Tresaproximaciones
Enviado por imarcha • 16 de Diciembre de 2013 • 9.852 Palabras (40 Páginas) • 165 Visitas
Investigaciones Geográficas, Boletín del Instituto de Geografía, UNAM
ISSN 0188-4611, Núm. 76, 2011, pp. 34-55
Three approaches to the assessment of spatio-temporal
distribution of the water balance: the case of the Cuitzeo basin,
Michoacán, Mexico
Received: 20 September 2010. Final version accepted: 23 March 2011
Alfredo Amador García *
Erna Granados López**
Manuel E. Mendoza***
Abstract. Spatial distribution of the energy and flows of
the hydrologic cycle in the form of evapotranspiration,
runoff and infiltration within a region is a function of the
climate (precipitation, temperature and evaporation) and
landscape (relief, soil, land cover) of the area, and constitutes
the hydrological cycle. The general model evaluating each
of these sections and flows is the water balance. Methods
for calculating the water balance in a region are based on
either mass transference or energy transference. The aim of
the present work was to calculate the spatially distributed
regional water balance in a poorly gauged basin by each of
three methods, and to evaluate these methods by comparing
the results. Spatial modelling of the hydrometeorological
variables used the ArcView 3.2 geographic information
system; hydrological modelling made using HEC system
version 3.1.0. The first approach was based on analysis of
the information recorded at the available meteorological
stations, point estimation of the monthly water balance
according to the Thornthwaite and Mather method, and the
use of Thiessen polygons. The second approach was based
on the calculation and distribution of the parameters for the
Thornthwaite and Mather method. The third approach used
the FAO–Penman equation. The models were applied to the
Lake Cuitzeo basin. The result obtained by the third method
indicated a mean annual volume of runoff of 229.05 hm3.
This volume is only 8.5 hm3 less than that estimated as necessary
for maintaining a depth of 1 m throughout the Lake
Cuitzeo water body. This difference represents a possible
fluctuation of 2 cm in the mean level of the surface of the
lake. The HEC model represents an alternative for modelling
the basin since it requires relatively few inputs, of which the
main ones (temperature, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration,
evapotranspiration) are obtainable or deducible by
means of one or other of the approaches presented here.
Key words: Spatial modelling, water balance, poorly gauged
basins, watershed management.
* Facultad de Biología, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Edif. R, 58030, Morelia,
Michoacán, Mexico. E-mail: aamador@umich.mx
* Departamento de Geología y Mineralogía, Instituto de Investigaciones Metalúrgicas, Universidad Michoacana de San
Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Edif. U, 58030, Morelia, Michoacán, México. E-mail: ernalopez2004@yahoo.
com.mx
*** Centro de Investigaciones en Geografía Ambiental (CIGA), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua
Carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Col. Ex Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. E-mail:
mmendoza@ciga.unam.mx
Investigaciones Geográficas, Boletín 76, 2011 ][ 35
Three approaches to the assessment of spatio-temporal distribution of the water balance: the case of the Cuitzeo basin...
INTRODUCTION
The spatial distribution of the energy and the
flows of the hydrologic cycle in the form of vapour
(evapotranspiration), runoff and infiltration in a
region are a function of its climate (precipitation,
temperature and evaporation) and landscape (relief,
soil and land cover) (He et al., 2000; Mendoza et
al., 2002). Measurement, estimation and modelling
of changes in the values of these flows can
reveal critical areas of a basin and can influence
decisions appropriate for water management.
One of the key components of the water balance
is evapotranspiration. This is a concept coined in
1948 by C.W. Thornthwaite, who was the first to
devise a method for the regional estimation of this
parameter (Hewlett, 1982). According to Ward and
Trimble (2003), evapotranspiration is so important
that it can represent a magnitude and proportion
equivalent to the quantity of water that occurs in
the form of runoff or infiltration at the global level
and in the balance of many basins.
In general, it is considered that evapotranspiration
under more or less natural conditions
shows less annual variation than parameters such
as precipitation or runoff. However, thinning of
vegetation and change in land use can significantly
reduce this parameter, so that consideration of the
water balance has revealed consequent increases of
up to 70% in the annual runoff (Hewlett, 1982).
The combination of methods for determining
evapotranspiration (ET) and the execution of a
spatially distributed hydrologic model based on
evaluation of morphometric, climatic and biophysics
characteristics of the study area represents
an opportunity to model the runoff (Q). In its turn,
this allows evaluation of the optimal scenarios for
ET, and hence is a useful method in supporting
decision-making in water management for the
basin. This is because it can group spatio-temporal
units of hydrologic response (SCS, 1972; Hay et al.,
1993; Neitsch et al., 2001) that can be incorporated
into simulations of runoff and periods of retention
of moisture in the basin, either under present conditions
or in projections of possible trends or bestcase
projections of land-use change in the basin.
With regard to the Cuitzeo basin in Michoacán,
Mexico, some studies have focused on a review of
Tres aproximaciones para estimación y distribución
espacio-temporal del balance hídrico: el caso de la cuenca
de Cuitzeo, Michoacán, México
Resumen. La distribución espacial de la energía y los flujos
de ciclo hidrológico en forma de vapor (evapotranspiración),
escurrimiento e infiltración en una región, son una función
de las características climáticas (precipitación, temperatura y
evaporación) y del paisaje
...