HR: 17:30h
AN: H34B-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Integration of Complex Models Into a System Dynamics Based Basin Scale Planning Model for the Upper Rio Grande
AU: * Roach, J
EM: jesse@hwr.arizona.edu
AF: University of Arizona, Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, Harshbarger Building P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721 United States
AU: Tidwell, V
EM: vctidwe@sandia.gov
AF: Sandia National Labs, P.O. Box 5800 MS 0735, Albuquerque, NM 87185-0735 United States
AU: Lansey, K
EM: lansey@engr.arizona.edu
AF: University of Arizona, Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, Harshbarger Building P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721 United States
AB: As the finite, and often over-allocated water resources of the western United States are challenged by a myriad of growing demands, computer based simulations can be a powerful tool for evaluation of potential water use scenarios for hydrologic decision making and water policy analysis. To maximize their usefulness for policy analysis, such simulations should accurately represent the physical system as well as its interconnectedness to the socio-economic systems relevant to water planning without losing user accessibility or run speed. One solution to these constraints is system dynamics (SD) modeling at a relatively coarse spatial and temporal resolution. The challenge of this approach is in maintaining sufficient physical accuracy despite coarse resolution and SD's simple modeling framework. In this paper, the development of a reach-based monthly time-step system dynamics model of the upper Rio Grande River (from the headwaters in Colorado to Elephant Butte Reservoir in New Mexico) is discussed. Within this SD model, temporally and spatially coarse physical and operational relationships are abstracted from a variety of existing models with higher resolutions, including an operations model (Upper Rio Grande Water Operations Model (URGWOM)), a land surface rainfall-runoff model, an evapotranspiration model, and two groundwater models. Abstraction and calibration methods and implications of information loss associated with this scaling are considered.
DE: 1829 Groundwater hydrology
DE: 1836 Hydrologic budget (1655)
DE: 1860 Runoff and streamflow
DE: 1884 Water supply
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting