The rainfall-runoff model for the Carpathian flysch catchment using the SWAT+ hydrological software

Abstract

Aim of the study: The goal of this study was to apply SWAT+ tools to estimate the water shortage in the Smugawka catchment. Material and methods: The use of the area was documented in the form of an orthophotomap with GIS layers superimposed, which was provided by CORINE Land Cover 2018. A soil and agricultural map, supplemented with lithological content from a detailed geological map, was used as the input layer for QGIS ver. 3.16. In the next stage, multiannual meteorological data (1991–2020) were added to the SWAT+ model, which included: minimum and maximum daily air temperature, daily rainfall, average daily radiation and average daily wind speed. Full integration of the SWAT+ model with QGIS facilitates the procedure of iterative generation and modification of the model input parameters. The calculation of continuous simulations for average long periods of time is presented in the manuscript. Results and conclusions: The application of GIS-based approaches and modeling techniques are crucial in the quest for optimal methods for calculating the water balance today. Our findings also contribute to a better understanding of the hydrological processes at work in the flysch catchment.

Keywords

• water balance
• soil water retention
• flysch catchment
• swat+ model