A Comparison of Hydrological Model for Assessing the Flood Vulnerability in a Tropical Catchment

I Putu SANTIKAYASA#+, Muh TAUFIK

IPB University, Indonesia

Flood is one of the most devastating disasters in Indonesia. In this study, we compared different hydrological models

to assess the flood vulnerability in Cimanuk watershed in Indonesia. With this comparison, the sources of uncertainty

for the models were evaluated. Two models were used namely topographic wetness index (TWI) and Indonesian

national standard flood mapping (BSN). We predicted the flood extent and flood vulnerability using the both models.

The models were calibrated and validated using the observation data on the period of 1990 – 2010. The flood extent

during the period of simulation were simulated. Our results showed that TWI approach is better prediction flood extent

because TWI includes the topographic and land parameters to assess the flood. In addition, the TWI is able to

capture the most important surface parameters which are impact on the flood in the area. Overall, this study indicates

that the major weakness of all hydrological model is their poor representation of land and flow parameters on

simulating the flood extent for assessing the flood vulnerability.

 An Improved Drought-fire Assessment for Tropical Peatlands

Muh TAUFIK1#+, Marliana Tri WIDYASTUTI2, I Putu SANTIKAYASA1, Albertus SULAIMAN3, Haris GUNAWAN4, Daniel

MURDIYARSO5, Awaluddin AWALUDDIN3

1
IPB University, Indonesia, 2Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia, 3Technology Assessment and Application Agency,

Indonesia, 4Badan Restorasi Gambut, Indonesia, 5Center for International Forestry Research, Indonesia

Peatlands transformation in Indonesia have caused immense ecological and environment impacts. This

transformation has led to a drought-fire prone peatlands. Public awareness to tackle with this drought-fire in

peatlands has risen nowadays including in development of a suitable drought-fire indicator. Current knowledge states

that both climate and hydrological importance of drought-fire in tropics, but the important of soil properties in

controlling peatland drying remains unclear. In this study, we improved a drought-fire model to be used in tropical

peatlands. We tested our model called as modified Keetch-byram drought index in Kuburaya peatland, West

Kalimantan Indonesia. In the field, we monitored rainfall, groundwater levels, and soil moisture at 10-minute

resolution for 2018. Our results showed that peat-soil properties influence peat drying, by controlling water

availability. The model showed a good performance in assessing fire occurrence, as indicated by very high-index

occurrence coincided with fire events. Further, our findings revealed that groundwater levels below 55 cm may

increase fire susceptibility of transformed peatlands. The findings suggest that development of drought-fire index may

help to increase public awareness on peat-fire, and this application may able to minimize the fire susceptibility.