This study aims to evaluate the suitability of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool model in simulating runoff and sediment loss in the Carapelle (SE Italy), a typical Mediterranean watershed, where continuous measurements of streamflow and sediment concentration were collected over a 5‐year period, on a half‐hour timescale, processed on a daily timescale. After sensitivity analysis, the model was calibrated and validated for runoff and sediment. Statistics show generally satisfactory efficiency. To further improve sediment simulation performance, we used a seasonal calibration scheme, in which data recorded in the dry and wet seasons were used to calibrate sediments separately, on a seasonal basis. We also tested the model's capability in identifying the major sediment source zones and river segments where there is sediment deposition. On the basin scale, the average water yield (186 mm) corresponds to 27% of the total rainfall (686 mm), and average annual sediment load was estimated to be 6.8 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. On the subbasin scale, a gradient of sediment yield was found that is characterised by a large difference among the upper (7 to 13 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), central, and lower parts (<1 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) of the study area. Conversely, deposition in channel flow has its highest values in the central part of the watershed, where there is an alluvial plain. Winter wheat and olive land use are the major source areas, in terms of sediment. This study confirms that the Mediterranean watershed is a fragile ecosystem, and measures are needed to mitigate soil depletion.

中文翻译：

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使用SWAT模型识别地中海流域中的沉积物来源地区

这项研究旨在评估土壤和水评估工具模型在模拟意大利典型地中海流域Carapelle（SE意大利）中径流和沉积物流失的适用性，在该流域中，在5年的时间里连续测量了流量和沉积物浓度，以半小时为单位，以每日为单位进行处理。经过敏感性分析后，对模型进行校准并验证径流和沉积物。统计数据显示总体上令人满意的效率。为了进一步提高沉积物模拟性能，我们使用了季节性校准方案，该方案使用了在干燥和潮湿季节记录的数据分别对季节中的沉积物进行校准。我们还测试了该模型在识别主要沉积物来源地区和有沉积物沉积的河段的能力。^-1 年^-1。在亚流域尺度上，发现了一个沉积物产量梯度，其特征是上部（7至13 t ha - ¹ 年^-1），中部和下部（<1 t ha - ¹ 年^-1）之间存在较大差异）的研究区域。相反，在流域中部有冲积平原的河道中，沉积物的沉积值最高。就沉积物而言，冬小麦和橄榄的土地利用是主要的来源地区。这项研究证实了地中海流域是一个脆弱的生态系统，需要采取措施减轻土壤的消耗。