Application of the SWAT Hydrological Model for the Catchment Area of the Koudiat Acerdoune Dam on the Isser River, Algeria

Abstract This study evaluates the performance of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model in simulating daily river flow and quantifying flow components within the Isser catchment, upstream of the Koudiat Acerdoune dam in Algeria. Model parameters were optimized using the SWAT-CU...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: L. Chebihi, M. Habi, A. Elouissi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Meteorologia 2025-08-01
Series:Revista Brasileira de Meteorologia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-77862025000100212&lng=en&tlng=en
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849338877158883328
author L. Chebihi
M. Habi
A. Elouissi
author_facet L. Chebihi
M. Habi
A. Elouissi
author_sort L. Chebihi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study evaluates the performance of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model in simulating daily river flow and quantifying flow components within the Isser catchment, upstream of the Koudiat Acerdoune dam in Algeria. Model parameters were optimized using the SWAT-CUP optimization method and the SUFI-2 algorithm. The model was calibrated (2002-2012) and validated (2013-2018) against observed daily streamflow data, following a three-year warm-up period (1999-2001). Sensitivity analysis identified key parameters influencing streamflow, including groundwater delay, baseflow processes, channel hydraulic conductivity, and surface roughness. The SWAT model demonstrated strong performance, achieving satisfactory to very good performance metrics (e.g., R2 Cal/Val = 0.86/0.82; NSE Cal/Val = 0.81/0.74), indicating its ability to accurately simulate daily streamflow in the Isser watershed. Water balance analysis revealed that actual evapotranspiration accounted for 51% of precipitation. Shallow aquifer recharge constituted a major loss at 28%, while total water yield represented the remaining 21%. Furthermore, the model estimated that surface runoff accounted for approximately 47.4% of the total water yield, lateral flow for 11.6%, while baseflow contributed the remaining 41%. These findings demonstrate the SWAT model's capability to effectively represent the hydrological processes governing the Isser watershed. The study underscores the importance of considering both surface and subsurface water dynamics to guide sustainable water resource planning in semi-arid regions.
format Article
id doaj-art-e56e41f2a7a8440b98815957e5537094
institution Kabale University
issn 1982-4351
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Sociedade Brasileira de Meteorologia
record_format Article
series Revista Brasileira de Meteorologia
spelling doaj-art-e56e41f2a7a8440b98815957e55370942025-08-20T03:44:17ZengSociedade Brasileira de MeteorologiaRevista Brasileira de Meteorologia1982-43512025-08-014010.1590/0102-778640250001Application of the SWAT Hydrological Model for the Catchment Area of the Koudiat Acerdoune Dam on the Isser River, AlgeriaL. Chebihihttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-9810-7805M. HabiA. ElouissiAbstract This study evaluates the performance of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model in simulating daily river flow and quantifying flow components within the Isser catchment, upstream of the Koudiat Acerdoune dam in Algeria. Model parameters were optimized using the SWAT-CUP optimization method and the SUFI-2 algorithm. The model was calibrated (2002-2012) and validated (2013-2018) against observed daily streamflow data, following a three-year warm-up period (1999-2001). Sensitivity analysis identified key parameters influencing streamflow, including groundwater delay, baseflow processes, channel hydraulic conductivity, and surface roughness. The SWAT model demonstrated strong performance, achieving satisfactory to very good performance metrics (e.g., R2 Cal/Val = 0.86/0.82; NSE Cal/Val = 0.81/0.74), indicating its ability to accurately simulate daily streamflow in the Isser watershed. Water balance analysis revealed that actual evapotranspiration accounted for 51% of precipitation. Shallow aquifer recharge constituted a major loss at 28%, while total water yield represented the remaining 21%. Furthermore, the model estimated that surface runoff accounted for approximately 47.4% of the total water yield, lateral flow for 11.6%, while baseflow contributed the remaining 41%. These findings demonstrate the SWAT model's capability to effectively represent the hydrological processes governing the Isser watershed. The study underscores the importance of considering both surface and subsurface water dynamics to guide sustainable water resource planning in semi-arid regions.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-77862025000100212&lng=en&tlng=enhydrological modelingSWATcalibrationvalidationKoudiat AcerdouneIsser watershed
spellingShingle L. Chebihi
M. Habi
A. Elouissi
Application of the SWAT Hydrological Model for the Catchment Area of the Koudiat Acerdoune Dam on the Isser River, Algeria
Revista Brasileira de Meteorologia
hydrological modeling
SWAT
calibration
validation
Koudiat Acerdoune
Isser watershed
title Application of the SWAT Hydrological Model for the Catchment Area of the Koudiat Acerdoune Dam on the Isser River, Algeria
title_full Application of the SWAT Hydrological Model for the Catchment Area of the Koudiat Acerdoune Dam on the Isser River, Algeria
title_fullStr Application of the SWAT Hydrological Model for the Catchment Area of the Koudiat Acerdoune Dam on the Isser River, Algeria
title_full_unstemmed Application of the SWAT Hydrological Model for the Catchment Area of the Koudiat Acerdoune Dam on the Isser River, Algeria
title_short Application of the SWAT Hydrological Model for the Catchment Area of the Koudiat Acerdoune Dam on the Isser River, Algeria
title_sort application of the swat hydrological model for the catchment area of the koudiat acerdoune dam on the isser river algeria
topic hydrological modeling
SWAT
calibration
validation
Koudiat Acerdoune
Isser watershed
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-77862025000100212&lng=en&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT lchebihi applicationoftheswathydrologicalmodelforthecatchmentareaofthekoudiatacerdounedamontheisserriveralgeria
AT mhabi applicationoftheswathydrologicalmodelforthecatchmentareaofthekoudiatacerdounedamontheisserriveralgeria
AT aelouissi applicationoftheswathydrologicalmodelforthecatchmentareaofthekoudiatacerdounedamontheisserriveralgeria