In collaboration with Iranian Watershed Management Association

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources-Environment, Ardabil Unit, Islamic Azad University, Iran‎

2 Assisstant Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute, Iran

Abstract

Lack of hydrometric data is the main issue for research and executive plans. In the present study in order to solve this issue, the capability of SWAT model has been studied in terms of daily discharge simulation in un-gauged watersheds. This model can simulate six hydrological and biological processes such as daily discharge, daily sediment, yearly and monthly water balance, water quality, agricultural products and estimation of vegetative cover for different animal grazing management systems. Simulation has been done for both gauged and un-gauged basins in Kasilian catchment for two time periods as calibration and validation of model. Calibration has been done using data derived from 4 years recording data (1987-1981) while validation has been done using 6 years data (1981-1986). Results show that, ABF, CN2 and REVAPC parameters are most sensitive and also Z and T-Laps parameters are low sensitive among other parameters. The model simulated runoff reasonable with r2=0.69, PBIAS=-2.5, and NS=0.72, whereas, the validation of model for the same data showed that r2=0.57, PBIAS=4.3, and NS=-0.54, which indicates that the performance this model is not quite valid for low stream flows because of sensitivity of hydrological parameters. The new version of SWAT model, modified during 2000 to 2005, has a capability in using GIS, thus it can be used in the same study area.

Keywords