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Groundwater Modelling in southeast Cambodia - Facing irrigation and groundwater level changes during a pandemic

Bertolatus, Svea LU (2024) In TVVR 5000 VVRM01 20221
Division of Water Resources Engineering
Abstract
In the Mekong region, sustainable water resource management is a significant challenge for all countries involved. In Cambodia, where rice production is crucial for household food security and export, groundwater is increasingly used for irrigation during the dry season, leading to higher rice yields. However, this unplanned and unregulated use of groundwater is causing depleting groundwater levels in the region. Economic challenges and pandemic restrictions have likely changed irrigation patterns, affecting groundwater storage. To investigate the impact of changing irrigation patterns on groundwater levels during the pandemic a groundwater model using GMS MODFLOW was established, initially creating a steady-state model and then... (More)
In the Mekong region, sustainable water resource management is a significant challenge for all countries involved. In Cambodia, where rice production is crucial for household food security and export, groundwater is increasingly used for irrigation during the dry season, leading to higher rice yields. However, this unplanned and unregulated use of groundwater is causing depleting groundwater levels in the region. Economic challenges and pandemic restrictions have likely changed irrigation patterns, affecting groundwater storage. To investigate the impact of changing irrigation patterns on groundwater levels during the pandemic a groundwater model using GMS MODFLOW was established, initially creating a steady-state model and then transitioning to a transient-state model, where evapotranspiration (ET) should be used as an indicator of groundwater irrigation. Furthermore, input data to the model were collected during field visits in Cambodia. The calibrated models performed well, but automated parameter estimation faced computational issues. Analysis showed increased groundwater decline during the pandemic. Data limitations and simplifications were acknowledged, suggesting a need for better data and model enhancements for accurate groundwater modelling and sustainable water management. (Less)
Popular Abstract
In the Mekong region, managing water resources sustainably is a big challenge. In Cambodia, where rice farming is vital for food security and exports, groundwater is now a source for irrigation, especially during the dry season, increasing rice yields. However, this unregulated use is causing groundwater levels to drop. Economic challenges and pandemic measures likely changed irrigation patterns, affecting groundwater storage. To understand these changes, GMS MODFLOW was used to create a groundwater model, and field visits in Cambodia were conducted, to collect the relevant input data to the model. Despite challenges with automated parameter estimation, the model performed well. Analysis showed increased groundwater decline during the... (More)
In the Mekong region, managing water resources sustainably is a big challenge. In Cambodia, where rice farming is vital for food security and exports, groundwater is now a source for irrigation, especially during the dry season, increasing rice yields. However, this unregulated use is causing groundwater levels to drop. Economic challenges and pandemic measures likely changed irrigation patterns, affecting groundwater storage. To understand these changes, GMS MODFLOW was used to create a groundwater model, and field visits in Cambodia were conducted, to collect the relevant input data to the model. Despite challenges with automated parameter estimation, the model performed well. Analysis showed increased groundwater decline during the pandemic. Data limitations and simplifications suggest a need for better data and model enhancements for accurate groundwater modelling and sustainable water management. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bertolatus, Svea LU
supervisor
organization
course
VVRM01 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Cambodia, GMS Modflow, Groundwater modelling, irrigation, Mekong, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng
publication/series
TVVR 5000
report number
TVVR22/5014
ISSN
1101-9824
language
English
additional info
Examiner: Ronny Berndtsson
id
9148626
date added to LUP
2024-02-16 09:18:45
date last changed
2024-02-16 09:18:45
@misc{9148626,
  abstract     = {{In the Mekong region, sustainable water resource management is a significant challenge for all countries involved. In Cambodia, where rice production is crucial for household food security and export, groundwater is increasingly used for irrigation during the dry season, leading to higher rice yields. However, this unplanned and unregulated use of groundwater is causing depleting groundwater levels in the region. Economic challenges and pandemic restrictions have likely changed irrigation patterns, affecting groundwater storage. To investigate the impact of changing irrigation patterns on groundwater levels during the pandemic a groundwater model using GMS MODFLOW was established, initially creating a steady-state model and then transitioning to a transient-state model, where evapotranspiration (ET) should be used as an indicator of groundwater irrigation. Furthermore, input data to the model were collected during field visits in Cambodia. The calibrated models performed well, but automated parameter estimation faced computational issues. Analysis showed increased groundwater decline during the pandemic. Data limitations and simplifications were acknowledged, suggesting a need for better data and model enhancements for accurate groundwater modelling and sustainable water management.}},
  author       = {{Bertolatus, Svea}},
  issn         = {{1101-9824}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{TVVR 5000}},
  title        = {{Groundwater Modelling in southeast Cambodia - Facing irrigation and groundwater level changes during a pandemic}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}