Objetivo The essential aim is to evaluate the feasibility of usingsimulation models to predict likely modifications to recharge ofgroundwater aquifers induced by climate change.The first phase of the project is a validation of models used topredict the transport of water in the soil to a groundwater tableunder the combined effect of real climatic inputs and plantgrowth on existing field and climatological data. In the secondphase the models will be used with climate data provided byGlobal Circulation Models for different scenarios.Within the first phase two main approaches will be developed:At the local scale: Development of asimulation procedure to model the effect of change of climaticinputs on thegrowth and the water balance of a cropped soil; a sensitivityanalysis to focus on crucial model parameters and model input;and finally the validation of the model for different sitesinstrumented to monitor continuously the transport of water inthe unsaturated zone of the soil.At the large scale: A distributed model will be applied to thesimulation of runoff and infiltration processes at the annual orseasonal timescale. This will done for one or two of theexperimental sites equipped and monitored to obtain spatialinformation. The major aim of the proposed analysis will be theevaluation of the sensibility for the assesment of groundwaterrecharge to the influence of subsurface flow at the scale of awatershed, taking into account the various sources ofcontribution. This will be done through the use of the EuropeanModel SHE, coupled with a Geographic Information System (GIS) tosupport the large amount of data requested by a distributed modelof natural systems.The second step will be to use the models in connection withclimatic data provided by Global Circulation Models for differentscenarios interms of CO2, temperature, radiation and rainfall changes.Two different approaches will be used: 1)a local, deterministic approach of the plant response to climatechange (CO2, air temperature, rainfall) coupled with a model forunsaturated water transport in soil, and 2)a "hydrologically oriented" GIS model at the scale of awatershed, where climatic changes will be essentially affectingthe evapotranspiration, simulated through application of thePenman-Monteith equation.Combined with these two different approaches, and within each, ahigh priority will be given to study of methodological aspects -in terms of mathematics - such as numerical model development;sensitivity analysis; parameter estimation by the use of adjointmodels; and optimal methods of comparing model output with data. Ámbito científico natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesphysical geographycartographygeographic information systemsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologydrainage basinsnatural sciencesmathematicsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes Programa(s) FP3-ENV 1C - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the environment, 1990-1994 Tema(s) 0103 - Climate change impacts Convocatoria de propuestas Data not available Régimen de financiación CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinador UNIVERSITE JOSEPH FOURIER - GRENOBLE 1 Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Rue de la Piscine 1023, Domaine Universitaire 38041 GRENOBLE Francia Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Participantes (4) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo Agricultural University of Athens Grecia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 78,Iera Odos 11855 Athens Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS España Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 10,Avenida Reina Mercedes 10 41012 SEVILLA Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Bélgica Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 102,Vital Decosterstraat 102 3000 Leuven Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Università degli Studi di Genova Italia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Via Montallegro 1 16145 Genova Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos