Droughts are particularly critical for Brazil because of impacts on water supply and because most (70ĝ€%) of its electricity is derived from hydroelectric generation. The Paran� basin (PB), a major hydroelectric producing region with 32ĝ€% (60 million people) of Brazil's population, recently experienced the most severe drought since the 1960s, compromising the water supply for 11 million people in S�o Paulo. The objective of this study is to quantify linkages between meteorological and hydrological droughts based on remote sensing, modelling, and monitoring data using the Paran� River basin in south-eastern Brazil as a case study. Two major meteorological droughts were identified in the early 2000s and 2014, with precipitation 20-50ĝ€% below the long-term mean. Total water storage change estimated from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites declined by 150ĝ€km3 between April 2011 and April 2015. Simulated soil moisture storage declined during the droughts, resulting in decreased runoff into reservoirs. As a result, reservoir storage decreased by 30ĝ€% relative to the system's maximum capacity, with negative trends ranging from 17 (Mayĝ€1997-April 2001) to 25ĝ€km3ĝ€yrĝ'1 (May 2011-April 2015). Storage in upstream reservoirs is mostly controlled by natural climate forcing, whereas storage in downstream reservoirs also reflects dam operations. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating remote sensing, modelling, and monitoring data to evaluate droughts and to establish a preliminary understanding of the linkages between a meteorological and hydrological drought for future management. � Author(s) 2016.
Department of Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineering, University of S�o Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador S�o-carlense,400, S�o Carlos, SP, Brazil; Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX, United States; Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, 23 San Jacinto Blvd & E 23rd St, Austin, TX, United States
Recommended Citation:
Melo D,D,C,et al. Reservoir storage and hydrologic responses to droughts in the Paran� River basin, south-eastern Brazil[J]. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences,2016-01-01,20(11)