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Impact of wetland restoration on river discharge - A case study of Bråån, Skåne, Sweden

Luda, Ardis LU (2023) In Student thesis series INES NGEK01 20231
Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
Abstract (Swedish)
Land use change is a factor not often considered when modeling river discharge in regard to
future flood risk. The restoration of wetlands is an ongoing land use change which affects water
storage capacity in the soils of a catchment and could lead to lower flows in rivers. This study
analysed the effect of an increased wetland area on river discharge in the Bråån catchment in
Skåne, Sweden. Discharge was modeled with the HYPE model, developed by the Swedish
Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI). Input data included land use and soil type
data, which are classified into soil-land use classes, as well as climate, discharge and elevation
data. Wetlands were modeled as constructed internal wetlands with water... (More)
Land use change is a factor not often considered when modeling river discharge in regard to
future flood risk. The restoration of wetlands is an ongoing land use change which affects water
storage capacity in the soils of a catchment and could lead to lower flows in rivers. This study
analysed the effect of an increased wetland area on river discharge in the Bråån catchment in
Skåne, Sweden. Discharge was modeled with the HYPE model, developed by the Swedish
Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI). Input data included land use and soil type
data, which are classified into soil-land use classes, as well as climate, discharge and elevation
data. Wetlands were modeled as constructed internal wetlands with water regulation capability.
A GIS-analysis for future potential wetland areas from The County Administrative Board of
Skåne (Länsstyrelsen Skåne) served as the base for a realistic wetland increase scenario. River
discharge decreased by 2% with the realistic increase. The main reasons for the reduction of
discharge are the increase in peat soils and higher evaporation. However, soil and land use
parameter values could be improved, and a more complex incorporation of HYPE’s routines
could be done to achieve a better model fit. The small reduction in discharge implicates that
land use change in form of more wetlands does have an effect on river flow. This should be
considered in e.g. future flood mapping and hydrological modeling. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Luda, Ardis LU
supervisor
organization
course
NGEK01 20231
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
wetlands, wetland restoration, HYPE model, river discharge, Sweden, land use change, flooding, hydrological modeling
publication/series
Student thesis series INES
report number
599
language
English
id
9126505
date added to LUP
2023-06-21 09:35:19
date last changed
2023-06-21 09:35:19
@misc{9126505,
  abstract     = {{Land use change is a factor not often considered when modeling river discharge in regard to 
future flood risk. The restoration of wetlands is an ongoing land use change which affects water 
storage capacity in the soils of a catchment and could lead to lower flows in rivers. This study 
analysed the effect of an increased wetland area on river discharge in the Bråån catchment in 
Skåne, Sweden. Discharge was modeled with the HYPE model, developed by the Swedish 
Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI). Input data included land use and soil type 
data, which are classified into soil-land use classes, as well as climate, discharge and elevation 
data. Wetlands were modeled as constructed internal wetlands with water regulation capability. 
A GIS-analysis for future potential wetland areas from The County Administrative Board of 
Skåne (Länsstyrelsen Skåne) served as the base for a realistic wetland increase scenario. River 
discharge decreased by 2% with the realistic increase. The main reasons for the reduction of 
discharge are the increase in peat soils and higher evaporation. However, soil and land use 
parameter values could be improved, and a more complex incorporation of HYPE’s routines 
could be done to achieve a better model fit. The small reduction in discharge implicates that 
land use change in form of more wetlands does have an effect on river flow. This should be 
considered in e.g. future flood mapping and hydrological modeling.}},
  author       = {{Luda, Ardis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Student thesis series INES}},
  title        = {{Impact of wetland restoration on river discharge - A case study of Bråån, Skåne, Sweden}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}