Keywords
groundwater, geographic information system, queensland, model development
Start Date
1-7-2006 12:00 AM
Abstract
The viability of irrigated horticulture in a coastal catchment near Bowen in Queensland, Australia, is dependent on groundwater. The summer-dominant rainfall is extremely variable, ranging from 255 to 2358 mm/year and there are no large surface water storages. A model was sought to improve understanding of the local hydrology and assist with management of the groundwater. The 220 km2 area is data-rich with 260 observation bores plus stream gauging, metering of irrigation bores and detailed land use mapping. A water balance model based on Darcy s Law, which describes laminar water flow through soils, and using only the historical data was developed. The method is Geographic Information System (GIS)-based and provides both spatial and temporal results. The study proved cost and time effective and provided important insights to the groundwater dynamics of the area. The method is generally applicable to data-rich aquifers. The model development has been documented with reference to the ten interactive steps in model development and evaluation of Jakeman et al. (in prep), who suggest guidelines for good practice in model development, documentation and application to enhance the credibility and usefulness of the information and insights from modelling. References Jakeman, A.J., Letcher, R.A. and Norton, J.P. (in prep). Ten iterative steps in model development and evaluation.
Water Balance Modelling in Bowen, Queensland, and the Ten Iterative Steps In Model Development and Evaluation
The viability of irrigated horticulture in a coastal catchment near Bowen in Queensland, Australia, is dependent on groundwater. The summer-dominant rainfall is extremely variable, ranging from 255 to 2358 mm/year and there are no large surface water storages. A model was sought to improve understanding of the local hydrology and assist with management of the groundwater. The 220 km2 area is data-rich with 260 observation bores plus stream gauging, metering of irrigation bores and detailed land use mapping. A water balance model based on Darcy s Law, which describes laminar water flow through soils, and using only the historical data was developed. The method is Geographic Information System (GIS)-based and provides both spatial and temporal results. The study proved cost and time effective and provided important insights to the groundwater dynamics of the area. The method is generally applicable to data-rich aquifers. The model development has been documented with reference to the ten interactive steps in model development and evaluation of Jakeman et al. (in prep), who suggest guidelines for good practice in model development, documentation and application to enhance the credibility and usefulness of the information and insights from modelling. References Jakeman, A.J., Letcher, R.A. and Norton, J.P. (in prep). Ten iterative steps in model development and evaluation.
