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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment » Agroecosystems Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #408936
Research Project: Sustainable Intensification in Agricultural Watersheds through Optimized Management and Technology

Location: Agroecosystems Management Research

Title: Climate change impacts on spatio-temporal soil water extremes in geophysically diverse watersheds: A comparison between east and west Tennessee watersheds

Author
item SAHA, PROBAL - University Of Tennessee
item HATHAWAY, J - University Of Tennessee
item SCHWARTZ, J - University Of Tennessee
item WILSON, C - University Of Tennessee
item ABBAN, B - Us Bureau Of Reclamation
item Papanicolaou, Athanasios

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2023
Publication Date: 12/11/2023
Citation: Saha, P., Hathaway, J., Schwartz, J., Wilson, C., Abban, B., Papanicolaou, A.N. 2023. Climate change impacts on spatio-temporal soil water extremes in geophysically diverse watersheds: A comparison between east and west Tennessee watersheds [abstract]. Meeting Abstract. Vol. 103, p. 167-172.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Climate change impacts hydrologic processes, compelling more regional water budget studies to understand spatio-temporal hydrological extremes. This study investigates the effects of climate change on water budgets, with a focus on soil moisture, in two Tennessee watersheds with different geo-climatic characteristics, Obion and Nolichucky Rivers. Using the hydrological model VIC, the study projects water budgets for these watersheds until 2099, analyzing annual and seasonal runoff, recharge, and soil moisture to identify trends and extremes. Results show that an increase in temperature of 2.7-6.4°C and a change of precipitation by 1-4% is predicted for Tennessee, which will impact seasonal patterns, water balances, and soil moisture regimes. The overlapping of such impacts can lower soil moisture below the wilting point during 40-50% of the growing season, impacting crop yields. The study identifies field capacity, clay soil percentage, and organic matter as key factors impacting the spatial extremes of croplands' irrigation requirements. These findings underscore the need to understand soil moisture variability and extreme soil water conditions to optimize soil-water management scenarios and mitigate future water shortage risks.