Assessment of the Water Budget in Madeira River Basin Simulated by the Eta Regional Climate And MGB Large-Scale Hydrological Models

Abstract

Downscaling climate simulation for present climate (1960-2005) based on the Eta Regional Climate Model and MGB Large-scale Hydrological Model, forced by Brazilian Model of the Terrestrial System (BESM-AO 2.5), was carried out. The objective of this work is assessment the performance of the Eta regional model and MGB-IPH in the representation of the components of the water budget in Madeira River basin. The moisture sink characteristic (P> E) was simulated by the regional model. In the terrestrial branch, the MGB-IPH hydrological model was able to represent the annual cycle of discharge, water level and floodplain inundation. The performance of the hydrological model and the regional model was satisfactory in the simulation of the seasonal dynamics of hydrological processes and water budget in Madeira river basin, indicating that the hydrological model is a useful tool for studies of climatic variability, changes in climate and land use and for hydrological forecasting operational systems in the Amazon basin.

Keywords:
Madeira River Basin; water balance; flow rate; water levels; flood area