Add new basins to GCAM - Question

[rubcalvo]

Dear all, I have a question about adding new basins to GCAM. Sorry if this is not the right place, but I did not know where else to ask.

I want to create new basins because in some cases current GCAM basins include very differents regions. Example: Northern Chile, as in current GCAM basins, includes Atacama Desert and Mediterranean Central Chile, hence, water availability impacts could be under/overestimated as most of the agricultural activities is taken place in Central Chile.

1. Is it possible to add new GCAM basins using Moirai?
2. I know that rgcambreakout can create new economic regions, but I have not seen something like this for basins o gcam land regions. Does someone knows an article or documentation that can help to do something like this?

Thanks!

[kanishkan91]

@rubcalvo Thanks for the questions. moirai determines the land initialization for GCAM, so its a good starting point to break out a new basin. But its a starting point. The input files for moirai can be manipulated to break out a new basin (which will have all the land inputs for GCAM).

But after this, you will have to make some changes to the GCAM data system. There are some changes to mapping files that will be necessary since land is only 1 part of the question. There are variables related to water use for example that need to be updated. Hence you will need to make changes to the data system as well.

Let me know if you had more questions related to how to do this in GCAM and moirai and would be more than happy to walk you through the steps.

[rubcalvo]

Dear @kanishkan91 Thank so much for the fast answer! It's great to know that using moirai I can create data files for a new basins! I'm also learning how to use Xanthos to create water availability for specifics basin as well. But, as you said, there are multiple steps between creating the data to be able to use GCAM with these new basins.

In the case that I can create these new basins in GCAM Data System and produce new input files, do you know if GCAM would be able to recognize these new regions or I would need to change GCAM source code as well?

I'm starting my PhD thesis using GCAM (impacts of water avalability scenarios in South American Andean basins) so maybe I can make these improvements in the long run. But, for now, I will read moirai docs to better understand how to use it.

Thank you!

[kanishkan91]

@rubcalvo Once the basins are broken out in moirai/data system, the model will automatically assign markets for the same. You won't have to make adjustments to the GCAM code itself.