Inclusion of glacier processes for distributed hydrological modeling at basin scale with application to a watershed in Tianshan Mountains, northwest China

SummaryIn this paper we proposed: (1) an algorithm of glacier melt, sublimation/evaporation, accumulation, mass balance and retreat; (2) a dynamic Hydrological Response Unit approach for incorporating the algorithm into the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model; and (3) simulated the transient glacier retreat and its impacts on streamflow at basin scale. Application of the enhanced SWAT model in the Manas River Basin (MRB) in the Tianshan Mountains in northwest China, shows that the approach is viable as evidenced by a Nash–Sutcliff efficiency of 0.65 and a percent bias of −3.7% for daily streamflow and water balance, respectively. The results indicate that the glacier area decreased by 11% during the simulation period from 1961 to 1999, which is within the range of records from other glaciers. On average, glacier melt contributed 25% to streamflow, although glacier area accounts for only 14% of the catchment drainage area in the MRB. Glacier melt was positively correlated to temperature change (R2 = 0.70, statistical significance P < 0.001) and negatively correlated to precipitation (R2 = 0.20, statistical significance P < 0.005). The results indicate that glacier melt was more sensitive to temperature change than to precipitation change, implying that modeling the effects of climate change with increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitation should be further studied.

► A dynamic HRU method was proposed to simulate transient glacier retreat in SWAT.
► We simulated glacier impacts to streamflow in Manas River basin, northwest China.
► Glacier area reduced by 11% on average since 1961 due to warming climate.
► Glacier melt contributes 25% of streamflow with only 14% of catchment area.
► Glacier melt is more sensitive to temperature change than precipitation change.