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Estimation of groundwater recharge using a GIS-based distributed water balance model in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Estimation de la recharge des eaux souterraines par l’utilisation d’un modèle de bilan hydrologique basé sur un SIG à Dire Dawa, Ethiopie

Abschätzung der Grundwasserneubildung durch ein GIS basiertes Wasserbilanzierungs-Modell für das Dire-Dawa Gebiet, Äthiopien

Estimación de la recarga de aguas subterráneas utilizando un modelo de balance hídrico distribuido basado en un GIS en Dire Dawa, Etiopía

Estimação da recarga de águas subterrâneas utilizando um SIG baseado em modelo de distribuição de balanço hídrico em Dire Dawa, Etiópia

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Abstract

Sustainable groundwater management requires knowledge of recharge. Recharge is also an important parameter in groundwater flow and transport models. Spatial variation in recharge due to distributed land-us.e, soil texture, topography, groundwater level, and hydrometeorological conditions should be accounted for in recharge estimation. However, conventional point-estimates of recharge are not easily extrapolated or regionalized. In this study, a spatially distributed water balance model WetSpass was used to simulate long-term average recharge using land-use, soil texture, topography, and hydrometeorological parameters in Dire Dawa, a semiarid region of Ethiopia. WetSpass is a physically based methodology for estimation of the long-term average spatial distribution of surface runoff, actual evapotranspiration, and groundwater recharge. The long-term temporal and spatial average annual rainfall of 626 mm was distributed as: surface runoff of 126 mm (20%), evapotranspiration of 468 mm (75%), and recharge of 28 mm (5%). This recharge corresponds to 817 l/s for the 920.12 km2 study area, which is less than the often-assumed 1,000 l/s recharge for the Dire Dawa groundwater catchment.

Résumé

La gestion durable des eaux souterraines nécessite une bonne connaissance de la recharge. La recharge est également un paramètre important dans des modèles d’écoulement et de transport des eaux souterraines. La variation spatiale de la recharge liée à la répartition de l’occupation des sols, à la texture du sol, à la topographie, au niveau piézométrique, et aux conditions hydrométéorologiques doit être prise en compte dans l’estimation de cette infiltration efficace. Cependant, les estimations ponctuelles de la recharge par méthodes conventionnelles ne sont pas facilement extrapolables ni régionalisables. Dans cette étude, le modèle de distribution spatialisée du bilan hydrologique WetSpass a été utilisé pour simuler à long terme la recharge moyenne en utilisant les paramètres occupation des sols, texture des sols, topographie, et paramètres hydrométéorologiques dans la région de Dire Dawa, une région semi aride de l’Ethiopie. WetSpass est une méthode physique basée sur l’évaluation de la distribution spatiale moyenne à long terme du ruissellement, de l’évapotranspiration actuelle, et de la recharge des eaux souterraines. La moyenne pluviométrique annuelle temporelle et spatiale sur le long terme long terme de 626 millimètres se répartit ainsi: écoulement de surface (ou ruissellement) 126 millimètres (20%), évapotranspiration 468 millimètres (75%), et infiltration efficace 28 millimètres (5%). Cette infiltration efficace correspond à 817 l/s pour une superficie du secteur d’étude de 920.12 km2, ce qui est inférieur à celle classiquement proposée pour les eaux souterraines de Dire Dawa c’est-à-dire 1000 l/s.

Zusammenfassung

Ein nachhaltiges Grundwasser-Management erfordert Kenntnisse zur Grundwasserneubildung. Die Neubildung ist ebenso ein wichtiger Parameter für die Strömungs- und Transportmodellierung. Für die Abschätzung der Neubildung müssen räumliche Verteilungen von Landnutzung, Bodentextur, Topographie, Grundwasserspiegel und meteorologischen Bedingungen berücksichtigt werden. Allerdings können die für einen bestimmten Punkt abgeschätzten Neubildungsraten nicht ohne weiteres auf eine Fläche extrapoliert werden. Daher wurde in dieser Studie das Wasserbilanzmodell WetSpass verwendet, mit dem eine räumliche Verteilung der Landnutzung, der Bodentextur, der Topographie und meteorologischer Parameter für das semiaride Untersuchungsgebiet Dire-Dawa in Äthiopien über einen längeren Zeitraum simuliert wurde. WetSpass ist ein physikalisch basiertes Modell für die Schätzung von Mittelwerten über längere Zeiträume für die Verteilung von oberirdischem Abfluss, aktueller Verdunstung und Grundwasserneubildung. Der mittlere Jahresniederschlag von 626 mm, der aus Langzeitmessungen ermittelt wurde, wurde vom Modell wie folgt verteilt: ein oberirdischer Abfluss von 126 mm (20%), eine Evapotranspiration von 468 mm (75%) und eine Neubildung von 28 mm (5%). Diese Neubildung entspricht 817 l/s für das 920.12 km2 große Einzugsgebiet. Der Wert liegt damit unter der für das Dire-Dawa-Einzugsgebiet bisher angenommenen Grundwasserneubildungsrate von 1000 l/s.

Resumen

La gestión sustentable de las aguas subterráneas requiere el conocimiento de la recarga. La recarga también es un parámetro importante en los modelos de flujo y transporte del agua subterránea. Las variaciones espaciales en la recarga debido a la distribución del uso de la tierra, textura del suelo, topografía, niveles de aguas subterráneas y condiciones hidrometeorológicas deben ser tenidas en cuenta para la estimación de la recarga. Sin embargo, las estimaciones puntuales convencionales de recarga no son fácilmente extrapolables o regionalizables. En este estudio, se usó el modelo WetSpass de balance hídrico espacialmente distribuido para simular la recarga promedio a largo plazo utilizando el uso de la tierra, textura del suelo, topografía y parámetros hidrometeorológicos en Dire Dawa, una región semiárida de Etiopia. WetSpass es una metodología de bases físicas para la estimación de la distribución espacial promedio a largo plazo del escurrimiento superficial, la evapotranspiración real y la recarga de aguas subterráneas. El promedio a largo plazo espacial y temporal de la precipitación anual de 626 mm fue distribuida como: un escurrimiento superficial de 126 mm (20%), una evapotranspiración de 468 mm (75%) y una recarga de 28 mm (5%). Esta recarga corresponde a 817 l/s para el área de estudio de 920.12 km2, la cual es menor que la recarga habitual supuesta que es de 1000 l/s para la cuenca de aguas subterráneas del Dire Dawa.

摘要

地下水可持续管理需了解补给量。补给量也是地下水径流和运移模型中的一个重要参数。补给量估算时, 需考虑分布式土地利用、土质、地形、地下水位以及水文气象条件所造成的补给的空间变异。但传统的补给量点估算难以外推或推广到区域尺度。本研究应用考虑土地利用类型、土质、地形和水文气象参数的空间分布式水量均衡模型WetSpass, 模拟埃塞俄比亚半干旱地区德雷达瓦的长期平均补给量。WetSpass系基于物理机制, 用于评价长期平均空间分布式地表径流、实际蒸散发量和地下水补给量。626 mm的长期平均年降雨量在时空上的分配如下 : 地表径流126 mm (20%), 蒸散发量468 mm (75%), 补给量28 mm (5%) 。若分布在研究区920.12 km2面积上, 则补给量为817 l / s, 小于通常所认为的1000 l / s。

Resumo

A gestão sustentável das águas subterrâneas exige conhecimentos sobre a recarga. A recarga é também um parâmetro importante em modelos de fluxo e transporte de água subterrânea. Variações espaciais da recarga, devido a factores como o uso do solo, textura do solo, topografia, nível das águas subterrâneas e condições hidrometeorológicas devem ser contabilizadas no cálculo da recarga. No entanto, estimativas convencionais de pontos de recarga não são facilmente extrapolados ou regionalizáveis. Neste estudo foi usado um modelo WetSpass de distribuição espacial de balanço hídrico para simular a recarga média a longo prazo com base no uso do solo, textura do solo, topografia, e parâmetros hidrometeorológicos em Dire Dawa, uma região semi-árida da Etiópia. WetSpass é uma metodologia física para estimação da distribuição espacial média a longo prazo do escoamento superficial, da evapotranspiração real e da recarga de aquíferos. A precipitação média anual e espacial de 626 mm foi distribuída como: escoamento superficial de 126 mm (20%), evapotranspiração de 468 mm (75%) e recarga de 28 mm (5%). Isto corresponde a uma recarga de 817 l/s para os 920.12 km2 da área em estudo, a qual é menor do que a assumida (1000 l/s) para a recarga subterrânea da bacia de Dire Dawa.

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Acknowledgements

The first author is an Alexander von Humboldt foundation research fellow at the Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany). The foundation is, therefore, highly acknowledged. Dire Dawa Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, Ethiopian Water Works Design and Supervision Enterprise, Harar Water Supply Project, National Meteorological Services Agency, and Mr. Million Solomon are acknowledged for the data used in this study. Prof. O. Batelaan for the provision of WetSpass program.

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Correspondence to Ketema Tilahun.

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Tilahun, K., Merkel, B.J. Estimation of groundwater recharge using a GIS-based distributed water balance model in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Hydrogeol J 17, 1443–1457 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-009-0455-x

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