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Project title

Analysis and Modelling of the Hydrological Behaviour of Small Irish Catchments

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)

Lead Applicant

Ahmed Nasr

Project Abstract

This proposal addresses three main issues related to the hydrodynamics of small catchments in Ireland. Firstly, it will quantify, from measured data, the water balance dynamics to gain a comprehensive understanding of the temporal and spatial dynamics of key water balance components (e.g. rainfall, evaporation, stream flow, groundwater recharge). This in turn provides essential information needed for addressing the various challenges associated with water resources management such as managing river water abstraction, environmental flows, and the quantification of groundwater recharge. Secondly, the project will identify small-scale benchmark catchments for the purpose of long term monitoring (i) to allow studying the impacts of future climate changes on the water resources of these catchments, and (ii) to act as study catchments demonstrating the dynamics of typical small scale catchments in Ireland. Thirdly, the feasibility of up-scaling the knowledge gained about detailed hydrological processes from small scale catchments to large scale catchments will be assessed. Such assessment is vitally important to govern the transfer of information between scales, either by up-scaling from small scale catchments to large scale catchments or vice versa, particularly when considering the variety of catchment sizes and considerable heterogeneity in catchment characteristics in Ireland. The project will produce one major report where the description of all technical details will be presented and also a short non-technical summary. Furthermore a minimum of 2 journal papers will be published along with 2 oral presentations at major national and international conference. The project will also deliver a database of hydrological model parameters for various types of small Irish catchments. Finally the project will produce a list of small-scale benchmark catchments which will be recommended for long term monitoring in order to be used as study catchments demonstrating the dynamics of typical small scale catchments in Ireland.

Grant Approved

�74,149.00

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Protecting our Water Resources

Start Date

14/04/2014

Initial Projected Completion Date

14/04/2015