High Performance, Multiple Resolution Modeling of Semi-Arid Hydrology at Regional Scales

New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology, Socorro NM

Investigators

Abstract

0342526 Vivoni In the face of increasing demands from urban areas, irrigation and environmental concerns, water management in semi-arid areas is difficult. In the Southwestern US, a critical unbalance between water supply and demand is prompting water conflicts between multiple water stakeholders. The NSF STC Center for the Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA) is a multi-institutional effort to accelerate the state of scientific knowledge and water management in semi-arid areas. In light of climate variations, the scientific community has an urgent need to deliver predictions of potential hydrologic stress in regional semi-arid basins. The primary goal of this proposal is to provide SAHRA the capability to perform fine-resolution hydrologic simulations with an efficient distributed model that captures spatial heterogeneities in basin properties and meteorological forcing. The project focuses on coupled rainfall-runoff modeling in order to: (a) represent the spatial-temporal distribution of surface-subsurface processes at multiple scales over the Rio Grande, and (b) simulate the effect of climate and land-use change. The TIN-based Real-time Integrated Basin Simulator is the proposed model to account for the spatial variability of the rainfall-runoff process. Through integration into a high performance computing environment, the proposed model will improve the surface hydrology in the Los Alamos National Laboratory fine-resolution model. In addition, the triangulated irregular network model will allow computational savings as compared to grid-based models through the multi-resolution, multi-scale domain representation. In addition to integrating with on-going SAHRA research, a diversity effort is proposed for enhancing the participation of Hispanic/Latino undergraduates in semi-arid research and promoting hydrologic understanding in local high schools, community colleges and universities. A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program will involve two students each summer in research involved with the collection, analysis and model integration of hydrologic data. A Traveling Lecture Series (TLS) program will bring research results and outreach activities based on SAHRA science and technology to Spanish-speaking audiences in local Hispanic communities. Together, these two efforts complement the scientific proposal by leading to the rapid dissemination of research results and the establishment of long-term relationships. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from the coupled modeling system can be transferred to the local management agencies, decision makers and water stakeholder in the primarily Hispanic communities