A linked modelling framework to explore interactions among climate, soil water, and land use decisions in the Argentine Pampas. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: García, Guillermo A.; García, Pablo E.; Rovere, Santiago L.; Bert, Federico E.; Schmidt, Federico; Menéndez, Ángel N.; Nosetto, Marcelo D.; Verdin, Andrew; Rajagopalan, Balaji; Arora, Poonam; Podestá, Guillermo P.
• Is Part Of: Environmental modelling & software. Volume 111(2019)
• Page Start: 459
• Page End: 471
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Natural-human systems -- MIKE SHE -- Agent-based model -- Agriculture -- Water table -- Risk management; SAB Salado A Basin -- WTD water table depth -- PM Pampas Model -- PI productivity index -- DSSAT Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer -- LAI leaf area index -- RD root depth -- SRTM Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission -- INTA National Agricultural Technology Institute (Argentina) -- SMN National Meteorological Service (Argentina); Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Computer simulation -- Periodicals; Digital computer simulation -- Periodicals; Computer software -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Computer Simulation -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Logiciels -- Périodiques; Écologie -- Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Simulation par ordinateur -- Périodiques; Logiciels -- Périodiques; Computer software; Digital computer simulation; Ecology -- Computer simulation; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70015118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2018.10.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-8152

Abstract

Abstract: In flat environments, groundwater is relatively shallow, tightly associated with surface water and climate, and can have either positive and negative impacts on natural and human systems depending on its depth. A linked modelling and analysis framework that seeks to capture linkages across multiple scales at the climate/water/crop nexus in the Argentine Pampas is presented. This region shows a strong coupling between climate, soil water, and land use due to its extremely flat topography and poorly developed drainage networks. The work describes the components of the framework and, subsequently, presents results from simulations performed with the twin goals of (i) validating the framework as a whole and (ii) demonstrating its usefulness to explore interesting contexts such as unexperienced climate scenarios (wet/dry periods), hypothetical policies (e.g., differential grains export taxes), and adoption of non-structural technologies (e.g., cover crops) to manage water table depth. Highlights: We explored climate, soil water, and land use interactions in the Argentine Pampas. A linked modelling framework was implemented to explore the climate/water/crop nexus. The modelling framework was conceptually validated as a whole. Simulation of interesting and complex scenarios proved the framework usefulness. Adoption of cover crops can reduce the risk of waterlogging and flooding.