Thermal resistance per unit thickness for Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) is 5 to 10 times higher than conventional insulation materials. This makes VIP an attractive option for retrofitting exterior building envelopes. Insulation can be added in an exterior wall either on the interior side, exterior side or in the available stud cavity. VIP has high vapor diffusion resistance factor and could lead to moisture management risk in the wall layers because of the steep temperature gradient in the wall generated due to very high thermal resistance of VIP. VIP is a relatively new insulation material for building envelope construction, thus the hygrothermal or moisture management performance of VIP-insulated exterior building envelopes need to be critically analyzed before its application. This study aims to evaluate the moisture management risk associated with wood-frame stucco-cladded exterior walls retrofitted with VIP using a 2-D hygrothermal simulation tool WUFI-2D. Eight North American locations were considered, based on Moisture Index (MI) which varied between 0.13 and 1.17, and two different indoor hygrothermal loading conditions as prescribed by the ASHRAE 160P and EN 13788, respectively. The outputs from hygrothermal simulations (water content, relative humidity and temperature) were critically analysed and expressed further using freeze-thaw cycles and RHT indices. The results show that the appropriately designed VIP retrofitted walls can have superior moisture management performance as compared to conventional stucco-cladded wall. / Graduate

Soil moisture can be a determining factor in hydrological processes. However, the monitoring of soil water content is difficult to perform because of its spatio-temporal variability and because field measurements are expensive and time-consuming. Thus, the use of the Tank Model and also a moisture index derived from this model can be very useful in hydrological studies and in the management of natural disasters. In addition, the evaluation of this index in a distributed form in the river basin allows a more detailed analysis of the water content of the soil, considering its spatial variability. The objective of this study was to develop a distributed version of the Tank Model (D-Tank Model) to determine a soil moisture content (IUS), dividing the basin into cells with a resolution of 2 meters. The study area was the Araponga River basin (5.26 ha), located in the north of Santa Catarina, and with hydro-meteorological and tensiometric data available. In the study, data were used every 5 minutes of rainfall, evapotranspiration and flow, and soil water tension every 10 minutes, measured from March 2011 to December 2015. Initially the Tank Model was used, Aiming only at the rain-flow process of the basin for five short-duration events aiming at the calibration of the parameters, which were also used in the D-Tank Model cells. The validation of this transfer of parameters was done using the average of the parameters found in the calibration, applying it in two other short duration events. After validation, the water storage in the soil of each of the basin cells generated for the D-Tank Model was calculated. With the D-Tank Model, the IUS values were obtained, which were compared with the soil water tension values measured by the tensiometers. The individual storage values of the two reservoirs S1, and S2, were also compared with the water tension values. The comparison was made through the linear correlation coefficient, seeking negative correlations between the variables, which occurred in a satisfactory way, both between the IUS and the tension values, as well as the storage values of the reservoirs and the water tension values. The present work showed that IUS may be an applicable measure for soil moisture representation. / A umidade do solo pode ser um fator determinante nos processos hidrológicos. No entanto, o monitoramento do conteúdo de água no solo é difícil de ser realizado, devido à sua variabilidade espaço-temporal e porque as medições de campo são dispendiosas e demoradas. Assim, a utilização do Tank Model e também de um índice de umidade, derivado deste modelo, podem ser muito úteis nos estudos hidrológicos. Além disso, a avaliação desse índice de forma distribuída na bacia hidrográfica permite uma análise mais detalhada do conteúdo de água do solo, uma vez que considera a sua variabilidade espacial. O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma versão distribuída do Tank Model (D-Tank Model), para determinar um índice de umidade do solo (IUS), dividindo a bacia em células com resolução de 2 metros. A área de estudo foi a bacia hidrográfica do Rio Araponga (5,26 ha), localizada no norte de Santa Catarina, e com disponibilidade de dados hidro-meteorológicos e tensiométricos. No estudo foram utilizados dados a cada 5 minutos de precipitação, evapotranspiração e vazão, e de tensão de água no solo a cada 10 minutos, medidos no período de março de 2011 a dezembro de 2015. Inicialmente foi utilizado o Tank Model (concentrado), visando somente o processo chuva-vazão da bacia para cinco eventos de curta-duração visando a calibração dos parâmetros, que foram também utilizados nas células do D-Tank Model. A validação desta transferência de parâmetros se deu utilizando a média dos parâmetros encontrados na calibração, aplicando-a em outros dois eventos de curta duração. Após a validação, foi calculado o armazenamento de água no solo, de cada uma das células da bacia, geradas para o D-Tank Model. Com o D-Tank Model obteve-se os valores de IUS, que foram comparados com os valores de tensão da água no solo, medidos pelos tensiômetros. Os valores de armazenamento individuais dos dois reservatórios S1, e S2, também foram comparados com os valores de tensão. A comparação foi feita através do coeficiente de correlação linear, buscando correlações negativas entre as variáveis, o que ocorreu de forma satisfatória, tanto entre o IUS e os valores de tensão, como para os valores de armazenamento dos reservatórios e os valores de tensão da água no solo. O presente trabalho mostrou que o IUS pode ser uma medida aplicável para representação da umidade do solo.

Soil moisture can be a determining factor in hydrological processes. However, the monitoring of soil water content is difficult to perform because of its spatio-temporal variability and because field measurements are expensive and time-consuming. Thus, the use of the Tank Model and also a moisture index derived from this model can be very useful in hydrological studies and in the management of natural disasters. In addition, the evaluation of this index in a distributed form in the river basin allows a more detailed analysis of the water content of the soil, considering its spatial variability. The objective of this study was to develop a distributed version of the Tank Model (D-Tank Model) to determine a soil moisture content (IUS), dividing the basin into cells with a resolution of 2 meters. The study area was the Araponga River basin (5.26 ha), located in the north of Santa Catarina, and with hydro-meteorological and tensiometric data available. In the study, data were used every 5 minutes of rainfall, evapotranspiration and flow, and soil water tension every 10 minutes, measured from March 2011 to December 2015. Initially the Tank Model was used, Aiming only at the rain-flow process of the basin for five short-duration events aiming at the calibration of the parameters, which were also used in the D-Tank Model cells. The validation of this transfer of parameters was done using the average of the parameters found in the calibration, applying it in two other short duration events. After validation, the water storage in the soil of each of the basin cells generated for the D-Tank Model was calculated. With the D-Tank Model, the IUS values were obtained, which were compared with the soil water tension values measured by the tensiometers. The individual storage values of the two reservoirs S1, and S2, were also compared with the water tension values. The comparison was made through the linear correlation coefficient, seeking negative correlations between the variables, which occurred in a satisfactory way, both between the IUS and the tension values, as well as the storage values of the reservoirs and the water tension values. The present work showed that IUS may be an applicable measure for soil moisture representation. / A umidade do solo pode ser um fator determinante nos processos hidrológicos. No entanto, o monitoramento do conteúdo de água no solo é difícil de ser realizado, devido à sua variabilidade espaço-temporal e porque as medições de campo são dispendiosas e demoradas. Assim, a utilização do Tank Model e também de um índice de umidade, derivado deste modelo, podem ser muito úteis nos estudos hidrológicos. Além disso, a avaliação desse índice de forma distribuída na bacia hidrográfica permite uma análise mais detalhada do conteúdo de água do solo, uma vez que considera a sua variabilidade espacial. O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma versão distribuída do Tank Model (D-Tank Model), para determinar um índice de umidade do solo (IUS), dividindo a bacia em células com resolução de 2 metros. A área de estudo foi a bacia hidrográfica do Rio Araponga (5,26 ha), localizada no norte de Santa Catarina, e com disponibilidade de dados hidro-meteorológicos e tensiométricos. No estudo foram utilizados dados a cada 5 minutos de precipitação, evapotranspiração e vazão, e de tensão de água no solo a cada 10 minutos, medidos no período de março de 2011 a dezembro de 2015. Inicialmente foi utilizado o Tank Model (concentrado), visando somente o processo chuva-vazão da bacia para cinco eventos de curta-duração visando a calibração dos parâmetros, que foram também utilizados nas células do D-Tank Model. A validação desta transferência de parâmetros se deu utilizando a média dos parâmetros encontrados na calibração, aplicando-a em outros dois eventos de curta duração. Após a validação, foi calculado o armazenamento de água no solo, de cada uma das células da bacia, geradas para o D-Tank Model. Com o D-Tank Model obteve-se os valores de IUS, que foram comparados com os valores de tensão da água no solo, medidos pelos tensiômetros. Os valores de armazenamento individuais dos dois reservatórios S1, e S2, também foram comparados com os valores de tensão. A comparação foi feita através do coeficiente de correlação linear, buscando correlações negativas entre as variáveis, o que ocorreu de forma satisfatória, tanto entre o IUS e os valores de tensão, como para os valores de armazenamento dos reservatórios e os valores de tensão da água no solo. O presente trabalho mostrou que o IUS pode ser uma medida aplicável para representação da umidade do solo.

Soil moisture can be a determining factor in hydrological processes. However, the monitoring of soil water content is difficult to perform because of its spatio-temporal variability and because field measurements are expensive and time-consuming. Thus, the use of the Tank Model and also a moisture index derived from this model can be very useful in hydrological studies and in the management of natural disasters. In addition, the evaluation of this index in a distributed form in the river basin allows a more detailed analysis of the water content of the soil, considering its spatial variability. The objective of this study was to develop a distributed version of the Tank Model (D-Tank Model) to determine a soil moisture content (IUS), dividing the basin into cells with a resolution of 2 meters. The study area was the Araponga River basin (5.26 ha), located in the north of Santa Catarina, and with hydro-meteorological and tensiometric data available. In the study, data were used every 5 minutes of rainfall, evapotranspiration and flow, and soil water tension every 10 minutes, measured from March 2011 to December 2015. Initially the Tank Model was used, Aiming only at the rain-flow process of the basin for five short-duration events aiming at the calibration of the parameters, which were also used in the D-Tank Model cells. The validation of this transfer of parameters was done using the average of the parameters found in the calibration, applying it in two other short duration events. After validation, the water storage in the soil of each of the basin cells generated for the D-Tank Model was calculated. With the D-Tank Model, the IUS values were obtained, which were compared with the soil water tension values measured by the tensiometers. The individual storage values of the two reservoirs S1, and S2, were also compared with the water tension values. The comparison was made through the linear correlation coefficient, seeking negative correlations between the variables, which occurred in a satisfactory way, both between the IUS and the tension values, as well as the storage values of the reservoirs and the water tension values. The present work showed that IUS may be an applicable measure for soil moisture representation. / A umidade do solo pode ser um fator determinante nos processos hidrológicos. No entanto, o monitoramento do conteúdo de água no solo é difícil de ser realizado, devido à sua variabilidade espaço-temporal e porque as medições de campo são dispendiosas e demoradas. Assim, a utilização do Tank Model e também de um índice de umidade, derivado deste modelo, podem ser muito úteis nos estudos hidrológicos. Além disso, a avaliação desse índice de forma distribuída na bacia hidrográfica permite uma análise mais detalhada do conteúdo de água do solo, uma vez que considera a sua variabilidade espacial. O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma versão distribuída do Tank Model (D-Tank Model), para determinar um índice de umidade do solo (IUS), dividindo a bacia em células com resolução de 2 metros. A área de estudo foi a bacia hidrográfica do Rio Araponga (5,26 ha), localizada no norte de Santa Catarina, e com disponibilidade de dados hidro-meteorológicos e tensiométricos. No estudo foram utilizados dados a cada 5 minutos de precipitação, evapotranspiração e vazão, e de tensão de água no solo a cada 10 minutos, medidos no período de março de 2011 a dezembro de 2015. Inicialmente foi utilizado o Tank Model (concentrado), visando somente o processo chuva-vazão da bacia para cinco eventos de curta-duração visando a calibração dos parâmetros, que foram também utilizados nas células do D-Tank Model. A validação desta transferência de parâmetros se deu utilizando a média dos parâmetros encontrados na calibração, aplicando-a em outros dois eventos de curta duração. Após a validação, foi calculado o armazenamento de água no solo, de cada uma das células da bacia, geradas para o D-Tank Model. Com o D-Tank Model obteve-se os valores de IUS, que foram comparados com os valores de tensão da água no solo, medidos pelos tensiômetros. Os valores de armazenamento individuais dos dois reservatórios S1, e S2, também foram comparados com os valores de tensão. A comparação foi feita através do coeficiente de correlação linear, buscando correlações negativas entre as variáveis, o que ocorreu de forma satisfatória, tanto entre o IUS e os valores de tensão, como para os valores de armazenamento dos reservatórios e os valores de tensão da água no solo. O presente trabalho mostrou que o IUS pode ser uma medida aplicável para representação da umidade do solo.

Meteorological drought indices are commonly calculated from climatic stations that have long-term historical data and then converted to a regular grid using spatial interpolation methods. The gridded drought indices are mapped to aid decision making by policy makers and the general public. This study analyzes the spatial performance of interpolation methods for meteorological drought indices in the United States based on data from the Co-operative Observer Network (COOP) and United States Historical Climatology Network (USHCN) for different months, climatic regions and years. An error analysis was performed using cross-validation and the results were compared for the 9 climate regions that comprise the United States. Errors are generally higher in regions and months dominated by convective precipitation. Errors are also higher in regions like the western United States that are dominated by mountainous terrain. Higher errors are consistently observed in the southeastern U.S. especially in Florida. Interpolation errors are generally higher in the summer than winter. The accuracy of different drought indices was also compared. The Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) tends to have lower errors than Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) in seasons with significant convective precipitation. This is likely because SPEI uses both precipitation and temperature data in its calculation, whereas SPI is based solely on precipitation. There are also variations in interpolation accuracy based on the network that is used. In general, COOP is more accurate than USHCN because the COOP network has a higher density of stations. USHCN is a subset of the COOP network that is comprised of high quality stations that have a long and complete record. However the difference in accuracy is not as significant as the difference in spatial density between the two networks. For multiscalar SPI, USHCN performs better than COOP because the stations tend to have a longer record. The ordinary kriging method (with optimal function fitting) performed better than Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) methods (power parameters 2.0 and 2.5) in all cases and therefore it is recommended for interpolating drought indices. However, ordinary kriging only provided a statistically significant improvement in accuracy for the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) with the COOP network. Therefore it can be concluded that IDW is a reasonable method for interpolating drought indices, but optimal ordinary kriging provides some improvement in accuracy. The most significant factor affecting the spatial accuracy of drought indices is seasonality (precipitation climatology) and this holds true for almost all the regions of U.S. for 1-month SPI and SPEI. The high-quality USHCN network gives better interpolation accuracy with 6-, 9- and 12-month SPI and variation in errors amongst the different SPI time scales is minimal. The difference between networks is also significant for PDSI. Although the absolute magnitude of the differences between interpolation with COOP and USHCN are small, the accuracy of interpolation with COOP is much more spatially variable than with USHCN.

MESCH / Department of Hydrology and Water Resources