Author(s): Alireza Gohari; Mojtaba Naghdyzadegan Jahromi; Sahand Ghadimi; Mojtaba Saboori; Ali Torabi Haghighi
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Abstract: This study evaluates the effectiveness of rainwater harvesting reservoirs as an adaptation measure to enhance drought resilience during the potato growing season in the Temmesjoki River Basin, northern Finland. A daily water balance model (1981–2023) was used to simulate reservoir performance across a range of storage capacities (0–550 m³ per hectare) under variable climate conditions. Even small reservoirs (50–200 m³) substantially reduced irrigation shortfalls, decreasing deficit days by over 90% and deficit volume by up to 95%, while storages of 300–400 m³ nearly eliminated deficits in most years. Storage benefits declined beyond 400 m³, indicating diminishing returns. Spatial variation showed that northern and coastal sub-basins required larger storage due to lower precipitation and higher evaporative demand. Overall, reservoir capacities of 200–400 m³ per hectare provided the most cost-effective improvement in water supply reliability, demonstrating the potential of decentralized reservoir systems to support climate-resilient agriculture in Nordic regions.
Year: 2026