Global Institute for Water Security

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https://hdl.handle.net/10388/13700

The Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS) at the University of Saskatchewan is the top water resources research institute in Canada and one of the most advanced hydrology research centres in the world. GIWS is dedicated to helping protect our precious freshwater resources needed for the world’s growing demand for sustainable food production, mitigating the risk of water-related disasters such as floods, droughts, and fires, predicting and forecasting extremes of global change through the use of advanced remote sensing and modelling techniques, and co-creating traditional knowledge with western science to empower Indigenous communities in protecting water health.

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 90

Adsorption of Pb2+ by Activated Carbon Produced by Microwave-Assisted K2CO3 Activation of Date Palm Leaf Sheath Fibres
(MDPI, 2023-11-08) aloud, saud; Kobrossy, Bassim; Mohamad Yusop, Mohamad Firdaus; Alharbi, Hattan; Giesy, John; Alotaibi, Khaled D.
Date palm trees generate large amounts of various types of waste, including leaf sheath fibres, which can be used as a low-cost precursor for the production of biochar, including activated carbon (AC), which can be employed for the adsorption of contaminants. In the current study, activated carbon was produced from leaf sheath fibres of date palms (LSDPFAC) by the use of chemical activation with K2CO3 combined with microwave irradiation, and it was characterised and evaluated for its adsorptive capacity of lead ions (Pb2+). The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, Langmuir surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter of the LSDPFAC were 560.20 m2/g, 744.31 m2/g, 0.29 cm3/g and 2.47 nm, respectively. A greater adsorption of Pb2+ was observed when its concentration was higher in the solution, and the greatest adsorption capacity of 5.67 mg Pb/g was observed at the highest pH. The results of isotherm and kinetic studies demonstrated that the adsorption of Pb2+ onto the LSDPFAC was best described by the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order (PSO) models. The Langmuir ΔG° and Ea were 6.39 kJ/mol, 0.12 kJ/mol K, −31.28 kJ/mol and 15.90 kJ/mol, respectively, which demonstrated that the adsorption of Pb2+ by the LSDPFAC was endothermic, spontaneous and governed by physisorption.
An Overview of Common Sediment Contaminants and Remediation Methods in North America and Europe
(2020-08) Bird, Elaine
The Saskatchewan River Delta is one of the most extensive and biodiverse inland deltas in Canada. This area is situated on the traditional land of the Cumberland House Cree Nation, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, and Cumberland House Métis. There have been vast changes to the Saskatchewan River Delta’s flow patterns in the past century, which have had a profound impact on the people who live there as well as the surrounding ecosystem. One of the most prevelant results has been an overall reduction in the amount of water that reaches the delta in the summer. These changes have negatively impacted fish production in the area, which many of the inhabitants rely on as a valuable resource. In addition to the flow changes, sediment has become trapped in the reservoirs upstream, which yields a net sediment depletion in the delta over time. This depletion causes the banks and channel beds to erode, which has negative impacts on the surrounding areas as well. Sediment restoration is needed, but possible sediment sources may be contaminated, and so sediment management techniques must incorporate remediation methods that are feasible for the area. This project is a part of a larger project that is striving to determine whether sediment restoration is a viable option for the Saskatchewan River Delta.
Analysis of Turbulence and Turbulence Kinetic Energy Dynamics in Complex Terrain
(AGU Publications, 2025-02-28) Rohanizadegan, Mina; Petrone, Richard M.; Pomeroy, John W.; Kosovic, Branko
Boundary layer processes and turbulence in a complex terrain are influenced by thermally driven flows, as well as dynamically forced flows when ambient wind interacts with orography. This paper investigates the variability in turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) with elevation and topography in a shallow high mountain valley in the Canadian Rockies. The Fortress Mountain Research Basin in the Kananaskis Valley, Alberta, was chosen for this study. Data from three high-frequency eddy-covariance systems at a northwest-facing slope, and at two ridgetops at the south and north valley sidewalls were used for the analysis, and combined with large-eddy simulations at 90 m horizontal grid spacing. The observed data and simulations focused on a sunny summer day when turbulence was well-developed, and cross-ridge flows interacted with thermally driven circulations. The observed TKE time series compared reasonably well with simulations at the northwest-facing slope and southern ridgetop. The model was then used to evaluate the vertical and horizontal TKE-budget equation. Analysis of the TKE budget showed that horizontal shear production and advection of TKE driven by horizontal wind-gradients in cross-ridge flows, and the interaction of these flows with the up-valley flow could be an important source of TKE production on the northwest-facing slope station in the Fortress Valley. The variability observed in TKE budget components across different locations within this high mountain basin indicates the significance of both horizontal and vertical exchange processes in the mechanisms governing TKE production.
Analyzing water uptake of apple trees using isotopic techniques in the Shandong Peninsula, China
(Elsevier, 2025-01-03) Pang, Tianze; Zhao, Ying; Poca, Maria; Wang, Jianjun; Li, Hongchen; Liu, Jinzhao
Study region The hilly area of Shandong Peninsula is a pivotal apple-producing region in China. However, the precise water sources utilized by the apple trees for transpiration remain poorly understood in this region. Study focus Here we quantify the water sources used by apple trees in this area using stable isotopic tracing methods. Through on-field studies in a representative apple orchard and subsequent isotopic assessments, the primary water sources tapped by the apple trees were identified in three plots with contrasting soil characteristics and through 5 days of sub daily sampling. New hydrological insights for the region Our results show that apple trees have a marked preference for soil water centered at the 60 cm depth, with more deep water use at plots without weathered layers. Notably, the isotopic compositions of the xylem water leaned more towards signatures of soil water, rather than immediate irrigation water or groundwater. Given the irrigation water used to be the dominant water source recharging into soil, the weak contribution of irrigation water to plant would be attributed to the high soil evaporation rates during the growth phase, which strongly alter the isotopic composition of irrigation water in shallow soil layers. These insights boosted our comprehension of water sourcing mechanisms in the sloped orchard ecosystems in the Shandong Peninsula and lay the groundwork for deeper exploration into the irrigation ratio to rainwater utilized by apple trees in comparable regions.
The Art of Flood Forecasting : Making a difference on the ground
(Global Water Futures Core Modelling, 2023-03) Arnal, Louise
Experience of a Global Water Futures researcher using art to communicate scientific research.
Assessing hydrological sensitivity to future climate change in the Canadian southern boreal forest
(2023) He, Zhihua; Pomeroy, John
Biodiversity & Wetlands Infographic
(Global Water Futures: Prairie Water Project. University of Saskatchewan, 2022) Morrison, Alasdair; Clark, Bob
Blackberry Dreams : Modelling water vapour’s role in climate change
(Global Water Futures Core Modelling, 2023-03) Laguë, Marysa
A group of young modelers collaborate to simulate an alternate Planet Earth.
Both Eyes on the Ice : Investigating a hazard on the Slave River
(Global Water Futures Integrated Modeling Program for Canada, 2/1/2023) Lindenschmidt, Karl-Erich
Personal account from a scientist about learning from his local guide while conducting river ice research in the Canadian Northwest Territories.
Braiding Knowledge Systems : Learning the value of what we don’t know
(Global Water Futures Integrated Modelling Program for Canada, 2023-03) Stadnyk, Tricia
Experience of a Global Water Futures researcher in exchanging knowledge with an Indigenous community affected by water problems.
Building on a Legacy : Working with users to revitalize the CRHM hydrological model
(Global Water Futures Core Computer Science, 2/1/2023) Roy, Banani
A computer scientist's personal account of the challenges involved in collaboratively migrating the CRHM hydrological modelling tool.
The Canadian Hydrological Model: A New Way to Estimate Snowpacks in the Canadian Rockies
(The Avalanche Journal, 2022) Marsh, Christopher; Vionnet, Vincent; Pomeroy, John
Caring about the Extremes : Combining resources to calculate flood risk in the Bow River Basin
(Global Water Futures Mountain Water Futures, 2023-03) Pomeroy, John W
Scientists, water managers, and engineers from all levels of government work together to predict flooding that threatens a major Canadian city.
CFREF white paper : knowledge mobilization (KM)
(Global Water Futures, 3/1/2017)
Come Hail or High Water : Exchanging insurance and drought knowledge to advance research and its application
(Global Water Futures, 2/1/2023) Wheaton, Elaine
Personal account of a climate scientist's interactions with knowledge users looking at extreme weather in the Canadian West.
Converting land use–land cover to E. coli contamination potential classes for improved management of groundwater wells: a case study in Ontario, Canada
(Springer, 2024-12-19) White, Katie; Schuster Wallace, Corinne; Dickson-Anderson, Sarah
Land use-land cover (LULC) types have been used as a proxy for Escherichia Coli (E. coli) sources and transport mechanisms. This study aims to advance the understanding of the relationship between LULC and E. coli presence in wells for the 11 major LULC categories. This represents a novel approach for assessing the broad potential for well contamination and informing groundwater management strategies. The approach combines insights gained from regression analyses conducted using a combination of large datasets with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) method for consistent treatment of uncertainties within literature. Generalized Additive Models for Location, Shape, and Scale (GAMLSS) regression analyses were used to identify and support relationships between a large dataset of E. coli presence in wells and LULC data, identifying potential risk classes. A raster dataset for Ontario, Canada identifying areas of low to very high potential for E. coli presence in wells was created. Notably, the pastoral/agricultural LULC category was found to be in the very high-risk class, urban and aggregate mines in the high-risk class, forest in the moderate risk class, and water and grasslands in the low-risk class. However, gaps in understanding the relationship between some LULC categories and the presence of E. coli in wells remain in the disturbance, bedrock, and scrubland LULCs due to data limitations in both the study area and literature. These results provide private well users, who may lack technical expertise, with an accessible source of information on the potential for E. coli contamination.
Crop models and their use in assessing crop production and food security: A review
(Wiley Open Access [Commercial Publisher], Association of Applied Biologists [Society Publisher], 2023) Gavasso-Rita, Yohanne Larissa; Papalexiou, Simon Michael; Li, Yanping; Elshorbagy, Amin; Li, Zhenhua; Schuster Wallace, Corinne
Agriculture is directly related to food security as it determines the global food supply. Research in agriculture to predict crop productivity and losses helps avoid high food demand with little supply and price spikes. Here, we review ten crop models and one intercomparison project used for simulating crop growth and productivity under various impacts from soil–crop– atmosphere interactions. The review outlines food security and production assessments using numerical models for maize, wheat, and rice production. A summary of reviewed studies shows the following: (1) model ensembles provide smaller modeling errors compared to single models, (2) single models show better results when coupled with other types of models, (3) the ten reviewed crop models had improvements over the years and can accurately predict crop growth and yield for most of the locations, management conditions, and genotypes tested, (4) APSIM and DSSAT are fast and reliable in assessing broader output variables, (5) AquaCrop is indicated to investigate water footprint, quality and use efficiency in rainfed and irrigated systems, (6) all models assess nitrogen dynamics and use efficiency efficiently, excluding AquaCrop and WOFOST, (7) JULES specifies in evaluating food security vulnerability, (8) ORYZA is the main crop model used to evaluate paddy rice production, (9) grain filling is usually assessed with APSIM, DAISY, and DSSAT, and (10) the ten crop models can be used as tools to evaluate food production, availability, and security.
Developing spring wheat in the Noah-MP land surface model (v4.4) for growing season dynamics and responses to temperature stress
(European Geosciences Union [Society Publisher], Copernicus Publications [Commercial Publisher], 2023) Zhang, Zhe; Li, Yanping; Chen, Fei; Harder, Philip; Helgason, Warren D.; Famiglietti, James; Valayamkunnath, Prasanth; He, Cenlin; Li, Zhenhua
The US Northern Great Plains and the Canadian Prairies are known as the world’s breadbaskets for their large spring wheat production and exports to the world. It is essential to accurately represent spring wheat growing dynamics and final yield and improve our ability to predict food production under climate change. This study attempts to incorporate spring wheat growth dynamics into the Noah-MP crop model for a long time period (13 years) and fine spatial scale (4 km). The study focuses on three aspects: (1) developing and calibrating the spring wheat model at a point scale, (2) applying a dynamic planting and harvest date to facilitate large-scale simulations, and (3) applying a temperature stress function to assess crop responses to heat stress amid extreme heat. Model results are evaluated using field observations, satellite leaf area index (LAI), and census data from Statistics Canada and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Results suggest that incorporating a dynamic planting and harvest threshold can better constrain the growing season, especially the peak timing and magnitude of wheat LAI, as well as obtain realistic yield compared to prescribing a static province/state-level map. Results also demonstrate an evident control of heat stress upon wheat yield in three Canadian Prairies Provinces, which are reasonably captured in the new temperature stress function. This study has important implications in terms of estimating crop yields, modeling the land–atmosphere interactions in agricultural areas, and predicting crop growth responses to increasing temperatures amidst climate change.
Development of the Prairie Hydrology Design and Analysis Product (PHyDAP)
(2023) Shook, Kevin; He, Zhihua; Spence, Christopher; Whitfield, Colin; Pomeroy, John
Currently, there are no tools which account for the complexities of prairie hydrology and hydrography available to hydrological practitioners for calculating return-period flows and flooding at small scales on the Canadian Prairies. The need for such tools is especially great due to non-stationarity from the effects of climate change and surface drainage. The Prairie Hydrology Design and Analysis Product (PHyDAP) uses the research results of the Global Water Futures Prairie Water Project to produce a spatial dataset which will allow practitioners to determine return-period flows and flooded areas in a scientifically defensible manner, while incorporating changes in the local climate and land use.
Diagnosing Hydrological Process Controls in Streamflow Generation and Variability in a 1 Glacierized Alpine Headwater Basin
(Wiley Online Library, 2022) Aubry-Wake, Caroline; Pradhananga, Dhiraj; Pomeroy, John
Mountain glacierized headwaters are currently witnessing a transient shift in their hydrological and glaciological systems in response to rapid climate change. To characterize these changes, a robust understanding of the hydrological processes operating in the basin and their interactions is needed. Such an investigation was undertaken in the Peyto Glacier Research Basin, Canadian Rockies over 32 years (1988–2020). A distributed, physically based, uncalibrated glacier hydrology model was developed using the modular, object-oriented Cold Region Hydrological Modelling Platform to simulate both on and off-glacier high mountain processes and streamflow generation. The hydrological processes that generate streamflow from this alpine basin are characterized by substantial inter-annual variability over the 32 years. Snowmelt runoff always provided the largest fraction of annual streamflow (44% to 89%), with smaller fractional contributions occurring in higher streamflow years. Ice melt runoff provided 10% to 45% of annual streamflow volume, with higher fractions associated with higher flow years. Both rainfall and firn melt runoff contributed less than 13% of annual streamflow. Years with high streamflow were on average 1.43°C warmer than low streamflow years, and higher streamflow years had lower seasonal snow accumulation, earlier snowmelt and higher summer rainfall than years with lower streamflow. Greater ice exposure in warmer, low snowfall (high rainfall) years led to greater streamflow generation. The understanding gained here provides insight into how future climate and increased meteorological variability may impact glacier meltwater contributions to streamflow and downstream water availability as alpine glaciers continue to retreat.

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