SWAT-modelling: impact of land use and climate change in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso

Objectives

The main goal of the modelling study is to test the ecohydrological process-based model SWAT in data-sparse areas of the Cerrado. For performance testing of SWAT, different input data (satellite derived precipitation data vs. measured) and infiltration approaches in the upper São Lourenço catchment were considered.

In order to provide insight into how land use change and climate change impact the water balance (disrupt the water cycle) the specific objectives are the following:

(1)   to test the applicability of the SWAT model in a savannah watershed of Brazil,

(2)   to test different weather input data and infiltration methods for SWAT modelling,

However, assuming a satisfactory functioning model, SWAT is applied for scenario simulations on land use change and climate change. Therefore, it is intended to:

(3)   explore the impacts of land use changes (LUC) on discharge (Q), evapotranspiration (ET) and soil water storage (SW), and

(4)   to simulate the impacts of climate change (CC) on primary water components (Q, ET, SW) of the water balance.