Tássia Brighenti

Iowa State University | ISU · Center for Agricultural and Rural Development

Improving food systems to address food insecurity and minimize environmental impacts is still a challenge in the 21st century. Ecohydrological models are a key tool for accurate system representation and impact measurement. We used a multi-phase testing approach to represent baseline hydrologic conditions across three agricultural basins that drain...

In this study, we evaluate the implications of a bias correction method on a combination of Global/Regional Climate Models (GCM and RCM) for simulating precipitation and, subsequently, streamflow, surface runoff, and water yield in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The study area is the Des Moines River Basin, U.S.A. The climate projection...

Gassman, P., Y. Ji, and T.M. Brighenti. 2023. "Linking Water Quality Improvement with Economic Benefits to the Iowa Population." Agricultural Policy Review Fall 2023. Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University. Available at: https://agpolicyreview.card.iastate.edu/fall-2023/linking-water-quality-improvement-economic-benef...

Tile drainage is a common practice to increase agricultural productivity in regions with high water tables. Ecohydrological models, such as the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), are key tools used to simulate these subsurface drainage structures and their corresponding management effects on water balance. This study is an investigation of the...

Most farmland in the US Corn Belt is used to grow row crops at large scales (e.g., corn, soybean) that are highly processed before entering the human food stream rather than specialty crops grown in smaller areas and meant for direct human consumption (table food). Bolstering local table food production close to urban populations in this region thr...

Several factors, including science, markets, and policies influence decisions regarding agricultural systems (e.g., crop type and farming practices). This study indicates potential strengths and weaknesses of different crop production scenarios and how they affect agricultural sustainability. A shift in land use to increase table food production in...

The Iowa Urban FEWS project is focused on developing sustainable food production systems in the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area (DM-MSA). Multiple models are being integrated within the project to evaluate the impact of converting cropland, peri-urban and/or urban landscapes to fruit and vegetable production in DM-MSA trans...

The spatial and temporal scale of rainfall datasets is crucial in modeling hydrological processes. Recently, open-access satellite precipitation products with improved resolution have evolved as a potential alternative to sparsely distributed ground-based observations, which sometimes fail to capture the spatial variability of rainfall. However, th...

The spatial and temporal scale of rainfall datasets is crucial in modeling hydrological processes. Recently, open-access satellite precipitation products with improved resolution have evolved as a potential alternative to sparsely distributed ground-based observations, which sometimes fail to capture the spatial variability of rainfall. However, th...

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a watershed-scale hydrologic model that integrates water quantity and quality modules. Despite the large amount of knowledge on the SWAT model, specific understanding of sub-daily applications remains limited. In this review, we identify the shortcomings and possible ways forward in simulating sub-daily...

The proper estimation of streamflow (Q) and suspended sediment (SS) have important implications for sus-tainable water management. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a distributed, physically-based anddynamic model that integrates water quantity and quality routines. SWAT is considered an effective tool forassessing water and soil resources...

A precipitação é uma das variáveis mais importantes do ciclo hidrológico e um dado de entrada indispensável em modelos hidrológicos. Porém, algumas regiões não possuem medição pontual de chuva ou quando existentes incluem períodos de observação curtos e incompletos. Assim, estimativas de precipitação por satélite são uma ferramenta extremamente úti...

The rainfall interception by forests plays a major role in determining total evaporation and the amount of water and solutes available to the soil. Those are major components in the water balance and their estimation is highly uncertain. Even though evaporation and the spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall play a major role in hydrological...

Precipitation is one of the most important variables of the hydrological cycle and an indispensable input in hydrological models. However, some regions do not have rain gauges measurements or if existing they include short and incomplete observation periods. In turn, satellite precipitation estimates are an extremely useful tool. The objective of t...

In hydrological models like SWAT, the quantity of used parameters is a frequently-discussed subject. Sensitivity analysis is a fundamental step in understanding the parametersínfluenceparametersínfluence on model behavior, and has role to decrease the number of parameters when calibration process is required. The aim of the study is to apply a Glob...

One of the main challenges of hydrological modeling is the effective calibration of model parameters. The aim of this study was to test a hierarchical calibration scheme for the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model by considering land use and climate changes. The study area was the Rio Negrinho watershed, located in Santa Catarina State, Bra...