ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

SWAT model

Okay, imagine that you're playing with building blocks. You have different kinds of blocks - red, blue, green, and yellow. And you want to build a tall tower. But you don't know how many blocks of each color you need to use to make the strongest tower possible.

Now, let's say you have a special formula that tells you exactly how many blocks of each color you need to use to make a tower that is really strong. This formula is called the SWAT model.

The SWAT model is a computer program that helps scientists and engineers understand how different things affect the environment. For example, they can use the SWAT model to figure out how pollution from factories affects the quality of rivers and lakes.

To use the SWAT model, scientists and engineers enter information about different aspects of the environment, such as weather patterns, soil types, and plant growth. The model then calculates how changes in these factors could affect the environment over time.

So, just like building a tower with different colored blocks, the SWAT model helps us figure out how to create a clean and healthy environment by using the right amount of different factors.