Assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a Mediterranean watershed: combined indices-based and distributed modeling approaches

Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of future droughts is essential for effective water resource management, especially in the Mediterranean region where water resources are expected to be scarcer in the future. In this study, we combined meteorological and hydrological drought indices wit...

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Main Authors: Brouziyne, Youssef, Abouabdillah, A., Chehbouni, Abdelghani, Hanich, L., Bergaoui, Karim, McDonnell, Rachael, Benaabidate, L.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: MDPI 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/109073
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author Brouziyne, Youssef
Abouabdillah, A.
Chehbouni, Abdelghani
Hanich, L.
Bergaoui, Karim
McDonnell, Rachael
Benaabidate, L.
author_browse Abouabdillah, A.
Benaabidate, L.
Bergaoui, Karim
Brouziyne, Youssef
Chehbouni, Abdelghani
Hanich, L.
McDonnell, Rachael
author_facet Brouziyne, Youssef
Abouabdillah, A.
Chehbouni, Abdelghani
Hanich, L.
Bergaoui, Karim
McDonnell, Rachael
Benaabidate, L.
author_sort Brouziyne, Youssef
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of future droughts is essential for effective water resource management, especially in the Mediterranean region where water resources are expected to be scarcer in the future. In this study, we combined meteorological and hydrological drought indices with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to predict future dry years during two periods (2035–2050and 2085–2100) in a typical Mediterranean watershed in Northern Morocco, namely, Bouregreg watershed. The developed methodology was then used to evaluate drought impact on annual water yields and to identify the most vulnerable sub-basins within the study watershed. Two emission scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) of a downscaled global circulation model were used to force the calibrated SWAT model. Results indicated that Bouregreg watershed will experience several dry years with higher frequency especially at the end of current century. Significant decreases of annual water yields were simulated during dry years, ranging from -45.6% to -76.7% under RCP4.5, and from -66.7% to -95.6% under RCP8.5, compared to baseline. Overall, hydrologic systems in sub-basins under the ocean or high-altitude influence appear to be more resilient to drought. The combination of drought indices and the semi-distributed model offer a comprehensive tool to understand potential future droughts in Bouregreg watershed.
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spelling CGSpace1090732025-12-02T10:59:51Z Assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a Mediterranean watershed: combined indices-based and distributed modeling approaches Brouziyne, Youssef Abouabdillah, A. Chehbouni, Abdelghani Hanich, L. Bergaoui, Karim McDonnell, Rachael Benaabidate, L. climate change drought vulnerability hydrological factors weather forecasting modelling water resources watersheds water yield meteorological factors risk management precipitation rain temperature land use runoff evapotranspiration Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of future droughts is essential for effective water resource management, especially in the Mediterranean region where water resources are expected to be scarcer in the future. In this study, we combined meteorological and hydrological drought indices with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to predict future dry years during two periods (2035–2050and 2085–2100) in a typical Mediterranean watershed in Northern Morocco, namely, Bouregreg watershed. The developed methodology was then used to evaluate drought impact on annual water yields and to identify the most vulnerable sub-basins within the study watershed. Two emission scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) of a downscaled global circulation model were used to force the calibrated SWAT model. Results indicated that Bouregreg watershed will experience several dry years with higher frequency especially at the end of current century. Significant decreases of annual water yields were simulated during dry years, ranging from -45.6% to -76.7% under RCP4.5, and from -66.7% to -95.6% under RCP8.5, compared to baseline. Overall, hydrologic systems in sub-basins under the ocean or high-altitude influence appear to be more resilient to drought. The combination of drought indices and the semi-distributed model offer a comprehensive tool to understand potential future droughts in Bouregreg watershed. 2020-08-19 2020-08-26T06:38:13Z 2020-08-26T06:38:13Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/109073 en Open Access MDPI Brouziyne, Y.; Abouabdillah, A.; Chehbouni, A.; Hanich, L.; Bergaoui, Karim; McDonnell, Rachael; Benaabidate, L. 2020. Assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a Mediterranean watershed: combined indices-based and distributed modeling approaches. Water, 12(9):2333. (Special issue: Modeling Global Change Impacts on Water Resources: Selected Papers from the 2019/2020 SWAT International Conferences) [doi: 10.3390/w12092333]
spellingShingle climate change
drought
vulnerability
hydrological factors
weather forecasting
modelling
water resources
watersheds
water yield
meteorological factors
risk management
precipitation
rain
temperature
land use
runoff
evapotranspiration
Brouziyne, Youssef
Abouabdillah, A.
Chehbouni, Abdelghani
Hanich, L.
Bergaoui, Karim
McDonnell, Rachael
Benaabidate, L.
Assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a Mediterranean watershed: combined indices-based and distributed modeling approaches
title Assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a Mediterranean watershed: combined indices-based and distributed modeling approaches
title_full Assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a Mediterranean watershed: combined indices-based and distributed modeling approaches
title_fullStr Assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a Mediterranean watershed: combined indices-based and distributed modeling approaches
title_full_unstemmed Assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a Mediterranean watershed: combined indices-based and distributed modeling approaches
title_short Assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a Mediterranean watershed: combined indices-based and distributed modeling approaches
title_sort assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a mediterranean watershed combined indices based and distributed modeling approaches
topic climate change
drought
vulnerability
hydrological factors
weather forecasting
modelling
water resources
watersheds
water yield
meteorological factors
risk management
precipitation
rain
temperature
land use
runoff
evapotranspiration
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/109073
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