Publications

Rautela, KS; Kumar, D; Gandhi, BGR; Kumar, A; Dubey, AK; Khati, BS (2023). Evaluating hydroelectric potential in Alaknanda basin, Uttarakhand using the snowmelt runoff model (SRM). JOURNAL OF WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

Abstract
The remote sensing and GIS tools provide reliable information for assessing the available water. In this study, the basin is divided into 12 elevation zones and temperature and precipitation are extrapolated within these zones. The MODIS (Terra and Aqua) cloud-free images have been used for mapping snow cover area (SCA) and it was found that the SCA will vary from 12 to 72% during the simulation period. The model simulation period is divided into calibration (2003-2015) and validation (2016-2019). The three hydrological and statistical indices have been used to judge the model efficiency. It was found that the efficiency parameters are much beyond the acceptable range for both periods. In this study, the snowmelt's contribution increases till zone 8; after this, the snowmelt contribution decreases, and the snow accumulation increases. The simulation of daily streamflow and generated hydroelectric power (HEP) are compared with the measured values, and both tracked the observed pattern very precisely. The findings of the present study will be implemented on the other ungauged basins and could help us to identify the potential sites for HEP with the help of RS and GIS tools.

DOI:
10.2166/wcc.2023.341

ISSN:
2408-9354