Modelling of channel transmission loss processes in semi-arid catchments of southern Africa using the Pitman Model

Water availability is one of the major societal issues facing the world. The ability to understand and quantify the impact of key hydrological processes, on the availability of water resources, is therefore integral to ensuring equitable and sustainable resource management. Channel transmission loss...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mvandaba, Vuyelwa, Hughes, Denis, Evison Kapangaziwiri, Jean-Marc Mwenge Kahinda, Oosthuizen, Nadia
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Alluvial aquifers
Aquifers
Arid regions
Arid zones
Catchment area
Catchments
Computer simulation
Evapotranspiration
Evapotranspiration losses
Floodplains
Hydrologic research
Hydrology
Modelling
Resource availability
Resource management
River basins
Rivers
Semi arid areas
Semiarid lands
Transmission loss
Water availability
Water balance
Water resources
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Summary:Water availability is one of the major societal issues facing the world. The ability to understand and quantify the impact of key hydrological processes, on the availability of water resources, is therefore integral to ensuring equitable and sustainable resource management. Channel transmission losses are an “under-researched” hydrological process that affects resource availability in many semi-arid regions such as the Limpopo River Basin in southern Africa, where the loss processes amount to approximately 30 % of the water balance. To improve the understanding of these loss processes and test the capability of modelling routines, three approaches using the Pitman model are applied to selected alluvial aquifer environments. The three approaches are an explicit transmission loss function, the use of a wetland function to represent channel-floodplain storage exchanges and the use of a “dummy” reservoir to represent floodplain storage and evapotranspiration losses. Results indicate that all three approaches are able to simulate channel transmission losses with differing impacts on the regional flows. A determination of which method best represents the channel transmission losses process requires further testing in a study area that has reliable observed historical records.
ISSN:2199-899X
2199-8981
2199-899X
DOI:10.5194/piahs-378-17-2018