Enhancing the representation of water management in global hydrological models

Abstract ∘ spatial resolution in Xanthos so that a single lumped reservoir exists per grid cell, which yielded 3790 large reservoirs. We implemented unique operation rules for each reservoir type, based on their primary purposes. In particular, hydropower reservoirs have been treated as flood control reservoirs in previous GHM studies, while here, we determined the operation rules for hydropower reservoirs via optimization that maximizes long-term hydropower production. We conducted global simulations using the enhanced Xanthos and validated monthly streamflow for 91 large river basins, where high-quality observed streamflow data were available. A total of 1878 (296 hydropower, 486 irrigation, and 1096 flood control and others) out of the 3790 reservoirs are located in the 91 basins and are part of our reported results. The Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) value (after adding the new water management) is ≥ ≥ R 2 >  0.25 (i.e., considering 0.25 to represent a moderate difference) for over 44 % of the 296 reservoirs when comparing both the simulated reservoir releases and storage time series between the two simulations. We suggest that correctly representing hydropower reservoirs in GHMs could have important implications for our understanding and management of freshwater resource challenges at regional-to-global scales. This enhanced global water management modeling framework will allow the analysis of future global reservoir development and management from a coupled human–earth system perspective.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Enhancing the representation of water management in global hydrological models ; volume:16 ; number:18 ; year:2023 ; pages:5449-5472 ; extent:24 ; Geoscientific model development ; 16, Heft 18 (2023), 5449-5472 (gesamt 24)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Abeshu, Guta Wakbulcho ; Tian, Fuqiang ; Wild, Thomas ; Zhao, Mengqi ; Turner, Sean ; Chowdhury, A. F. M. Kamal ; Vernon, Chris R. ; Hu, Hongchang ; Zhuang, Yuan ; Hejazi, Mohamad ; Li, Hong-Yi

Further information

• DOI: 10.5194/gmd-16-5449-2023
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023092804362217229536
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:51 AM CEST