Applicability of the swat hydrological model in paraibuna river basin, SP – Brazil

Abstract

The water available for human consumption is becoming increasingly scarce. Faced with this problem, one possibility to improve the understanding of water behavior, is the use of technologies, particularly the integration of GIS with hydrological modeling. The present study is intended to test the applicability of SWAT hydrological model for flow estimation in the stretch of Paraibuna river basin-Paraiba Valley, in the Atlantic Forest region, in the state of São Paulo, one of the tributaries of Paraíba do Sul river. Climatic and fluviometric data were collected with a historical series of 22 years. In the calibration and validation, good adherence was observed across simulated and observed data, that is, the simulated values recognized the peaks and recessions of the observed values. The statistical indices (NS, PBIAS, RSR and R²) calculated were qualified as very good for the estimation of flows. The results confirmed the applicability of the model, so it can serve as a tool for planning and management of water resources public policies in watersheds, in the Atlantic Forest region. The SWAT hydrological model was very good and suitable for estimation of flow and water balance in the stretch of the Paraibuna river basin.