Modifying the SWAT Model to Simulate Eco-Hydrological Processes in an Arid Grassland Dominated Watershed

Grasslands are the main land cover type and one of most important ecosystems in arid alpine endorheic basins. The vegetation coverage grasslands is spatially heterogeneous areas it may lead to variations water allocation. Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) widely used semi-distributed catchment-scale eco-hydrological models. leaf area index (LAI) indexes incorporated SWAT model. However, SWAT, LAI accumulation controlled by heat, neglects other relevant factors such as precipitation terrain. To address drawbacks simulating plant patterns, several studies have focused on improving estimation. they still been limited with different coverages. In this study, we modified model using remotely sensed data high temporal spatial resolution. We better simulate processes grassland basins coverages upper reaches Bayin River Basin. Results showed that for original model, simulated was homogeneous within each use/cover type, whereas captured entire basin. proper estimation reflected improved simulation monthly streamflow sediment yield at basin outlet ET. These findings indicate could hydrological