Wetland hydrological models – Wetland contributing catchment model

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• Overview
• Wetland site scale
• Wetland contributing catchment model
• Wetland catchment/subcatchment model

When modelling a wetland in terms of its local contributing catchment, a broader range of the hydrological and landscape factors (representing the contributing catchment of the wetland) may be incorporated to more accurately estimate the inputs to the wetland.

The model boundary is the wetland’s interaction with the surrounding landscape – the local catchment area contributing water and constituents to the wetland.

Forcing factors in terms of climatic variables act upon the landscape to generate runoff. The runoff in turn generates the model inputs in terms of surface runoff and groundwater. The climate forcing factors also influence the processes that occur in the wetland itself.

Landscape components affect water inflows to wetlands depending on landuse (e.g. cropping, vegetation, urban impervious areas), soil type, geology (which influences percolation to groundwater), slope, vegetation cover, and management practices.

Runoff flow rates and volumes from the wetland catchment as a result of rainfall are variable due to seasonality (e.g. wet and dry seasons), connectivity (e.g. the degree to which a wetland is connected to waterways), and landscape features, and may exhibit first flush characteristics in terms of pollutant concentrations and loads.

References

1. ^ Queensland Water Modelling Network (2018), Good Modelling Practice Principles. [online], Brisbane, Queensland. Available at: https://science.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/81110/qwmn-good-modelling-practice-principles.pdf.
2. ^ Weber, T, de Groot, A, Hamilton, D, Yu, S & Bayley, M (2021), QWMN Wetlands Hydrology Models Review, Alluvium Consulting Australia, Griffith University, and Australian Wetlands Consulting.

Last updated: 31 May 2023