WEAP Assignment

  • Due No Due Date
  • Points 10
  • Submitting a file upload

Learning Objectives

  • Access climate change projection data
  • Create a desktop database and load hydroclimate data in MySQL using TOAD
  • Create a downscaling (change factor approach) module in R
  • Use the WEAP system to set up the schematic, enter data, obtain results, and define + analyze scenarios
  • Automate WEAP analysis by providing access to climate projections

Computer and Data Requirements

  1. Climate model projection results from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) website (http://gdo-dcp.ucllnl.org)
  2. MySQL
  3. TOAD: Productivity Software for Database Developers, DBAs, and Analysts (http://www.quest.com/toad/ Links to an external site.)
  4. WEAP: Water Evaluation And Planning System (http://www.weap21.org/)

The Problem

Recent investigations suggest increases in global mean temperature and resulting changes in precipitation amount and distribution in many parts of the world. It is expected that global average surface air warming continues during the 21st century, and the frequency of hot extremes, heat waves and heavy precipitation events will continuously increase. The Salt Lake City Public Utilities (SLCPU) wishes to know how future projected climate scenarios may impact their water supply system. Recent research shows the Wasatch Front, north central part of Utah, may face wetter winters and dryer summers with higher temperatures in the future. This may cause changes in snowmelt timing and streamflow rates possibly leading to deficit volumes and expanded periods when existing sources cannot meet demands.

Your Assignment

Specifically, SLCPU requests you to (i) explain future trends and changes in precipitation by use of change factors (comparing historical period with future), (ii) create a database and a modeling framework to store and analyze the climate results and data, and (iii) create and present results of the analysis to help SLCPU understand possible future climate changes on local streamflow and water supply (specifically on the reliability of the system).

To meet this request, you shall download and analyze the projected climate change (precipitation) for scenario bcc-csm1-1 at three future periods (2010-2039, 2040-2079, and 2070-2099) relative to a recent historical period (1981-2010). The steps to complete this are described in “Class 23 Post-Class Handout”. Use your skills to complete the analyses and describe the projected change factors for different time slices and two stations (Parleys and airport). Remember monthly change factors shows the variation in period-mean monthly conditions between future and past, and the relationship between changes in precipitation.

You need to store change factors in a MySQL database along with future projected precipitation (from Canvas). Load the data into the database and draw the charts for change factors with TOAD.

The next step in this project is to create a WEAP model for the watersheds following the information provided in Class 24. Execute a simulation for the historical period (Class 24) and provide automation to execute the simulation for the future projected periods (Class 25). Analyze the results to provide a summary (using plots from WEAP and written explanations in your report) of the impacts of climate change on streamflow (Parley’s Creek, City Creek, Big Cottonwood Creek), volume in reservoirs (Little Dell and Mountain Dell), and reliability of the SLC water supply system at three locations (Murray, Midvale, Salt Lake City, and Agriculture).

If you follow handouts (Class 23-25), by the end of Class 25, you may have all the results you need to deliver as follows:

Deliverable

Submit a one-page briefing sheet that (1) introduces the analyses made for changes in precipitation based on change factors (include charts in appendix) that you have calculated in R and stored them in database and (2) describes the WEAP modeling analysis results. Explain and conclude from the analysis the possible future climate change impacts on the precipitation. The conclusion should clearly identify the potential impacts of climate change on SLC water supply system based on a synthesis of all the analyses.

You should also include appendices to provide:

  • Change factor charts for two stations and 3 time slices (2010-2039, 2040-2079, and 2070-2099)
  • Reliability chart for the SLC system during historical period
  • Figures and descriptive text summarizing the automation of WEAP and the WEAP model results under climate change condition

Submit all parts (one-page brief and appendices) as one organized PDF file.

Assignment #9: Download Hydroinformatics_Assignment_9.docx

Assignemnt #9 Rubric: Download Hydroinformatics_Assignment_9_Rubric.docx

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