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Evaluating the effects of DEM and soil data resolution on streamflow and sediment yield simulations in the Upper Blue Nile basin

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Abstract

While the availability of “big data” on biophysical parameters through citizen science and/or from public/private sources is expected to help in addressing data scarcity issues, there is little understanding of whether and/or how such data will improve watershed simulations. This research aimed to evaluate whether improvements in resolutions of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and soil data will enhance streamflow and sediment yield simulations and thereby improve soil and water management decisions. The study was conducted in two different-sized watersheds (Anjeni and Gilgel Abay with ~ 1 km2 and ~ 1655 km2 area, respectively) in the Upper Blue Nile basin in Ethiopia. Effects of DEM and soil data resolutions on streamflow and sediment yield were evaluated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The results showed that the effect of DEM and soil data resolution on streamflow and sediment yield simulation was scale dependent finer resolution DEM and soil datasets improved streamflow and sediment yield simulations in the smaller Anjeni watershed, whereas DEM resolution had no effect in the bigger Gilgel Abay watershed. Small watersheds are often used to understand watershed processes, and thus the use of finer-resolution spatial data for watershed simulations could result in better results. Findings from the smaller Anjeni watershed suggested that the combined use of finer resolution DEM and soil data could potentially improve sediment yield simulations although the lack of observed sediment yield data did not allow verification of this at the larger Gilgel Abay watershed.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Ethiopian National Meteorological Services Agency and the Ethiopian Ministry of Water, Energy, and Irrigation for providing us with observed weather and streamflow data, respectively.

Funding

This publication was partly made possible through support provided by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation through the US Agency for International Development, under the terms of Contract No. USAID AID-OAA-A-13–00055. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Agency for International Development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Spatial Sciences Laboratory in the Department of Ecosystem Sciences and Management, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Blvd., Room 305, College Station, TX, 77843-2120, USA

    Yihun T. Dile & Raghavan Srinivasan

  2. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Tropical Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Homestead, FL, 33031, USA

    Haimanote K. Bayabil & Mulatu Liyew Berihun

  3. California Department of Water Resources, 715 P Street, Sacramento, CA, 95814, USA

    Essayas K. Ayana

  4. Backland Research and Extension Center, Texas A&M University, 720 East Backland Road, Temple, TX, 76502, USA

    Abeyou W. Worqlul

  5. The Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, 578 John Kimbrough Blvd, College Station, TX, 77840, USA

    Nicole Lefore

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  1. Yihun T. Dile
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  7. Mulatu Liyew Berihun
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Contributions

Data collection, statistical analysis, data interpretation, and manuscript writing were all done by the first author, YTD. The statistical analysis, data interpretation, literature review, development process, and writing of certain manuscript portions were all the responsibility of YTD and HKB. EKA, AWW, RS, NL, and MLB made contributions to this study through the compilation of the paper, the drafting of the literature review, editing, and comments on the overall research work.

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Correspondence to Haimanote K. Bayabil.

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The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered potential competing interests: Yihun T. Dile reports financial support was provided by the US Agency for International Development.

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Dile, Y.T., Bayabil, H.K., Ayana, E.K. et al. Evaluating the effects of DEM and soil data resolution on streamflow and sediment yield simulations in the Upper Blue Nile basin. Environ Monit Assess 196, 71 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-12189-3

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