Water Budget for Lake Trafford, a Natural Subtropical Lake in South Florida

Journal Description

Water

Water is a peer-reviewed, open access journal on water science and technology, including the ecology and management of water resources, and is published semimonthly online by MDPI. Water collaborates with the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). In addition, the American Institute of Hydrology (AIH), The Polish Limnological Society (PLS) and Japanese Society of Physical Hydrology (JSPH) are affiliated with Water and their members receive a discount on the article processing charges.

Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Ei Compendex, GEOBASE, GeoRef, PubAg, AGRIS, CAPlus / SciFinder, Inspec, and other databases.
Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Water Resources) / CiteScore - Q1 (Water Science and Technology)
Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 16.5 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.9 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Companion journals for Water include: GeoHazards and Hydrobiology.

Impact Factor: 3.0 (2023); 5-Year Impact Factor: 3.3 (2023)

Imprint Information Journal Flyer Open Access ISSN: 2073-4441

Latest Articles

22 pages, 9251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Flux Patterns of Nutrient Concentrations and Total Suspended Solids in Western Carpathian Streamwithin Agricultural, Forest, and Grassland Landscapes

by Wiktor Halecki and Dawid Bedla

Water 2024, 16(14), 2052; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142052 (registering DOI) - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

The intricate processes of surface water erosion are vital for ecological systems and river-scale management; yet, understanding them comprehensively remains a challenge. Forested agricultural catchments, especially in the Carpathian region, face significant degradation, potentially leading to inorganic nutrient leaching and total suspended solid (TSS) flux. Continuous rainwater inundation of soils in river valleys exacerbates this issue. Utilizing innovative tools like SWAT+, studies have revealed higher concentrations of inorganic nutrients in main watercourses from flysch catchments, with agricultural use linked to N-NO₃⁻ concentrations and pasture use linked to anion P-PO₄³⁻. Maintaining detailed records is crucial for researchers comparing data. SWAT+ proves valuable for studying TSS washing out and inorganic nutrient leaching, informing collaborative watershed management policies involving stakeholders from agriculture, conservation, and water management sectors. The insights on nutrient leaching, particularly phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), are instrumental for shaping policies targeting nutrient pollution within pasture land use for EU agriculture. These findings can guide policy frameworks focused on sustainable practices, especially for eco-schemes, and encourage collaborative watershed management efforts. Full article

16 pages, 501 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Temperature on the Toxic Effects of Carbamazepine on the Copepod Tigriopus fulvus: A Transgenerational Full Life Cycle Study

by Isabella Parlapiano, Ermelinda Prato, Giuseppe Denti and Francesca Biandolino

Water 2024, 16(14), 2051; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142051 - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

Coastal areas are increasingly exposed to global warming and emerging contaminants from anthropogenic activities; however, the interactive effects of these stress factors in shaping the offspring’s vulnerability to them are poorly understood. The present study aimed to assess the influence of temperature on the toxicity of the pharmaceutical carbamazepine (CBZ) in the parental (F0) and in the first (F1) generation of Tigriopus fulvus, through a full life cycle study, measuring several biological parameters. At control temperature (20 °C), exposure to CBZ significantly inhibited larval development, especially in the F1 generation. In contrast, under warmer conditions (27 °C), even after exposure to CBZ, the development was stimulated, proving that temperature was the main factor influencing it. As regards the other investigated life traits (body length, sex ratio, and fecundity), both temperature and generation modulated toxic effects of CBZ, which is evidenced by the onset of higher alterations in F1 co-exposed copepods. Our findings suggest that temperature and contaminants could increase the long-term vulnerability to stressors of T. fulvus, potentially affecting the population structure over multiple generations of exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implementation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Marine Ecosystem Management, 3rd Edition)

19 pages, 950 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Hexavalent Chromium Adsorption Behavior on Conventional and Biodegradable Microplastics

by Zongzhi Fang, Zhenghua Wang, Han Tang and Andrew Hursthouse

Water 2024, 16(14), 2050; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142050 - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

Microplastics are omnipresent in aquatic environments and can act as vectors to carry other pollutants, modifying their pathway through the systems. In this study, the differences in the adsorption capacity and mechanism for Cr(VI) sorption with polyethylene (PE, a conventional microplastic) and polylactic acid (PLA, a biodegradable microplastic) were investigated via characterization of the MPs, the determination of kinetic behavior (pseudo-first- and second-order model, the Elovich model), and the degree of fit to Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal models; the adsorption behavior was also studied under different solution conditions. The results indicated that when the dose of MPs was 1 g/L, the adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) on MPs reached the highest value, the adsorption capacities were PLA(0.415 mg/g) > PE(0.345 mg/g). The adsorption of Cr(VI) on PE followed the Langmuir isotherm model, while PLA had a stronger fit with the Freundlich model. Sorption in both cases followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics model. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) on PLA (0.54 mg/g) is higher than that on PE (0.38 mg/g). In addition, PLA could reach adsorption equilibrium in about 8 h and can adsorb 72.3% of the total Cr(VI) within 4 h, while PE required 16 h to reach equilibrium, suggesting that PLA adsorbs at a significantly faster rate than PE. Thus, biodegradable MPs like PLA may serve as a superior carrier for Cr(VI) in aquatic environments. When the pH increased from 2 to 6, the adsorption of Cr(VI) by PE and PLA decreased from 0.49 mg/g and 0.52 mg/g to 0.27 mg/g and 0.26 mg/g, respectively. When the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate in the Cr(VI) solution was increased from nil to 300 mg/L, the adsorption of Cr(VI) by PE and PLA increased by 3.66 and 3.05 times, respectively. In addition, a higher temperature and the presence of Cu²⁺ and photoaging promoted the adsorption of Cr(VI) by MPs, while higher salinity inhibited the adsorption. The desorption efficiencies of Cr(VI) on MPs were PLA(57.8%) > PE(46.4%). The characterization results further confirmed that the adsorption mechanism could be attributed to electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and surface complexation. In sum, PLA could potentially serve as better vectors for Cr(VI) than PE, but the risk associated with PLA might be higher than that with PE. Full article

19 pages, 2643 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Grain Size on the Uniaxial Compressive Strength of Ice Forming with Different Wind Speeds in a Cold Laboratory

by Yujia Zhang, Zuoqin Qian, Weilong Huang, Xiaodong Chen, Zhen Zhang and Jie Ren

Water 2024, 16(14), 2049; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142049 - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

This study investigated the uniaxial compressive strength of distilled water ice prepared in a low-temperature laboratory at −30 °C at varying wind speeds of 0 m/s, 1 m/s, 2 m/s, 4 m/s, 6 m/s, and 8 m/s. The crystal structure and grain size of the ice were measured. The results indicated that, during the ice forming period, the higher the wind speed, the lower the grain size. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted parallel to the ice crystal long axis direction within a strain rate range of 10⁻⁶ s⁻¹ to 10⁻² s⁻¹. The experimental temperature was controlled at −10 °C. Stress–strain curves were generated, elucidating the mechanical properties and failure modes of the ice. The results suggest that the uniaxial compressive strength of ice is related to the strain rate by a power–law function and shows a linear correlation with −1/2 power of grain size. The results explain the physical fact that the strength of ice is higher when the ice is formed in low-temperature and high-wind-speed environments. Additionally, this highlights how wind speed influences ice strength by controlling grain size during ice forming. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cold Region Hydrology and Hydraulics)

18 pages, 18389 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantification Assessment of Winter Wheat Sensitivity under Different Drought Scenarios during Growth

by Shangming Jiang, Zheng Li, Hongwei Yuan, Juliang Jin, Chenguang Xiao and Yi Cui

Water 2024, 16(14), 2048; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142048 (registering DOI) - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

To effectively reveal the disaster-causing mechanism between water stress and yield loss under different drought combinations during multiple growth periods of winter wheat, based on biennial wheat drought experiments, a crop growth analysis method was used to quantitatively identify and assess wheat yield loss sensitivity. The results showed that there was a significant negative correlation between the total dry matter relative growth rate (RGR) of wheat and the daily average degree of drought stress. The average determination coefficients of logarithmic fitting for 2017 and 2018 were 0.7935 and 0.7683, respectively. Wheat dry matter accumulation differed under the different drought combination scenarios. The yield loss sensitivity response relationship between the decrease in the RGR of wheat dry matter (relative to no drought stress) and the daily average degree of drought stress could be quantitatively identified by an S-shaped curve, and the 2017 and 2018 average coefficients of determination R² were 0.859 and 0.849, respectively. Mild drought stress at the tillering stage stimulates adaptability and has little effect on yield. The soil water content (SWC) can be controlled to 65–75% of the field water holding capacity; the SWC at the jointing and booting stage can be controlled to be higher than the field water holding capacity of 55%. The SWC was maintained at a level higher than 75% of the field water holding capacity during the heading and flowering stages and the grain-filling and milky stages to achieve a harmonization of yields and water savings. In addition, during the production process, continuous severe drought during the jointing and booting stage and the heading and flowering stage should be avoided. This study elucidates the response relationship between drought intensity and drought-induced losses from the perspective of physical genesis, provides effective irrigation guidance for regional wheat planting, lays the foundation for the construction of quantitative agricultural drought loss risk curves, and provides technical support for predicting the trend of yield losses in wheat under different drought stresses. Full article

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14 pages, 6197 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on Impedance Spectrum-Based Detection of Water Holdup in Two-Phase Flow under Complex Salinity Conditions

by Linfeng Cheng, Shizhen Ke, Hongwei Shi, Yuhang Zhang, Hu Luo and Hao Hu

Water 2024, 16(14), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142047 - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

In industrial production and water resource management involving fluid flows, two-phase flow measurement in complex environments has always been a research hotspot. In this study, a broadband detection device (40–110 MHz) suitable for two-phase flow in pipes was designed in a laboratory environment, the impedance response of two-phase flow was investigated under different salinity conditions and flow patterns, and a new impedance dispersion model suitable for two-phase flow in pipes was built. The experimental results show that the new model can better describe the rules of impedance dispersion in two-phase flow and is universally applicable, and that the equivalent solution resistance and interfacial polarization frequency have a stable functional relationship with water holdup. Based on the static experimental results, water holdup evaluation models for four flow patterns were established, and the dynamic detection results were predicted. The prediction results show that the new method proposed herein is not affected by changes in salinity and flow pattern when the flow pattern is known, and that its accuracy can meet the production requirements. This study expands the application range of traditional single-frequency conductivity detection techniques and provides a new idea for the development and improvement of systems for online detection of water holdup in two-phase flow. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantifying Groundwater Flow and Solute Transport Processes through Modelling and Experiments)

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15 pages, 4822 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Deformation Behavior of Baffle Structures Impacted by Debris Flow Based on Physical Modelling

by Weizhi Chen, Bei Zhang, Na Xu and Yu Huang

Water 2024, 16(14), 2046; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142046 - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

The utilization of baffle structures as a highly effective strategy for mitigating debris flow has attracted significant scholarly attention in recent years. Although the predominant focus of existing research has been on augmenting the energy dissipation capabilities of baffle structures, their deformation behavior under impact load has not been extensively investigated. Addressing this research gap, the current study systematically designs a series of physical model experiments, incorporating variables such as baffle height, shape, and various combinations of baffle types to comprehensively analyze the deformation characteristics of baffles subjected to debris flow impact. The experimental results reveal that the deformation of baffle group structures demonstrates a marked non-uniform spatial distribution and exhibits a latency effect. Additionally, distinct baffle configurations show considerable variations in peak strain, suggesting that combining different baffle shapes can not only optimize energy dissipation but also enhance resistance to deformation. Moreover, the relationship between baffle height and the development of deformation in relation to energy dissipation capacity is inconsistent, indicating that deformation must be a key consideration in the design of baffle structures. Consequently, this paper advocates for the formulation of a deformation-based design strategy for baffle structures, with the findings presented herein providing a foundational reference for future studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flowing Mechanism of Debris Flow and Engineering Mitigation)

14 pages, 4940 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the Three Gorges Reservoir Operations on Hydraulic Characteristics in the Backwater Region: A Comprehensive 2D Modeling Study

by Yaqian Xu, Shengde Yu, Defu Liu, Jun Ma and Mingying Chuo

Water 2024, 16(14), 2045; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142045 - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

The Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), a landmark of human engineering, has significantly altered the hydrodynamics and ecology of its surrounding environment. Our research explores the hydrodynamic and ecological changes in the TGR, focusing on their implications for reservoir-induced water quality and water resource issues. We designed a 2D hydrodynamic and water quality model and implemented 15 operational scenarios with an advanced dynamic storage capacity method for the TGR during flood season, drawdown and impoundment periods. Our simulations well reproduced and predicted water levels, discharge rates, and thermal conditions of the TGR, providing critical insights. The dynamic storage capacity method significantly improved the precision of water level simulations. This approach achieved modeling errors below 0.2 m when compared to real measurements from seven stations. We performed a detailed analysis of the sensitive, sub-sensitive, and insensitive areas during three reservoir operation periods. The drawdown period showed the most extensive impact range (468 km river channel), while the impoundment period had the least impact range (76 km river channel). Furthermore, we quantified the delay of temperature waves during these periods, observing a maximum delay of approximately 120 km and a minimum delay of less than 10 km, which underscores the variability in hydrodynamic responses under different operational scenarios. Our findings reveal the complex sensitivities of the TGR to varied operational modes, aiding in the development of eutrophication and water resources control strategies. Our modeling application provides different operational scenarios and insights for ecological management strategies in large dam systems globally, informing future water resource management and policy-making, ensuring sustainable and effective management of large reservoir systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Effects of Natural Processes and Human Activities on the Water Environment in Watershed)

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12 pages, 558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of the Soil–Water Characteristic Curve from Index Properties for Sandy Soil in China

by Shijun Wang, Xing Guo, Feng You, Zhong Zhang, Tianlun Shen, Yuhui Chen and Qian Zhai

Water 2024, 16(14), 2044; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142044 - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

The soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) is an important parameter of unsaturated soil, and almost all the engineering characteristics of unsaturated soil are more or less related to the SWCC. The SWCC contains important information for geotechnical engineering, water engineering, hydrogeology modelling and climate modelling. It is noted that the experimental measurement of SWCC is costly and time consuming, which limits the implementation of principles of unsaturated soil mechanics in practical engineering. The indirect method, which estimates the SWCC from the index properties of soil, can provide the SWCC with the errors which are within tolerance in practical engineering. In addition, the indirect method can determine SWCC very fast and almost with no cost. In this paper, the domestic sandy soils are selected and the index properties of those sands are used to correlate the SWCC fitting parameters. Consequently, mathematical equations are proposed to estimate SWCC from index properties of domestic sands. The proposed models are trained from 44 sets of experimental data and verified with another independent 8 sets of experimental data from published literature. It is observed that the results from the proposed model agree well with the experimental data from literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Dynamics and Water Resource Management)

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23 pages, 8137 KiB

Open AccessArticle

SWAT-Driven Exploration of Runoff Dynamics in Hyper-Arid Region, Saudi Arabia: Implications for Hydrological Understanding

by Sajjad Hussain, Burhan Niyazi, Amro Mohamed Elfeki, Milad Masoud, Xiuquan Wang and Muhammad Awais

Water 2024, 16(14), 2043; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142043 - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

Hydrological modeling plays a vital role in water-resource management and climate-change studies in hyper-arid regions. In the present investigation, surface runoff was estimated by a Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for Wadi Al-Aqul, Saudi Arabia. The Sequential Uncertainty Fitting version 2 (SUFI-2) technique in SWAT-CUP was adopted for the sensitivity analysis, calibration, and validation of the SWAT model’s components. The observational runoff data were scarce and only available from 1979 to 1984; such data scarcity is a common problem in hyper-arid regions. The results show good agreement with the observed daily runoff, as indicated by a Pearson Correlation Coefficient (r) of 0.86, a regression (R²) of 0.76, and a Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (NSE) of 0.61. Error metrics, including the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), were notably low at 0.05 and 0.58, respectively. In the daily validation, the model continued to perform well, with a correlation of 0.76 and regression of 0.58. As a new approach, fitted parameters of daily calibration were incorporated into the monthly simulation, and they demonstrated an even better performance. The correlation coefficient (regression) and Nash–Sutcliffe were found to be extremely high during the calibration period of the monthly simulation, reaching 0.97 (0.95) and 0.73, respectively; meanwhile, they reached 0.99 (0.98) and 0.63 in the validation period, respectively. The sensitivity analysis using the SUFI-2 algorithm highlighted that, in the streamflow estimation, the Curve Number (CN) was found to be the most responsive parameter, followed by Soil Bulk Density (SOL_BD). Notably, the monthly results showed a higher performance than the daily results, indicating the inherent capability of the model in regard to data aggregation and reducing the impact of random fluctuations. These findings highlight the applicability of the SWAT model in predicting runoff and its implication for climate-change studies in hyper-arid regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change Impact on Hydrological Cycle and Water Resources Management, 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 4297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of an Explicit Water Level Pool Routing Method in Reservoirs

by Alfonso Arrieta-Pastrana, Oscar E. Coronado-Hernández and Vicente S. Fuertes-Miquel

Water 2024, 16(14), 2042; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142042 - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

Local regulations control the additional runoff produced by urbanization processes. Sustainable urban drainage systems can mitigate the issues associated with increased runoff by employing infiltration basins, detention ponds, wet ponds, and constructed wetlands. Traditionally, the Water Level Pool Routing Method, which relies on an implicit calculation scheme, has been used to calculate outflow hydrographs in reservoirs. In this research, an explicit scheme for the Water Level Pool Routing Method has been developed. The proposed model is applied to a case study where the reservoir has a surface area of 9.12 hectares. The influence of weir width and the discharge coefficient is also analyzed. Additionally, the variation in time step does not significantly affect the response of the proposed model, demonstrating its adequacy as a novel method. The proposed model is compared to the traditional method, yielding similar results in an analyzed ornamental reservoir (low percentage reduction in peak flow). However, a case study with experimental data reveals that the proposed model provides better accuracy than the traditional method. In addition, the proposed model is more efficient as it reduces computational time compared to the implicit scheme (conventional method). Finally, the proposed model is simplified for small watersheds by applying the rational method for computing an inflow hydrograph. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Hydrology)

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8 pages, 591 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Groundwater Chemistry and Quality in Coastal Aquifers

by Guanxing Huang and Liangping Li

Water 2024, 16(14), 2041; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142041 - 19 Jul 2024

Abstract

Groundwater is the most abundant freshwater resource available on earth, and it accounts for more than 95% of all liquid freshwater [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Groundwater Chemistry and Quality in Coastal Aquifers)

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17 pages, 1744 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Freeze‒Thaw Cycles and the Prefreezing Water Content on the Soil Pore Size Distribution

by Ruiqi Jiang, Xuefeng Bai, Xianghao Wang, Renjie Hou, Xingchao Liu and Hanbo Yang

Water 2024, 16(14), 2040; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142040 - 18 Jul 2024

Abstract

Volumetric changes induced by soil moisture phase changes can lead to pore system redistribution in freezing and thawing soil, which in turn affects soil strength and stability. The prefreezing water content and the number of freeze‒thaw cycles (FTCs) affecting key factors of soil pore changes, and they determine the volumetric change magnitude and frequency during ice–water phase transitions. This study aims to reveal the effect of the prefreezing water content and the number of freeze–thaw cycles on the pore size distribution (PSD) of black soil, meadow soil and chernozem, which account for the largest arable land area in Heilongjiang Province, China. In situ soil samples with different prefreezing water contents were subjected to 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 20 FTCs, and then nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to quantify the PSD. It was shown that the pore sizes of the three soil types spanned multiple orders of magnitude, ranging from 0.001 to 100 μm overall. The inflection point of the cumulative porosity curves of all three soils occurred near 0.1 μm. For black soil and chernozem with high prefreezing water contents, when the number of FTCs reached 10 or 20, the soil self-weight led to thaw settlement, which reduced the difference in the total porosity of the soils with varying moisture contents. The initial FTC exerts the most significant influence on the pore structure. The impact of the prefreezing water content on soil pore structure diminishes as the number of FTCs increases. The plant root residues rendered meadow soil less sensitive to water content differences after the first FTCs but also limited the development of macropores during the late freeze‒thaw period. The prefreezing water content alters the distribution of soil moisture before freezing and has a greater influence on the pore distribution of frozen-thawed soils compared to the cumulative effect of multiple FTCs. Full article

18 pages, 6360 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Extension of Iber for Simulating Non–Newtonian Shallow Flows: Mine-Tailings Spill Propagation Modelling

by Marcos Sanz-Ramos, Ernest Bladé, Martí Sánchez-Juny and Tomasz Dysarz

Water 2024, 16(14), 2039; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142039 - 18 Jul 2024

Abstract

Mine tailings are commonly stored in off-stream reservoirs and are usually composed of water with high concentrations of fine particles (microns). The rupture of a mine-tailings pond promotes, depending on the characteristics of the stored material, the fluidization and release of hyper-concentrated flows that typically behave as non–Newtonian fluids. The simulation of non–Newtonian fluid dynamics using numerical modelling tools is based on the solution of mass and momentum conservation equations, particularizing the shear stress terms by means of a rheological model that accounts for the properties of the fluid. This document presents the extension of Iber, a two-dimensional hydrodynamic numerical tool, for the simulation of non–Newtonian shallow flows, especially those related to mine tailings. The performance of the numerical tool was tested throughout benchmarks and real study cases. The results agreed with the analytical and theoretical solutions in the benchmark tests; additionally, the numerical tool also revealed itself to be adequate for simulating the dynamic and static phases under real conditions. The outputs of this numerical tool provide valuable information, allowing researchers to assess flood hazard and risk in mine-tailings spill propagation scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine and Water)

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Abstract

Digital twin technology, a new type of digital technology emerging in recent years, realizes real-time simulation, prediction and optimization by digitally modeling the physical world, providing a new idea and method for the design, operation and management of water conservancy projects, which is of great significance for the realization of the transformation of water conservancy informatization to intelligent water conservancy. In view of this, this paper systematically discusses the concept and development history of digital twin smart water conservancy, compares its differences with traditional water conservancy models, and further proposes the digital twin smart water conservancy five-dimensional model. Based on the five-dimensional model of digital twin water conservancy, the research progress of digital twin smart water conservancy is summarized by focusing on six aspects, namely digital twin water conservancy data perception, data transmission, data analysis and processing, digital twin water conservancy model construction, digital twin water conservancy interaction and collaboration and digital twin water conservancy service application, and the challenges and problems of digital twin technology in the application of smart water conservancy. Finally, the development trend of digital twin technology and the direction of technological breakthroughs are envisioned, aiming to provide reference and guidance for the research on digital twin technology in the field of smart water conservancy and to promote the further development of the field. Full article

24 pages, 6398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Multi-Scale Groundwater Drought Prediction Model Using Deep Learning and Hydrometeorological Data

by Dayoung Kang and Kyuhyun Byun

Water 2024, 16(14), 2036; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142036 - 18 Jul 2024

Abstract

Groundwater is an essential water resource and plays a crucial role, especially in areas with limited surface water availability. However, the exacerbation of groundwater droughts, fueled by phenomena such as climate change, urbanization, and industrialization, highlights the necessity for predictive tools to aid in sustainable groundwater management. While artificial neural networks (ANN) have been increasingly used for groundwater level prediction, most studies have focused solely on point-scale predictions from groundwater observation wells, which can be resource-intensive and time-consuming. In this study, we propose a multi-scale groundwater-based drought prediction model that can predict both zonal average values and the values at well locations for the standardized groundwater level index (SGI). Specifically, we develop a zone-scale SGI prediction model through long short-term memory (LSTM) and propose a model that can accurately predict point-scale SGI through a simple downscaling process. Our model was developed and tested for Jeju Island, a volcanic island in South Korea where groundwater serves as the primary water source. Specifically, we partitioned Jeju Island into 16 sub-watersheds, termed zones, and constructed an individual model for each zone. Forecasting the standardized groundwater level index (SGI) for each zone was based on input datasets including the daily temperature, precipitation, snowfall, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), wind speed, and preceding SGI values. Additionally, we downscaled the predicted values of each zone to the specific SGI values at groundwater monitoring wells within the zone. This was achieved by applying the spatial deviation of each well relative to the zonal mean over the preceding 4 days to the predicted zone-scale SGI value. Our findings indicate high accuracy of the model in SGI predictions across both scales, with the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) exceeding 0.9 and the root mean square error (RMSE) remaining less than 0.3 for both the representative zone and observation well. By leveraging the proposed model, stakeholders and policymakers can efficiently generate and utilize both zone-scale and point-scale groundwater-based drought predictions, contributing to effective groundwater management practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drought Monitoring and Risk Assessment)

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