2.6.1.3 Model development

Summary

Section 2.6.1.3 summarises the key steps taken in developing the surface water models for predicting the hydrological impacts of coal resource development in the Clarence‑Moreton bioregion. It includes discussion of the spatial and temporal modelling domains, the spatial resolution of the modelling, the development of a future climate trend, and the estimation of additional coal resource development impacts on streamflow.

The modelling domain comprises parts of the Richmond river basin and includes 16 model nodes, which are located where daily streamflow predictions are reported as output. The model simulation period is from 2013 to 2102.

Seasonal climate scaling factors from the CSIRO Mk3.0 global climate model (Gordon et al., 2002) are chosen to provide a trended climate input over the course of the simulation period. This results in a reduction in mean annual precipitation of 1.8% per degree of global warming for the Clarence-Moreton bioregion.