Hydrological Modelling in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas: KINEROS2 and the AGWA modelling Framework

The Kinematic Runoff and Erosion Model, KINEROS2, is a distributed, physicallybased, event model describing the processes of interception, dynamic infiltration, surface runoff, and erosion from watersheds characterized by predominantly overland flow. The watershed is conceptualized as a cascade of planes and channels, over which flow is routed in a top-down approach using a finite difference solution of the one-dimensional kinematic wave equations. KINEROS2 may be used to evaluate the effects of various artificial features such as urban developments, detention reservoirs, circular conduits, or lined channels on flood hydrographs and sediment yield. A geographic information system (GIS) user interface for KINEROS2, the Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment (AGWA) tool, facilitates parameterization and calibration of the model. AGWA uses internationally available spatial datasets to delineate the watershed, subdivide it into model elements, and derive all necessary parameter inputs for each model element. AGWA also enables the spatial visualization and comparison of model results, and thus permits the assessment of hydrologic impacts associated with landscape change. The utilization of a GIS further provides a means of relating model results to other spatial information.