Assessing the Hydrological and Sedimentary Reality of Amman/Zarqa Basin using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool

Abstract

This study aims at analyzing and simulating the hydrological and sedimentary reality of Amman/Zarqa Basin using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in order to support hydrological management plans for the basin; make the most of the available water resources in the basin; and build a hydrological database for the basin using climatic and hydrological data rendered by Jordan Meteorological Department. The study found that Amman/Zarqa Basin receives an average rainfall of 293.2 mm/year, the greater part of which is being lost by evaporation as 69.9% of the total precipitation is lost as a result of the actual evaporation process. On the other hand, the surface runoff receives 10.1% of the total precipitation on Amman/Zarqa Basin. The study concluded the need to intensify the reliance on the (SWAT) in the hydrological and sedimentary modeling processes of basins, as its results proved to be effective and efficient in the hydrological management of water basins and in the determination of the quantities of sediments produced by the runoff in the basin. Thus, it helps in determining the extent of feasibility of established hydrological projects such as the King Talal dam and determining the period taken by sediments to fill it.