Flow modelling in a high mountain valley equipped with hydropower plants: Rio Zongo Valley, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Abstract

Abstract:Water management modelling of a hydroelectric system in a tropical high mountain context is presented. The study zone and the hydraulic network are described and the water management strategy analysed. Three different models are combined to describe the complexity of the specific hydrometeorological context: the spatial distribution of the climatic data over the river basin, the surface energy balance influence on the runoff production of a river basin and the surface flow transfer modelling through a hydraulic system. The atmospheric forcing spatial distribution is derived from the available climatic data records. The runoff production on the catchment's slopes is simulated using the land-surface scheme ISBA. The system dynamics tool Vensim  is used to simulate the hydraulic dynamics in the hydropower plants system. A short description of the three modelling methods is given, followed by the description of the coupled model construction. The simulation results of the ISBA land-surface scheme on both a non-glacial an a glacial sub-basin during a 17 month period are presented. After pointing out the necessity of the water management model to simulate the river discharge at the outlet of the basin, the main reservoirs, simulated water level variations are shown.

Rapid decline of snow and ice in the tropical Andes – Impacts, uncertainties and challenges ahead

“…For instance, modeling and analysis of future water scarcity in Andean regions affected by shrinking glaciers need to consider human variables to realistically simulate future paths of key drivers and relevant factors that determine water use, allocation and regulations (e.g. Caballero et al, 2004;Escurra et al, 2014;Nazemi and Wheater, 2015). In the framework of efforts by the IPCC, researchers in recent years have begun to develop a new scenario framework with a more comprehensive set of global and regional scenarios (Moss et al, 2010;Nakicenovic et al, 2014).…”

Hydrochemical evaluation of changing glacier meltwater contribution to stream discharge: Callejon de Huaylas, Peru / Evaluation hydrochimique de la contribution évolutive de la fonte glaciaire à l'écoulement fluvial: Callejon de Huaylas, Pérou

“…Where data have been recovered in Peru and Bolivia, analyses indicate that glacier meltwater augments stream discharge, and diminishes the contrasts between tropical wet and dry seasons (Tamayo, 1996;Kaser et al, 2003;Mark & Seltzer, 2003). In another approach, integrated modelling combining climatic, hydrological, and hydraulic parameters has been applied to simulate runoff from glacierized and nonglacierized sub-basins of a 95-km 2 Andean watershed (Caballero et al, 2004). This approach can provide practical guidance for estimating flow to hydroelectric systems, while relying on critical assumptions and fine-tuning parameterizations using site-specific discharge records.…”

Relationship between precipitation phase and air temperature: comparison between the Bolivian Andes and the Swiss Alps / Relation entre phase de précipitation et température de l'air: comparaison entre les Andes Boliviennes et les Alpes Suisses

“…In the tropical Andes Cordillera, Caballero et al (2004), using the ISBA scheme (Boone & Etchevers, 2001), chose an air temperature threshold of -1.5°C to separate snowfall and rainfall events. This threshold was based on the results obtained during a period from 1998 to 2000 by Leblanc (2001) in his MSc study.…”