Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SOS-WATER (Water Resources System Safe Operating Space in a Changing Climate and Society)
Período documentado: 2022-10-01 hasta 2024-03-31
Significant steps have been taken to improve the spatial resolution of the PCR-GLOBWB and CWatM water system models. These improvements include computer coding of solutions to handle finer scales, better representation of biophysical processes and human-water interactions, and refined model input data. Significant progress has also been made in biodiversity modelling, including the creation of species occurrence and physical parameter datasets for over 1400 fish species in the four case study basins, and the automation of the methods required to produce the results. In addition, the hydro-economic model for the Jucar basin was improved by incorporating crop yield response to water deficits and the impact of rising temperatures on crop water to estimate the requirements for the economic impact of irrigation demand.
An inventory of relevant EO products was completed, which served for identifying project-relevant EO data gaps. These gaps were addressed by improving or developing novel EO applications for the Integrated Water Modelling System (IWMS). An exhaustive list of water indicators was compiled and compared against the issues and characteristics of the different case studies. Using preliminary model outputs, indicators relevant to the Jucar case study were calculated and used for a preliminary SOS evaluation in the Jucar basin under 105 designed climate scenarios, and the impact of implementing an irrigation efficiency improvement was evaluated. More indicators, scenarios, and management pathways will be included for the final evaluation of the Jucar basin and the other case studies.
SOS-Water created a novel comprehensive database of aquatic species for the case studies basins, which will be publicly available, including the workflow and source code. Significant improvements were made to widely used, openly accessible Water System Models (WSMs) for a better representation of the water cycle and its mutual interaction with human activities. Modelling improvements are supported by novel EO applications developed for calibration and benchmarking.
Additionally, within the Danube case study, a permanent collaboration with other European and national projects was initiated to promote the exchange of modelling tools and results, enhance analytical capacity, and seek synergies that could bring benefits beyond the objectives of the single projects.