Watershed Hydrology: Scientific Advances and Environmental Assessments

Abstract

The watershed is a fundamental concept in hydrology and is the basis for understanding hydrologic processes and for the planning and management of water resources. Storage and movement of water at a watershed scale is complicated due to the coupled processes which act over multiple spatial and temporal scales. In addition, climate change and human activities increase the complexity of these processes driving hydrologic change. Scientific advances in the field of watershed hydrology is now making use of the latest methods and technologies to achieve responsible management of water resources to meet the needs of rising populations and the protection of important ecosystems. The selected papers cover a wide range of issues that are relevant to watershed hydrology and have motivated model development, application, parameterization, uncertainty estimation, environment assessment, and management. Continued technological advances grounded in modern environmental science are necessary to meet these challenges. This will require a greater emphasis on disciplinary collaboration and integrated approaches to problem solving founded on science-driven innovations in technology, socio-economics, and public policy.

Using a Hierarchical Approach to Calibrate SWAT and Predict the Semi-Arid Hydrologic Regime of Northeastern Brazil

“…Accurate assessment of streamflow at the watershed scale is of vital importance since the current seasonal and interannual discharge of the Paraguaçu River has not been able to meet the existing demand for water [1]. In this context, quantitative understanding of hydrological parameters (rainfall and streamflow) and their spatial and temporal variability are essential for an efficient planning and management of local water resources [2].…”

Morphology and Morphometry Characteristic of Raya Watershed

“…A watershed is a land area topographically bounded by mountain ridges that collect and store rainwater and then channel it to the sea via the main river (Asdak, 2023;Fauzi et al, 2023). Watersheds are a fundamental concept in hydrology (Yu & Duffy, 2018), while hydrology is the scientific investigation of water's movement, distribution, and quality across the Earth. It encompasses the study of water in its different forms, including precipitation (such as rain, snow, and sleet), runoff, infiltration into the soil, evaporation, and plant transpiration.…”

“…Hydrology delves into the hydrological cycle, which illustrates the continuous circulation of water through the atmosphere, oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater systems (Soewarno, 1995;Sosrodarsono, 2003;Davie, 2019). In other words, watersheds serve as the framework for comprehending hydrologic processes and guiding the planning and management of water resources (Yu & Duffy, 2018;Cao et al, 2020).…”

“…Furthermore, climate change and human activities contribute to the intricate nature of these processes, driving hydrological changes (Wu et al, 2020;Yang et al, 2021). Recent scientific advancements in watershed hydrology leverage cutting-edge methods and technologies to facilitate responsible water resource management, aiming to address the demands of growing populations and safeguard critical ecosystems (Yu & Duffy, 2018;Tiwari, 2023). Shofwan and Angriani (2022) stated that the morphological characteristics of watersheds are divided into topography, soil type, and land use.…”

Monitoring the extent and impacts of watershed urban development in the Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya, using a combination of population dynamics, remote sensing and GIS techniques

“…Watersheds are also commonly known as basins or catchment areas (BRUTSAERT, 2005). The interactions of geomorphological elements contribute to the flow of water in a watershed (YU & DUFFY, 2018).…”