Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Applicability evaluation of the SWIM at river basins of the black soil region in Northeast China: A case study of the upper and middle Wuyuer River basin

  • Published:
Journal of Geographical Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, we selected the middle and upper reaches of the Wuyuer River basin in the black soil region of Northeast China as the study area. We adopted the soil and water integrated model (SWIM) and evaluated the parameter sensitivity using partial correlation coefficient. We calibrated and validated our simulation results based on the daily runoff data from Yi’an hydrological station at the outlet of the river basin and the evaporation data recorded by various weather stations from 1961 to 1997. Following evaluation of the modeling data against the observed data, we present the applicability of SWIM in the river basin of the black soil region, and discuss the resulting errors and their probable causes. Results show that in the periods of calibration and validation, the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) coefficients of the monthly and daily runoffs were not less than 0.71 and 0.55, and the relative errors were less than 6.0%. Compared to daily runoffs, the simulation result of monthly runoffs was better. Additionally, the NSE coefficients of the potential monthly evaporation were not less than 0.81. Together, the results suggest that the calibrated SWIM can be utilized in various simulation analyses of runoffs on a monthly scale in the black soil region of Northeast China. On the contrary, the model had some limitations in simulating runoffs from snowmelt and frozen soil. Meanwhile, the stimulation data deviated from the measured data largely when applied to the years with spring and summer floods. The simulated annual runoffs were considerably higher than the measured data in the years with abrupt increases in annual precipitation. However, the model is capable of reproducing the changes in runoffs during flood seasons. In summary, this model can provide fundamental hydrological information for comprehensive management of the Wuyuer River basin water environment, and its application can be potentially extended to other river basins in the black soil region.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbaspour K, Vejdani M, Haghighat S, 2007. SWAT-CUP calibration and uncertainty programs for SWAT. In: Modsim 2007 International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, 2007: 1596–1602.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bai Shuying, Zhang Shuwen, Zhang Yangzhen, 2007. Analyzing dynamic process of land use change in Songnen Plain of China: A case study in Duerbote Mongolian autonomous county of Daqing city. Resources Science, 29(4): 164–169. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Lei, Xu Zongxue, Luo Rui et al., 2009. SWAT application in arid and semi-arid region: A case study in the Kuye river basin. Geographical Research, 28(1): 65–73. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Conradt T, Wechsung F, Bronstert A, 2013. Three perceptions of the evapotranspiration landscape: Comparing spatial patterns from a distributed hydrological model, remotely sensed surface temperatures, and sub-basin water balances. Hydrology & Earth System Sciences, 17(7): 2947–2966.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cui Ming, Zhang Xudong, Cai Qiangguo et al., 2008. Relationship between black soil development and climate change and geomorphological evolution in Northeast China. Geographical Research, 27(3): 527–535. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Faramarzi M, Abbaspour K C, Schulin R et al., 2009. Modelling blue and green water resources availability in Iran. Hydrological Processes, 23(3): 486–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng Xiaqing, Zhang Guangxin, Yin Xiongrui, 2010. Study on the hydrological response to climate change in Wuyuer river basin based on the SWAT model. Progress in Geography, 29(7): 827–832. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzhugh T W, Mackay D S, 2001. Impacts of input parameter spatial aggregation on an agricultural nonpoint source pollution model. Journal of Hydrology, 236(1/2): 35–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao Chao, Jin Gaojie, 2012. Effects of DEM resolution on results of the SWIM hydrological model in the Changtaiguan basin. Geographical Research, 31(3): 399–408. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao Chao, Liu Qing, Su Buda et al., 2013. The applicability assessment of hydrological models with different resolution and database in the Huaihe river basin, China. Journal of Natural Resources, 28(10): 1765–1777. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao Chao, Zhai Jianqing, Tao Hui et al., 2009. Hydrological response to land use/land cover change in Chaohu Basin. Journal of Natural Resources, 24(10): 1794–1803. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge G, Xu C Y, Chen D et al., 2012. Spatial and temporal characteristics of actual evapotranspiration over Haihe River basin in China. Stochastic Environmental Research & Risk Assessment, 26(26): 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo Min, Fang Haiyan, Li Zhiying, 2016. SWAT model-based runoff simulation of Wuyuer river basin in the black soil region of northeast China. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 23(4): 43–47. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hattermann F F, Wattenbach M, Krysanova V et al., 2005. Runoff simulations on the macroscale with the ecohydrological model SWIM in the Elbe catchment–validation and uncertainty analysis. Hydrological Processes, 19(3): 693–714.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hesse C, Krysanova V, Stefanova A et al., 2015. Assessment of climate change impacts on water quantity and quality of the multi-river Vistula Lagoon catchment. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 60(5): 1–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang S, Hesse C, Krysanova V et al., 2009 From meso- to macro-scale dynamic water quality modelling for the assessment of land use change scenarios. Ecological Modelling, 220(19): 2543–2558.

  • Kong Fanzhe, Song Xiaomeng, Zhan Chesheng et al., 2011. An efficient quantitative sensitivity analysis approach for hydrological model parameters using RSMSobol method. Acta Geographica Sinica, 66(9): 1270–1280. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Krysanova V, Hattermann F, Huang S et al., 2015. Modelling climate and land use change impacts with SWIM: Lessons learnt from multiple applications. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 60(4): 606–635(30).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krysanova V, Hattermann F, Wechsung F, 2005. Development of the ecohydrological model SWIM for regional impact studies and vulnerability assessment. Hydrological Processes, 19(3): 763–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krysanova V, Wechsung F, Arnold J et al., 2011. Soil and Water Integrated Model User Manual. Beijing: China Meteorological Press. (in Chinese)

  • Li Jinfeng, Huang Chongfu, Zong Tian, 2005. Anti-accuracy phenomenon and formalization. Systems Engineering: Theory & Practice, 25(4): 128–132. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Zhuo, Liu Changming, 2006. The analysis about water resource utilization, ecological and environmental problems in Northeast China. Journal of Natural Resources, 21(5): 700–708. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maidment D R, 1996. GIS and hydrologic modeling: An assessment of progress. In: Proceedings of the Third International Conference on GIS and Environmental Modeling, Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 22–26, 1996.

  • Mo Fei, 2008. The hydrological effects of forest/vegetation and simulation in the small watershed of Honggou, Liupan mountains [D]. Beijing: Chinese Academy of Forestry. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Romanowicz A A, Vanclooster M, Rounsevell M et al., 2005. Sensitivity of the SWAT model to the soil and land use data parametrisation: A case study in the Thyle catchment in Belgium. Ecological Modelling, 187(1): 27–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rougier J, Richmond A D, 2005. Sensitivity of the SWAT model to the soil and land use data parametrisation: A case study in the Thyle catchment, Belgium. Ecological Modelling, 187(1): 27–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shu Chang, Liu Suxia, Mo Xingguo et al., 2008. Uncertainty analysis of Xinanjiang model parameter. Geographical Research, 27(2): 343–352. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Song Xiaomeng, Zhang Jianyun, Zhan Chesheng et al., 2015. Review parameter sensitivity analysis hydrologic modeling. Advances in Science and Technology of Water Resources, 23(6): 105–112. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Song Yanhua, Ma Jinhui, 2007. Applicability of SWAT model in Longxi of the Loess Plateau. Arid Land Geography, 30(6): 933–938. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefanova A, Krysanova V, Hesse C et al., 2015. Climate change impact assessment on water inflow to a coastal lagoon: The Ria de Aveiro watershed, Portugal. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 60(5): 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tao Y, Wang X, Yu Z et al., 2014. Climate change and probabilistic scenario of streamflow extremes in an alpine region. Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, 119(14): 8535–8551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tzyy-Woei Chu, 2003. Modeling Hydrologic and water quality response of a mixed land use watershed in piedmont physiographic [D]. Graduatie School of the University of Maryland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Genxu, Li Yuanshou, Wu Qingbai et al., 2006. The relationship between frozen soil and vegetation in permafrost regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its impact on the alpine ecosystem. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 36(8): 743–754. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wortmann M, Krysanova V, Kundzewicz Z W et al., 2014. Assessing the influence of the Merzbacher Lake outburst floods on discharge using the hydrological model SWIM in the Aksu headwaters, Kyrgyzstan/NW China. Hydrological Processes, 28(26): 6337–6350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Yanhui, 2011. A study on influences of land use change to Huangqian Watershed based on SWIM model [D]. Tai’an: Shandong Agricultural University. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Dawen, Li Chong, Ni Guangheng et al., 2004. Application of a distributed hydrological model to the Yellow river basin. Acta Geographica Sinica, 59(1): 143–154. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Shulan, 2011. The assessment of impact of land use change and climate variability on hydrologic process in basin [D]. Beijing: Chinese Academy of Forestry. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Shulan, Yu Pengtao, Wang Yanhui et al., 2011. Estimation of actual evapotranspiration and its component in the upstream of Jinghe basin. Acta Geographica Sinica, 66(3): 385–395. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Shulan, Yu Pengtao, Zhang Haijun et al., 2015. A simulation study on the hydrological impacts of varying forest cover in the stony mountain area and loess area of the upper reaches of Jinghe basin. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 35(4): 1068–1078. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Shulan, Zhang Haijun, Wang Yanhui et al., 2015. Influence of vegetation type on hydrological process at landscape scale in the upper reaches of Jinghe basin. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 35(2): 230–236. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Yongfang, Deng Junli, Guan Dexin et al., 2011. Spatiotemporal changes of potential evapotranspiration in Songnen Plain of northeast China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 22(7): 1702–1710. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Zhengtao, 2015, The influence of different spatial resolution and algorithm selection on the SWIM hydrological model [D]. Wuhu: Anhui Normal University. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Monitoring of Geographic Environment, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China

    Zhiyuan Yang & Shuying Zang

  2. College of Territorial Resources and Tourism, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China

    Chao Gao

  3. Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    Xiuchun Yang

Authors
  1. Zhiyuan Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chao Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shuying Zang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xiuchun Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shuying Zang.

Additional information

Foundation: National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41571199, No.41571105; Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, No.ZD201308

Author: Yang Zhiyuan, PhD Candidate, specialized in land use, regional environment modeling and evaluation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yang, Z., Gao, C., Zang, S. et al. Applicability evaluation of the SWIM at river basins of the black soil region in Northeast China: A case study of the upper and middle Wuyuer River basin. J. Geogr. Sci. 27, 817–834 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-017-1408-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-017-1408-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation