Projected Changes in Discharge in an Agricultural Watershed in Iowa

Gabriele Villarini, Enrico Scoccimarro, Kathleen D. White, Jeffrey R. Arnold, Keith E. Schilling, Joyee Ghosh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our improved capability to adapt to the future changes in discharge is linked to our capability to predict the magnitude or at least the direction of these changes. For the agricultural United States Midwest, too much or too little water has severe socioeconomic impacts. Here, we focus on the Raccoon River at Van Meter, Iowa, and use a statistical approach to examine projected changes in discharge. We build on statistical models using rainfall and harvested corn and soybean acreage to explain the observed discharge variability. We then use projections of these two predictors to examine the projected discharge response. Results are based on seven global climate models part of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 and two representative concentration pathways (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5). There is not a strong signal of change in the discharge projections under the RCP 4.5. However, the results for the RCP 8.5 point to a stronger changing signal related to larger projected increases in rainfall, resulting in increased trends, in particular, in the upper part of the discharge distribution (i.e., 60th percentile and above). Examination of two hypothetical agricultural scenarios indicates that these increasing trends could be alleviated by decreasing the extent of the agricultural production. We also discuss how the methodology presented in this study represents a viable approach to move forward with the concept of return period for engineering design and management in a nonstationary world.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1361-1371
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of the American Water Resources Association
Volume51
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2015
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ecology
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Earth-Surface Processes

Keywords

  • Climate variability/change
  • Precipitation
  • Rivers/streams/flooding
  • Streamflow
  • Time series analysis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Projected Changes in Discharge in an Agricultural Watershed in Iowa'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this