Hydrological simulation with SWAT and VIC Models in the Verde River Watershed, Minas Gerais

  • Lívia Alves Alvarenga Departamento de Recursos Hídricos e Saneamento. Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Caixa Postal 3037, CEP: 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
  • Vinícius Siqueira Oliveira Carvalho Departamento de Recursos Hídricos. Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Saturnino de Brito, n° 224, CEP: 13083-889, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
  • Vinícius Augusto de Oliveira Departamento de Recursos Hídricos e Saneamento. Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Caixa Postal 3037, CEP: 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
  • Carlos Rogério de Mello Departamento de Recursos Hídricos e Saneamento. Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Caixa Postal 3037, CEP: 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
  • Alberto Colombo Departamento de Recursos Hídricos e Saneamento. Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Caixa Postal 3037, CEP: 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
  • Javier Tomasella Coordenação Geral de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento. Centro Nacional de Monitoramento e Alertas de Desastres Naturais (Cemaden). Rodovia Presidente Dutra, Km 40, SP-RJ, CEP: 12630-000, Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil.
  • Pâmela Aparecida Melo Departamento de Recursos Hídricos e Saneamento. Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Caixa Postal 3037, CEP: 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4136/ambi-agua.2492
Keywords: hydrological modeling, performance evaluation, streamflow forecasts, SWAT model, VIC model.

Abstract

Successful streamflow forecasts depend on an adequate performance evaluation of the hydrological model. In this study, the hydrological responses were compared using two hydrological models, physic-based and semi-distributed, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC), using input data from the Verde River Watershed, located in the Minas Gerais state in southern Brazil. This is a study of one of the most important headwater watershed regions of Brazil (Mantiqueira Range). Both models were suitable for streamflow simulation, with values of R2 (determination coefficient) and NSE (Nash-Sutcliffe) higher than 0.8, NSELog higher than 0.35 (Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency of the logarithmic values of discharge) and PBIAS (percentage deviation) less than 25%. The integration of SWAT and VIC models can be useful in different water-resource assessment studies. Therefore, based upon this study further investigations should be conducted using various hydrological models and climate, land-use and land-cover changes scenarios in the region.


Published
06/07/2020
Issue
Vol. 15 No. 4 (2020)
Section
Papers

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