Modeling the hydrological characteristics of Hangar Watershed, Ethiopia

Abstract

The hydrologic characteristics of the Hangar Watershed were modeled by using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Digital elevation model, land use/land cover data, soil map, weather, and hydrological data were among the data used for this study. The measured streamflow data of (1990–2002) and (2003–2011) years were used for calibration and validation of the model, respectively, and its performance was good for both calibration and validation. The sensitivity analysis identified that the watershed is characterized by 13 sensitive parameters. The watershed receives around, 9.6%, 59.9%, and 30.5% precipitation during dry, wet and short rainy seasons, respectively. The received precipitation was lost by 9.6%, 40.5%, and 41.3% in the form of evapotranspiration for each season, correspondingly. The surface runoff contribution to the watershed was 3.8%, and 79.2% during dry and wet seasons, respectively, whereas it contributes by 17.0% during short rainy seasons.