Climate change impact on sediment yield in Rawal Watershed near Islamabad, Pakistan | |
| Author | Majeed, Mubashir |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.WM-16-27 |
| Subject(s) | Climatic changes--Pakistan--Rawal--Watershed Sediment control--Pakistan--Rawal--Watershed |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Water Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. WM-16-27 |
| Abstract | Human beings are facing soil erosion throughout the history of mankind when the agricultural activities started. Human influence in the environment has caused this erosion to intensified. Due to soil erosion the farms lose their fertilized soil which may decrease the productivity. The eroded soil also gets deposited in channels and reservoirs and reduces their capacity. Climate is being changed. The global mean temperature is increasing ,which has possibility of increasing evapotranspiration, change in precipitation, discharge and sediment yield. The changes in these parameters in future climate may affect the hydrological characteristics of any watershed. Rawal watershed is an important area in path war region of Islamabad, Pakistan. This reservoir is located in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. Islamabad and Rawalpindi cities take drinking water from this reservoir at the rate of 0.083 MCM per day. The last survey conducted in 2000 shows a reduction of about 20% in the capacity of reservoir. Due to its importance, the impact of climate change on its discharge and sediment is conducted in this study, so that suitable management practices can be suggested to increase the life of reservoir. Linear scaling and quantile mapping are applied for bias correction of temperature and precipitation for RCP 4.5 and 8.5 for the periods of 2011-2040, 2041-2070, 2071-2099. The maximum and minimum temperature is predicted to be increased while the variations in precipitation are not unidirectional. The range of variation in temperature and precipitation due to all RCMs and RCPs is quite high. The range of variation increases in future. Soil and water Assessment tool (SWAT) is employed to estimate the future variations in discharge and sediment yield and simulation of land management practices. SWAT predicted both, the increase and decrease in discharge and sediment yield in future. The range of variations in discharge and sediment yield are higher in 2050s and 2080s than 2020s. The overall trend of discharge and sediment is increasing. The application of land management practices (terracingand filter strip) in Rawal watershed is beneficial in reducing sediment yield, however filter strip reduces more sediment yield than terracing. |
| Year | 2016 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. WM-16-27 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Water Engineering and Management (WM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Babel, Mukand Singh |
| Examination Committee(s) | Tawatchai Tingsanchali;Shrestha, Sangam |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Punjab Irrigation Department;World Bank |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2016 |