Enhancing the water accounting and vulnerability evaluation model: WAVE+
Due to the increasing relevance of analyzing water consumption along product life cycles, the water accounting and vulnerability evaluation model (WAVE) has been updated and methodologically enhanced. Recent data from the atmospheric moisture tracking model WAM2-layers is used to update the basin internal evaporation recycling (BIER) ratio, which denotes atmospheric moisture recycling within drainage basins. Potential local impacts resulting from water consumption are quantified by means of the water deprivation index (WDI). Based on the hydrological model WaterGAP3, WDI is updated and methodologically refined to express a basin’s vulnerability to freshwater deprivation resulting from the relative scarcity and absolute shortage of water. Compared to the predecessor version, BIER and WDI are provided on an increased spatial and temporal (monthly) resolution. Differences compared to annual averages are relevant in semi-arid and arid basins characterized by a high seasonal variation of water consumption and availability. In order to support applicability in water footprinting and life cycle assessment, BIER and WDI are combined to an integrated WAVE+ factor, which is provided on different temporal and spatial resolutions. The applicability of the WAVE+ method is proven in a case study on sugarcane and results are compared to those obtained by other impact assessment methods.
Publications
M. Berger, S. Eisner, R. van der Ent, M. Flörke, A. Link, J. Poligkeit, V. Bach, M. Finkbeiner (2018):
Enhancing the Water Accounting and Vulnerability Evaluation Model: WAVE+
Environmental Science and Technology, in press,
doi.org//10.1021/acs.est.7b05164
M. Berger, R. van der Ent, S. Eisner, V. Bach, M. Finkbeiner (2014):
Water Accounting and Vulnerability Evaluation (WAVE): Considering Atmospheric Evaporation Recycling and the Risk to Freshwater Depletion in Water Footprinting,
Environmental Science and Technology, 48 (8), pp. 4521-4528, dx.doi.org/10.1021/es404994t
Downloads
Results basin level
- BIER KMZ, 3 MB
- BIERrunoff KMZ, 3 MB
- WAVE combined BIERrunoff and WDI KMZ, 3 MB
- WDI KMZ, 2 MB
Results country level
- BIER country level Jul 2018 XLSX, 153 KB
- BIER runoff country level Jul 2018 XLSX, 152 KB
- WAVE country level Jul 2018 XLSX, 150 KB
- WDI country level Jul 2018 XLSX, 142 KB
Results world region level
- BIER runoff world regions Jul 2018 XLSX, 47 KB
- BIER world regions Jul 2018 XLSX, 28 KB
- WAVE world regions Jul 2018 XLSX, 46 KB
- WDI world regions Jul 2018 XLSX, 46 KB
