Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-529
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-529
29 Oct 2018
 | 29 Oct 2018
Status: this discussion paper is a preprint. It has been under review for the journal Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS). The manuscript was not accepted for further review after discussion.

Estimation of water yield in the hydrographic basins of southern Ecuador

Saula Minga-León, Miguel Angel Gómez-Albores, Khalidou M. Bâ, Luis Balcázar, Luis Ricardo Manzano-Solís, Angela P. Cuervo-Robayo, and Carlos Alberto Mastachi-Loza

Abstract. Humans greatly benefit from natural water resources, also known as hydrological ecosystem services. However, these services may be reduced by population growth, land use changes, and climate change. As these problems become more critical, the need to quantify water resources increases. The estimation of water yield and its distribution are of great importance for the management of water resources. In the present study, the average annual water yield of the hydrographic basins in the southern region of Ecuador was estimated for the 1970–2015 period using the InVEST water yield model based on the Budyko framework. The model estimates annual surface run-off at the pixel, sub-basin, and basin level considering the following variables: precipitation, actual evapotranspiration, land cover/use, soil depth, and available water content for plants. The model was calibrated by varying the ecohydrological parameter Z to reduce error between estimated and observed water yield. The results showed that the modeling of water yield in the majority of the hydrographic basins was satisfactory, allowing the basins to be ranked according to their importance for water production. The Mayo and Zamora basins had the highest water production, corresponding with 934 and 1218 mm per year, respectively, while the Alamor and Catamayo basins had the lowest water production, corresponding with 206 and 291 mm per year, respectively. The present study provides an initial estimate of water yield at the basin level in the southern region of Ecuador, and the results can be used to evaluate the impacts of land cover changes and climate change over time.

Saula Minga-León, Miguel Angel Gómez-Albores, Khalidou M. Bâ, Luis Balcázar, Luis Ricardo Manzano-Solís, Angela P. Cuervo-Robayo, and Carlos Alberto Mastachi-Loza
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Saula Minga-León, Miguel Angel Gómez-Albores, Khalidou M. Bâ, Luis Balcázar, Luis Ricardo Manzano-Solís, Angela P. Cuervo-Robayo, and Carlos Alberto Mastachi-Loza
Saula Minga-León, Miguel Angel Gómez-Albores, Khalidou M. Bâ, Luis Balcázar, Luis Ricardo Manzano-Solís, Angela P. Cuervo-Robayo, and Carlos Alberto Mastachi-Loza

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Latest update: 28 Mar 2024
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Short summary
Our manuscript was developed using the InVEST Water Yield model, one tool for the valuation of ecosystem services. The importance lies on the need of long time protect of the water resources and the ecosystem conservation. Particularly the results provide an initial estimate of water yield at the basin level in the southern region of Ecuador. These results could be used on the priorization of the conservation areas to evaluate the impacts of land cover changes and climate change over time.