Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Assessing the Suitability of the SWAT Model for Hydro-Meteorological Analysis in the Lower Gangetic Floodplain Region of India

Version 1 : Received: 23 January 2024 / Approved: 24 January 2024 / Online: 24 January 2024 (21:12:08 CET)

How to cite: Pu, J. H.; Shivashankar, M.; Kundu, M. Assessing the Suitability of the SWAT Model for Hydro-Meteorological Analysis in the Lower Gangetic Floodplain Region of India. Preprints 2024, 2024011731. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.1731.v1 Pu, J. H.; Shivashankar, M.; Kundu, M. Assessing the Suitability of the SWAT Model for Hydro-Meteorological Analysis in the Lower Gangetic Floodplain Region of India. Preprints 2024, 2024011731. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.1731.v1

Abstract

In Tropical Monsoon climates, precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration, leading to increased surface runoff, especially in floodplain regions. The Bhagirathi-Hooghly River in India is the focus of the study, which analyses hydrology, sediment yield, and water balance in this floodplain area. This investigation employs the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model within the ArcGIS environment, using remote sensing data. The study area is divided into 4 sub-basins and 40 Hydrological Response Units (HRUs), with a focus on Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) parameters, soil attributes, and slope characteristics. Calibration (1998-2010) and validation (2011-2018) of river discharge and sediment yield are performed using the SUFI-2 algorithm within SWAT-CUP. The calibration process shows a strong correlation between observed and simulated data points, indicating the model's accuracy. The study reveals a pattern of early-year evapotranspiration followed by increasing rainfall during the monsoon season, leading to heightened surface runoff and sediment yield. Excessive rainfall, therefore, emerges as a pivotal driver of flood incidences within the floodplain. The insights derived from the SWAT model's floodplain data have the potential to inform flood control and sedimentation mitigation strategies. The assimilation of this data can empower local stakeholders and contribute to sustainable livelihoods and improved living conditions, offering guidance for future governmental policies.

Keywords

SWAT model; sensitivity analysis; SUFI-2 algorithm; river discharge; sediment yield

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Water Science and Technology

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