. Model simulations indicate that forest appears to be very important for the water balance in the catchment, and that there is a lack of information on land use specific water balance elements. We concluded that joint application of hydrological models serves as a good background for ensemble modelling of water transport processes within a catchment and can highlight the uncertainty of models forecast.

The Elements of Water Balance in the Changing Climate in Poland

Strong global warming has been observed in the last three decades. Central Europe, including Poland, is not an exception. Moreover, climate projections for Poland foresee further warming as well as changes in the spatial and seasonal distribution and quantity of precipitation. However, climate models do not agree on the sign of change of precipitation. In Poland precipitation is projected to decrease in summer (this finding is not robust, being model-dependent) and to increase in winter. Therefore, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding likely climate change impacts on water resources in Poland. However, there is no doubt that changes in the thermal characteristics as well as in precipitation will influence changes in the water balance of the country. In this study, the components of climatic water balance, that is, precipitation, evaporation, and runoff, are calculated for the average conditions in the control period of 1961–1990 and in the future (2071–2100) in Poland. The changes of the water balance components for the present and for the future are compared and analysed. Due to insufficient consistency between climate models a possible range of changes should be presented; hence the multimodel projections from ENSEMBLES Project of the European Union are used in this study.

Determination of the Elements of Soil Water Balance for Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Under Shallow Water Table

To determine the elements of soil water balance equation during the growing season detailed description for calculating daily contribution rates to evapotranspiration of wheat (ET) from applied irrigation water (ETr) and upward flux capillarity (ETc), depth of applied irrigation water (DAIW), change in water storage (Λs) and cumulative evapotranspiration (ETcum) were algorithmed in this study. Irrigation water was applied to three different depths 30, 30-60 and 60 cm at three different depletion rates 50, 70 and 90% from plant available water. Wheat ET ranged from 428.49 to 522.12 mm. Contributions to ET from applied irrigation water ranged from 334.20 to 496.50 mm and increased with increasing irrigation depth. Contributions to ET from upward flux capillarity ranged from 25.61 to 96.59 mm and decreased with increasing irrigation depth. Contributions to ET from applied irrigation water decreased with increasing depletion rate whilst contributions to ET from upward flux capillarity increased with increasing depletion rates. Daily rate contribution to evapotranspiration from irrigation water ranged from 2.15 to 3.20 mm.d-1 and from capillary flux ranged from 0.16 to 0.61 mm.d-1.

The Height Regularities of the Water Industry Balance of Georgia

The current political and socio-economic changes in the last centuries of 90-th was adequately reflected on water management problematic issues. There is a lack of statistical material that complicates the research activity. To this point of view the primary task was to choose representative period in the dynamic of utilizing water recourses. 80-th of last century is considered as such kind of period stated in the previous article. In terms of territorial differentiation water industry balance is estimated in the previous article according to the high-rise zones of western and eastern Georgian regions. The annual quantity of river runoff on the territory does not depict completely the water supply of population and various branches of economy. The full assessment is possible by the intra annual mode of water balance in the hydrological periods and phenological seasons. On the other hand, in Georgia, in mountain regions the elements of water balance are amenable to high-rise regularities, so the intra annual mode of water balance should be considered in the context of high-rise extent. The previous work is devoted to territorial distribution of indicators of water balance in Georgia according to high-rise zones in the frame of intra annual aspect.

Yield and water-use efficiency of wheat in a high-rainfall environment

Yield, water use and water-use efficiency (WUE) in the high-rainfall zone of Tasmania are highly variable because of environmental and agronomic constraints to grain production that limit yield potential. The expansion of irrigation infrastructure in Tasmanian production systems with access to low-cost, plentiful irrigation sources will also influence these components in some areas. This paper reports on desktop modelling studies that aimed to benchmark wheat WUE and to explore the sensitivity of yield, water use and WUE to changes in management practice in a high-rainfall environment. Here, WUE was defined as: grain yield/(evapotranspiration + drainage + runoff). The crop simulation model APSIM-Wheat was used to quantify key water balance elements and estimate ‘attainable’ and ‘potential’ WUE and grain yield for 27 wheat trials. The upper limit for WUE was ~30 kg/ha.mm in excess of 180 mm evaporation, which is 16% higher than previous estimates at this southerly latitude for wheat. Attainable WUE ranged from 58% to 100% of potential WUE and was limited by nitrogen supply and water loss through evaporation, drainage and runoff. Model scenarios showed that co-limitation of inputs of nitrogen and irrigation was an important driver of grain yield and WUE. The implications of this research on crop management and production in temperate, high-rainfall environments are discussed.

Оценка изменения и взаимосвязь элементов водного баланса бассейна реки Волги в условиях изменения климата

Results of analysis and assessment of annual and seasonal water balance elements of the particular catchment territories/isolated water/economic regions and the Volga River basin as a whole are presented. Spatial-temporal dynamics of the Volga water balance annual and seasonal elements variability has been considered. Equations of annual and seasonal flow dependence on determining climatic factors (atmospheric precipitation, evapotranspiration, and temperature of underlying surface) have been obtained.

Evaluating water balance elements for hydromorphic landscapes by hydrophysical properties of soil cover

A method is proposed for evaluating a dimensionless parameter reflecting the landscape conditions of runoff formation in the method of hydroclimatic calculations. This method allows the hydrological characteristic of landscape to be evaluated at different stages of hydromorphic transformation. The determination of the dimensionless parameter by landscape profile laid through Kruglyi Riam—a growth center of the Bakcharskoe Bog—is based on the known values of field and maximum moisture capacity of the active layer of soil cover.

Impact of expected climate change on soil water regime under different vegetation conditions

A mathematical model was applied for the Bukk Mountains (Hungary) to evaluate the effects of climate change on soil water balance elements and soil water regime. Model runs using SWAP model were performed for combinations of four distinctive soil types and three land use systems of arable land, grassland, and forest. The temporal variation of soil water regime under changing climatic conditions was examined considering no land cover change occurring in the future. The climate data consisted of the predictions of two regional climate models, the Swiss CLM and the Swedish RCA. The RCA results showed 45% to 50% and the CLM showed 5% to 14% higher future precipitation outlook compared to present conditions. Considering different land use types, the projected number of days with soil moisture deficit was the highest in forest ecosystems for both the upper 50 cm soil layer and the whole soil profile, which could be as high as 61% of days below optimal soil water content range. Our results showed increased water fluxes, especially in deep percolation in far future period and a strong influence of soil properties on the changes in the climate model results, indicating significant long-term effects of climate change on soil water regime.

Determining water and nitrogen balances for beneficial management practices using lysimeters at Wagna test site (Austria)

The shallow Murtal aquifer south of Graz, Austria, provides easily withdrawable groundwater, which is supplied as drinking water without any chemical treatment. The aquifer is also used intensively by agriculture. Common agricultural management practices are the main source for diffuse nitrogen leaching and high groundwater nitrate concentrations. To safeguard the coexisting use of these two important resources, lysimeters are operated at the agricultural test site Wagna, Austria, and the influence of two beneficial management practices – low nitrogen input and organic farming – on nitrogen leaching towards groundwater is investigated. The technical lysimeter design as presented here consists of: (1) high-resolution weighing cells, (2) a suction controlled lower boundary condition for sucking off seepage water, thus emulating undisturbed field conditions, (3) comparative soil temperature, water content and matrix potential measurements inside and outside the lysimeter at different depths, (4) an installation of the lysimeters directly into test plots and (5) a removable upper lysimeter ring enabling machinery soil tillage. Our results indicate that oasis effects or fringe effects of the lysimeter cylinder on unsaturated water flow did not occur. Another lysimeter cultivated with lawn is operated for observing grass-reference evapotranspiration, which resulted in good agreement with calculated grass-reference evapotranspiration according to the FAO-Penman–Monteith method. We conclude that lysimeters installed at Wagna test site did not show any fringe effects and, thus, are appropriate tools for measuring water balance elements and nitrogen leaching of arable and grass land at point scale. Furthermore, our results for the period of 2005 to 2011 show that beneficial management practices reduced nitrate leaching and, hence, may allow for a sustainable coexistence of drinking water supply and agriculture in the Murtal aquifer.

Changes in Water Table Depth in an Oil Palm Plantation and its Surrounding Regions in Sumatra, Indonesia

This study was carried out to determine changes in depths of water table in an oil palm plantation and its surrounding region. Daily water table depths and daily climatic elements were considered in this study. Eight well point locations were chosen randomly throughout the oil palm plantation. To test relationships among the different variables, correlation coefficients were statistically tested using t-test at 95 and 99% confidence levels. The results showed that fluctuation depth of the water table at the oil palm area depended on climatic elements. In general, water table depth decreases during dry season and increases during wet season. However, water table depths reduction does not happen permanently. Similarly, water table depths were not changed by oil palm plantation at the oil palm area. Strong correlations were observed between oil palm area and oil palm areas with water table at river side plain. Meanwhile, some other locations were shown to have weak correlation for water table at oil palm and those locations. At oil palm area, water table depth was found to be correlated with some water balance elements such as effective precipitation, soil surface evaporation, run-off and water infiltration rate.

Water balance of lake-catchment systems with transformed water distribution

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the scale of changes in the distribution of water and their influence on the components of the hydrological balance in two lake catchments situated in the Leczna-Wlodawa Lake District. Design/methodology/approach – In order to estimate the scale of man-made modification of water distribution an analysis of published cartographic materials was used. The maps cover time-scale of over 150 years. The analysis was completed by territorial research carried out during water years 2007-2009. The elements of water balance equation were calculated on the basis of daily water levels, discharge, precipitations and lake volumes. Evaporation was calculated as the difference of balance gains and losses (runoff deficit). Findings – The study has shown high permanent human pressure on lake-catchment systems under study, since the 50 of the nineteenth century. Naturally drainless lakes were connected to the system of surface runoff, which modified radically directions and pace of water circulation. The most pronounced hydrologic changes of the lake-catchment systems under study occurred in the 60 of the twentieth century. Human pressure on water conditions resulted in changes of water balance elements relation (increased surface inflow and outflow). Originality/value – In the ecosystems with zonal watersheds, even slight modification of water distribution may lead to radical changes in the structure of lake-catchment systems’ water balance. The paper is first in polish literature that documents major water divide translocation, as well as bifurcation in the drainage area of the highest cascade lake. Man-made modifications cause natural ecosystems degradation, especially in the areas built with peat-bogs.

Water balance of selected floodplain lake basins in the Middle Bug River valley

Abstract. This study is the first attempt in the literature on the subject of comparing water balance components for floodplain lake basins, depending on the type of a lake connection to the parent river. Research was carried out in the Bug River valley in 2007–2011 water years. Four types of connections were distinguished in the area under study. Simple water balance equation could only be used with regard to the lakes connected to the main river via the upstream crevasses. Detailed and individual water balance equations were developed with reference to the other types of lakes. Water gains and losses varied significantly in the lakes under study. Values of horizontal water balance components (inflow and outflow) of the floodplain lake in Wola Uhruska considerably prevailed over the vertical ones (precipitation and evaporation). Inflow of the Bug River waters was diverse during the time period under study and amounted from 600 000 to 2 200 000 m3 yr−1. Volumes of precipitation and evaporation were rather stable and amounted to approx. 30 000 m3 yr−1. The lowest disparity between horizontal and vertical water balance components was observed in the inter-levee lake. Both upstream inflow of rivers water and outflow from the lake (ranged from 0 in 2008 to 35 000 m3 yr−1 in 2009) were usually an order of magnitude higher than precipitation and evaporation from the lake surface (700–800 m3 yr−1). Study showed that the values and the proportion between aforementioned vertical and horizontal water balance elements were determined by the type of a lake connection to the Bug River. Storage volume showed no relationship to the type of connection, but resulted from individual features of the lakes (location within the valley, precipitation and evaporation volume, difference between water inflow and outflow).

Groundwater recharge and baseflow as products of climate: example of Southeast Bulgaria

The study area is located in Southeast Bulgaria. The main factors affecting climate in Burgas lowland are the proximity to the Black Sea and to mountains. The aim of the study is to quantify the long-term value of the baseflow and other water balance elements. The methods include Turc-Radiation equation, equation relating baseflow coefficient with the aridity index, regression set for Conterminous USA based on climatic parameters, etc. All water balance elements are estimated as reasonable, as compared with available data from previous studies. Therefore, the methods applied are recognized as suitable for the study area. The results show that the baseflow varies from 20 to 70 mm per year, and the baseflow coefficient ranges from 5 to 10 percent in respect to the proximity to the Black Sea coast. Possible impact of the climate change on the groundwater recharge and baseflow is evaluated based on the climate scenario for the period between 2040 and 2070. The expected decrease of baseflow as a result of the increased aridity is up to 50% in comparison to the baseline state.

The climate change impact on the water balance of the Curonian Lagoon

The Curonian Lagoon is the biggest fresh water basin in Lithuania influenced by the exchange of the fresh Nemunas and other smaller rivers’ water and saline water of the Baltic Sea. The lagoon ecosystem is influenced by fresh, brackish and brackish water masses. A long-term water balance of the Curonian Lagoon was calculated for the period of 1960–2009. The sum river inflow is 21.784 km3/year, precipitation—1.199 km3/year, evaporation—1.007 km3/year, inflow of brackish water from the Baltic Sea to the Curonian Lagoon—6.171 km3/year, and fresh water runoff from the Curonian Lagoon to the Baltic Sea—27.642 km3/year. The lagoon water balance elements have been influenced by climate change. The water balance forecasting has been performed for the period of 2011–2100.

Método para a espacialização dos elementos do balanço hídrico climatológico

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver e avaliar um método de espacialização dos elementos do balanço hídrico climatológico (BHC). O método utiliza modelos digitais do terreno que contêm a distribuição espacial dos elementos climáticos de entrada do BHC. A avaliação foi feita com dados reais de BHC referentes a 110 estações pluviométricas do Estado do Espírito Santo. Comparou-se o desempenho do método proposto com o dos seguintes interpoladores espaciais: krigagem e inverso de uma potência da distância. O método proposto apresentou melhores estimativas espaciais de todos os elementos do balanço hídrico - evapotranspiração real, excedente, deficiência e disponibilidade hídrica.

Regularities in the formation of groundwater infiltration recharge

The effect of meteorological, landscape, geological-pedological, and hydrogeological factors on the formation of total water balance and infiltration recharge of groundwater. The results of analysis of calculated mean annual and within-year values of water balance elements on land surface and in the vadose zone were used to identify some regularities, governing the resulting input of moisture to groundwater table at different depth of its occurrence (infiltration).

Elevation-space and space-time analysis of water balance in European Russia

A scheme of water balance differentiation of a territory is proposed. The vertical and space-time structure of water balance are considered. A procedure for regional space-time analysis of water balance was developed and tested, allowing one to evaluate its different characteristics and relationships, to simulate the series of their mean annual values in points where no observations are available, and to carry out computeraided mapping of the obtained results. Electronic maps were constructed to characterize the distribution of river runoff and its surface and subsurface components over the European Russia, the correlation and conjunction between them, the distribution of annual precipitation, and the precipitation of the warm and cold periods over the territory. Statistical relationships, reflecting different aspects of space-time variations in the major water balance elements, are given.

10.1007/s11268-008-1002-1

Quantitative relationships between groundwater runoff and other water balance components are obtained. These relationships enable the prediction of changes in groundwater nourishment in different natural-geographic zones on the Earth because of global climatic changes and intense anthropogenic impact on the water regime of different areas. Groundwater runoff values (natural groundwater resources) in individual river basins are estimated. Digital maps (grid-models) of the space and time distribution of water balance elements (based on GIS-technology) are constructed for major river basins in European Russia, and river runoff is calculated in each grid node in river basins with a step of 0.1° in geographic coordinates. The values of major water balance components, thus related with one another, serve as the basis for their spatial and temporal analysis and cartographic representation. The proposed method was tested against data on Volga basin where long-term observational data on water balance elements are available in a number of hydrometric sections.

Methods of estimating the elements of water balance in a forested catchment basin

Methods of estimating the elements of water balance in a forested catchment basin The paper presents basic hydrological processes of rainfall-runoff transformation in experimental watershed of the Trzebuńka stream. Several field experiments were made to determine basic hydrological parameters, The influence of atmospheric circulation on spatial distribution of precipitation was investigated. Attempt was made to determine the influence of forest vegetation, undergrowth, forest litter retention and surface retention on water loss in the catchment. Water retention capacity of soil was also estimated. Developed mathematical model of rainfall-runoff transformation was used in several simulations. This allowed evaluating the effect of atmospheric circulation and spatial rainfall distribution on water balance, the influence of vegetation cover with forest litter on water runoff and the effect of forest litter alone in a hypothetical scenario of forest cutting.