Understanding runoff generation processes and rainfall runoff modelling in the Meja watershed of Ethiopia

Understanding the basic relationships between rainfall, runoff, soil moisture and ground water level are vital for an effective and sustainable water resources planning and management activities. But so far there are no hydrological studies in Meja watershed that aims to understand the watershed cha...

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Main Authors: Berhane, S., Zemadim, Birhanu, Haile, D., Melesse, A.
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: International Livestock Research Institute 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34264
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author Berhane, S.
Zemadim, Birhanu
Haile, D.
Melesse, A.
author_browse Berhane, S.
Haile, D.
Melesse, A.
Zemadim, Birhanu
author_facet Berhane, S.
Zemadim, Birhanu
Haile, D.
Melesse, A.
author_sort Berhane, S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Understanding the basic relationships between rainfall, runoff, soil moisture and ground water level are vital for an effective and sustainable water resources planning and management activities. But so far there are no hydrological studies in Meja watershed that aims to understand the watershed characteristics and runoff generation processes. This study was conducted to understand runoff generation processes and model rainfall runoff relationship in Meja watershed having a drainage area of 96.6 km2. The watershed is one of the three research sites of International Water Management Institute (IWMI) developed in early 2010 in the upper Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia. In the study, primary data of soil moisture, shallow ground water level, rainfall and runoff were collected from the hydrological monitoring network in the watershed. Hydrological models like HBV and RRL SMAR were configured to understand the relationship between rainfall and runoff in the watershed. Relationships between rainfall, soil moisture, shallow ground water level and discharge were developed to understand runoff generation processes in the watershed. According to one year and three months data, there is no strong daily rainfall and runoff relationship (r2 <0.5) in Meja and Kolu which is nested sub-watershed; this may be due to abstractions such as irrigation and human interventions in the watershed. Ground water level and runoff has strong relationship (r2> 0.65) in monthly basis of Kolu nested sub-watershed but there is moderate relationship of rainfall and ground water level. There is strong linear relationship of rainfall and monthly averaged volumetric soil moisture in most layers of Meja and its nested sub-watersheds. The general relationship between runoff and monthly averaged soil moisture at different layers in Meja watershed and Kolu is strong and linear. Analysis of rainfall runoff models indicated better performance of HBV than RRL SMAR model.
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spelling CGSpace342642023-09-25T07:42:26Z Understanding runoff generation processes and rainfall runoff modelling in the Meja watershed of Ethiopia Berhane, S. Zemadim, Birhanu Haile, D. Melesse, A. water Understanding the basic relationships between rainfall, runoff, soil moisture and ground water level are vital for an effective and sustainable water resources planning and management activities. But so far there are no hydrological studies in Meja watershed that aims to understand the watershed characteristics and runoff generation processes. This study was conducted to understand runoff generation processes and model rainfall runoff relationship in Meja watershed having a drainage area of 96.6 km2. The watershed is one of the three research sites of International Water Management Institute (IWMI) developed in early 2010 in the upper Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia. In the study, primary data of soil moisture, shallow ground water level, rainfall and runoff were collected from the hydrological monitoring network in the watershed. Hydrological models like HBV and RRL SMAR were configured to understand the relationship between rainfall and runoff in the watershed. Relationships between rainfall, soil moisture, shallow ground water level and discharge were developed to understand runoff generation processes in the watershed. According to one year and three months data, there is no strong daily rainfall and runoff relationship (r2 <0.5) in Meja and Kolu which is nested sub-watershed; this may be due to abstractions such as irrigation and human interventions in the watershed. Ground water level and runoff has strong relationship (r2> 0.65) in monthly basis of Kolu nested sub-watershed but there is moderate relationship of rainfall and ground water level. There is strong linear relationship of rainfall and monthly averaged volumetric soil moisture in most layers of Meja and its nested sub-watersheds. The general relationship between runoff and monthly averaged soil moisture at different layers in Meja watershed and Kolu is strong and linear. Analysis of rainfall runoff models indicated better performance of HBV than RRL SMAR model. 2013-11-01 2013-12-14T15:02:40Z 2013-12-14T15:02:40Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34264 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33929 Open Access application/pdf International Livestock Research Institute Berhane, S., Zemadim, B., Haile, D. and Melesse, A. 2013. Understanding runoff generation processes and rainfall runoff modelling in the Meja watershed of Ethiopia. IN: Wolde, M. (ed). 2013, Rainwater management for resilient livelihoods in Ethiopia: Proceedings of the Nile Basin Development Challenge Science Meeting, Addis Ababa, 9–10 July 2013. NBDC Technical Report 5. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.
spellingShingle water
Berhane, S.
Zemadim, Birhanu
Haile, D.
Melesse, A.
Understanding runoff generation processes and rainfall runoff modelling in the Meja watershed of Ethiopia
title Understanding runoff generation processes and rainfall runoff modelling in the Meja watershed of Ethiopia
title_full Understanding runoff generation processes and rainfall runoff modelling in the Meja watershed of Ethiopia
title_fullStr Understanding runoff generation processes and rainfall runoff modelling in the Meja watershed of Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Understanding runoff generation processes and rainfall runoff modelling in the Meja watershed of Ethiopia
title_short Understanding runoff generation processes and rainfall runoff modelling in the Meja watershed of Ethiopia
title_sort understanding runoff generation processes and rainfall runoff modelling in the meja watershed of ethiopia
topic water
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34264
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