Faculty Publications

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Quantifying aquifer properties and freshwater resource in coastal barriers: A hydrogeophysical approach applied at Sasihithlu (Karnataka state, India)
(2012) Vouillamoz, J.-M.; Hoareau, J.; Grammare, M.; Caron, D.; Nandagiri, L.; Legchenko, A.
Many human communities living in coastal areas in Africa and Asia rely on thin freshwater lenses for their domestic supply. Population growth together with change in rainfall patterns and sea level will probably impact these vulnerable groundwater resources. Spatial knowledge of the aquifer properties and creation of a groundwater model are required for achieving a sustainable management of the resource. This paper presents a ready-to-use methodology for estimating the key aquifer properties and the freshwater resource based on the joint use of two non-invasive geophysical tools together with common hydrological measurements.

We applied the proposed methodology in an unconfined aquifer of a coastal sandy barrier in South-Western India. We jointly used magnetic resonance and transient electromagnetic soundings and we monitored rainfall, groundwater level and groundwater electrical conductivity. The combined interpretation of geophysical and hydrological results allowed estimating the aquifer properties and mapping the freshwater lens. Depending on the location and season, we estimate the freshwater reserve to range between 400 and 700 L m??'2 of surface area (A± 50%). We also estimate the recharge using time lapse geophysical measurements with hydrological monitoring. After a rainy event close to 100% of the rain is reaching the water table, but the net recharge at the end of the monsoon is less than 10% of the rain. Thus, we conclude that a change in rainfall patterns will probably not impact the groundwater resource since most of the rain water recharging the aquifer is flowing towards the sea and the river. However, a change in sea level will impact both the groundwater reserve and net recharge. © Author(s) 2012.
Evaluating uncertainty of the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model in the upper cauvery basin, Karnataka, India
(CAFET INNOVA Technical Society 1-2-18/103, Mohini Mansion, Gagan Mahal Road, Domalguda, Hyderabad 500029, 2015) Kumar Raju, B.C.; Nandagiri, L.
Quantification of uncertainties associated with hydrological models are essential for accurate assessment of water balance components and optimal planning and management of water and land resources at basin-scale. The present study was taken up to evaluate the uncertainties associated with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model using for two different techniques: i) Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) and ii) Sequential Uncertainty Fitting (SUFI-2) techniques. The study was carried out in the Upper Cauvery River basin (36,682 km2) located in the humid to sub-humid region of Karnataka State, India. The calibration of the model was carried out using the Nash – Sutcliffe (NS) coefficient as the objective function for both GLUE and SUFI-2 techniques. The P-factor was 67% and 71% of observed streamflow data bracketed by the 95% prediction uncertainty (95PPU) for GLUE and SUFI-2 respectively during calibration period and corresponding values of 54% and 61% during validation period. Overall results indicate the applicability of SWAT model with moderate levels of uncertainty in large basins located in the humid tropics. The calibrated SWAT model can be used for assessment of water balance components and land use management scenarios in the Upper Cauvery Basin. © 2015 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY. All rights reserved.
Assessment of variable source area hydrological models in humid tropical watersheds
(Taylor and Francis Ltd. michael.wagreich@univie.ac.at, 2018) Kumar Raju, B.C.K.; Nandagiri, L.
The objective of this study was to compare the performances of hydrological models that incorporate the Variable Source Area (VSA) mechanism of runoff generation with that of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), which uses the infiltration-excess mechanism. One of the VSA-based model used, SWAT–VSA, has been proposed as a re-conceptualization of the SWAT and uses a topography-based wetness index to identify source areas. In this study, the topography-based wetness index was replaced with a Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) derived from satellite imagery resulting in the SWAT–MNDWI model. Model performances were evaluated through their application in two humid tropical watersheds (Hemavathi–2974 km2; Harangi–538.8 km2) located in the Upper Cauvery River Basin, India. Using relevant data inputs, the three models were applied separately to both watersheds. Models were calibrated for the historical period 2000–2003 and validated for the period 2004–2006 using observed daily observed streamflow records at the watershed outlets. Overall, the SWAT–MNDWI model was the best one in simulating daily streamflow with Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.85, coefficient of determination of 0.88, percentage bias of 13.2% and root mean square error of 37.48 m3/s for the Hemavathi watershed and corresponding values of 0.88, 0.88, 1.09% and 16.67 m3/s for the Harangi watershed. The spatial patterns of surface runoff generation were similar for the SWAT–VSA and SWAT–MNDWI models, but completely different for the SWAT model. Overall results have demonstrated that models incorporating VSA hydrology, and in particular the proposed SWAT–MNDWI model, provide accurate and convenient tools for distributed hydrologic modelling in humid tropical watersheds. © 2017 International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research.

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