HR: 13:40h
AN: H13M-01 INVITED    [Abstracts]
TI: An Incremental and Interactive Process for Watershed Characterization and Modeling: A Case Study in Southwestern North America
AU: * Vivoni, E R
EM: vivoni@nmt.edu
AF: Department of Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, United States
AU: Yatheendradas, S
EM: soni@nmt.edu
AF: Department of Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, United States
AU: Mendez-Barroso, L A
EM: lmendez@nmt.edu
AF: Department of Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, United States
AU: Mantilla, R
EM: ricardo@nmt.edu
AF: Department of Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, United States
AU: Saiz-Hernandez, J
EM: jsaiz@dicym.uson.mx
AF: Universidad de Sonora, Blv. Luis Encinas y Rosales, Hermosillo, SON 83000, Mexico
AU: Garatuza-Payan, J
EM: garatuza@itson.edu.mx
AF: Instituto Tecnologico de Sonora, 5 de Febrero 818 Sur, Ciudad Obregon, SON 85000, Mexico
AU: Rodriguez, J C
EM: jcrod2001@yahoo.com
AF: Universidad de Sonora, Blv. Luis Encinas y Rosales, Hermosillo, SON 83000, Mexico
AU: Watts, C J
EM: watts@raramuri.fisica.uson.mx
AF: Instituto Tecnologico de Sonora, 5 de Febrero 818 Sur, Ciudad Obregon, SON 85000, Mexico
AU: Gochis, D J
EM: gochis@rap.ucar.edu
AF: National Center for Atmospheric Research, 1850 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, CO 80307, United States
AB: Spatiotemporal variability of catchment-scale hydrologic processes in southwestern North America are poorly understood due to strong seasonality in hydroclimatic forcing and complex variations in land surface conditions. Mechanistic understanding of these semiarid catchments may be achieved through integration of field observations, remote sensing and numerical modeling of distributed hydrologic processes. In this study, we present an approach designed to reveal the spatiotemporal structure and response of a mountainous basin in northern Sonora, Mexico. Our approach is based on an incremental and interactive process (IIP) of observations and simulations to yield insight into: (1) the topographic control on hydrological states and fluxes; (2) plant-water interactions and their seasonal dynamics; and (3) spatial and temporal variations in the rainfall-runoff behavior. We discuss how knowledge obtained during early efforts in the ungauged basin has been incorporated into recent field sampling, characterization and modeling activities. The IIP framework has allowed a detailed evaluation of basin characteristics, instrument records and remote-sensing observations necessary to reduce modeling uncertainty. We illustrate the approach using a high resolution network of precipitation gauges installed in response to preliminary observations and modeling efforts. Advances in process understanding and distributed predictions made through this framework will allow regionalization efforts in other ungauged basins in southwestern North America.
UR: http://www.ees.nmt.edu/vivoni/sonora/www
DE: 1813 Eco-hydrology
DE: 1847 Modeling
DE: 1854 Precipitation (3354)
DE: 1866 Soil moisture
DE: 1874 Ungaged basins
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting