Development of Watershed Simulator and Its Application in China

The river basin is a fundamental natural unit interlinked with water, soil, air, ecology, and society, serving as a water management system for local communities. The River Basin Simulator (RBS) operates as a simulation system driven by datasets and hydrological knowledge, utilizing the technology of a digital twin basin. This paper addresses the initiative of WG1.14, specifically the Development & Application of River Basin Simulators, under Theme 1 of the HELPING program for IAHS, encompassing the goals and work plan of WG1.14. The development and applications of RBS in China, including the Yangtze River Simulator and its practical applications, are presented. Through RBS development, it can play a pivotal role in supporting the integration of natural hydrology with socio-hydrology, thereby fostering sustainable development. The initiative of WG1.14 has the potential to promote the development of tools for the digital twin basin, building a bridge from Change (Panta Rhei) to Solution (HELPING). This includes understanding hydrological processes, utilizing advanced hydrological models, and the practical application of socio-hydrology insights, supporting Theme 1 of HELPING with global and local interaction.