Flow duration curve for evaluating ecosystem flow regulating functions in the Zambezi River Basin [Africa].

Wetlands and forests have strong effects on hydrological processes by changing the rate of evaporation, transpiration, and flow routing in a basin, which affects basin water management such as dam operations. This study aims to assess the flow regulating functions of wetlands and forests using a flo...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xueliang Cai, McCartney, Matthew P., Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Format: Conference Paper
Language:Inglés
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38346
_version_ 1855537886332452864
author Xueliang Cai
McCartney, Matthew P.
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
author_browse McCartney, Matthew P.
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Xueliang Cai
author_facet Xueliang Cai
McCartney, Matthew P.
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
author_sort Xueliang Cai
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Wetlands and forests have strong effects on hydrological processes by changing the rate of evaporation, transpiration, and flow routing in a basin, which affects basin water management such as dam operations. This study aims to assess the flow regulating functions of wetlands and forests using a flow duration curve (FDC) approach. We firstly identify wetlands and forests which are gauged both upstream and downstream. Reference conditions were then established using nearby sub-watersheds that contain few/no wetlands/forests. By transferring reference flows to the target sites and comparing the FDCs for with and without wetland/forest conditions we then assess the hydrological impacts on flood attenuation and base flow maintenance. Results of a floodplain wetland suggest that it decrease flood flows and increase low flows. The extent of this function could be quantified which gives useful indications for water resources planning and management.
format Conference Paper
id CGSpace38346
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2012
publishDateRange 2012
publishDateSort 2012
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace383462023-09-23T17:51:47Z Flow duration curve for evaluating ecosystem flow regulating functions in the Zambezi River Basin [Africa]. Xueliang Cai McCartney, Matthew P. Smakhtin, Vladimir U. water management ecosystems flow discharge flow regulation river basins wetlands forests hydrological-factors upstream downstream flooding land cover time series analysis Wetlands and forests have strong effects on hydrological processes by changing the rate of evaporation, transpiration, and flow routing in a basin, which affects basin water management such as dam operations. This study aims to assess the flow regulating functions of wetlands and forests using a flow duration curve (FDC) approach. We firstly identify wetlands and forests which are gauged both upstream and downstream. Reference conditions were then established using nearby sub-watersheds that contain few/no wetlands/forests. By transferring reference flows to the target sites and comparing the FDCs for with and without wetland/forest conditions we then assess the hydrological impacts on flood attenuation and base flow maintenance. Results of a floodplain wetland suggest that it decrease flood flows and increase low flows. The extent of this function could be quantified which gives useful indications for water resources planning and management. 2012 2014-06-13T11:41:27Z 2014-06-13T11:41:27Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38346 en Open Access Cai, Xueliang; McCartney, Matthew; Smakhtin, Vladimir. 2012. Flow duration curve for evaluating ecosystem flow regulating functions in the Zambezi River Basin [Africa]. Paper presented at the 16th SANCIAHS National Hydrology Symposium, Pretoria, South Africa, 1-3 October 2012. 10p.
spellingShingle water management
ecosystems
flow discharge
flow regulation
river basins
wetlands
forests
hydrological-factors
upstream
downstream
flooding
land cover
time series analysis
Xueliang Cai
McCartney, Matthew P.
Smakhtin, Vladimir U.
Flow duration curve for evaluating ecosystem flow regulating functions in the Zambezi River Basin [Africa].
title Flow duration curve for evaluating ecosystem flow regulating functions in the Zambezi River Basin [Africa].
title_full Flow duration curve for evaluating ecosystem flow regulating functions in the Zambezi River Basin [Africa].
title_fullStr Flow duration curve for evaluating ecosystem flow regulating functions in the Zambezi River Basin [Africa].
title_full_unstemmed Flow duration curve for evaluating ecosystem flow regulating functions in the Zambezi River Basin [Africa].
title_short Flow duration curve for evaluating ecosystem flow regulating functions in the Zambezi River Basin [Africa].
title_sort flow duration curve for evaluating ecosystem flow regulating functions in the zambezi river basin africa
topic water management
ecosystems
flow discharge
flow regulation
river basins
wetlands
forests
hydrological-factors
upstream
downstream
flooding
land cover
time series analysis
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38346
work_keys_str_mv AT xueliangcai flowdurationcurveforevaluatingecosystemflowregulatingfunctionsinthezambeziriverbasinafrica
AT mccartneymatthewp flowdurationcurveforevaluatingecosystemflowregulatingfunctionsinthezambeziriverbasinafrica
AT smakhtinvladimiru flowdurationcurveforevaluatingecosystemflowregulatingfunctionsinthezambeziriverbasinafrica