Articles | Volume 19, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-105-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-105-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
07 Jan 2015
Research article |
| 07 Jan 2015
Hydrological hysteresis and its value for assessing process consistency in catchment conceptual models
INRA, UMR1069 SAS, 65 route de Saint Brieuc, 35042 Rennes, France
Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1069 SAS, 65 route de Saint Brieuc, 35042 Rennes, France
L. Ruiz
INRA, UMR1069 SAS, 65 route de Saint Brieuc, 35042 Rennes, France
Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1069 SAS, 65 route de Saint Brieuc, 35042 Rennes, France
M. Hrachowitz
Delft University of Technology, Water Resources Section, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Applied Geosciences, Stevinweg 1, 2600 GA Delft, the Netherlands
M. Faucheux
INRA, UMR1069 SAS, 65 route de Saint Brieuc, 35042 Rennes, France
Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1069 SAS, 65 route de Saint Brieuc, 35042 Rennes, France
C. Gascuel-Odoux
INRA, UMR1069 SAS, 65 route de Saint Brieuc, 35042 Rennes, France
Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1069 SAS, 65 route de Saint Brieuc, 35042 Rennes, France
Related authors
Nicolai Brekenfeld, Solenn Cotel, Mikael Faucheux, Colin Fourtet, Yannick Hamon, Patrice Petitjean, Arnaud Blanchouin, Celine Bouillis, Marie-Claire Pierret, Hocine Henine, Anne-Catherine Pierson-Wickmann, Sophie Guillon, Paul Floury, and Ophelie Fovet
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2615–2631, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2615-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2615-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In the last decade, the development of on-site field laboratories to measure water chemistry at sub-hourly measurement intervals has drastically advanced, while there is no literature that provides detailed technical, organisational and operational guidelines in running such equipment. Based on our experiences of running three French field laboratories over 7 years, we share the main stages in the deployment of this tool in the field, the difficulties encountered and the proposed solutions.
Jordy Salmon-Monviola, Ophélie Fovet, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 127–158, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-127-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-127-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
To increase the predictive power of hydrological models, it is necessary to improve their consistency, i.e. their physical realism, which is measured by the ability of the model to reproduce observed system dynamics. Using a model to represent the dynamics of water and nitrate and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in an agricultural catchment, we showed that using solute-concentration data for calibration is useful to improve the hydrological consistency of the model.
Nicolai Brekenfeld, Solenn Cotel, Mikaël Faucheux, Paul Floury, Colin Fourtet, Jérôme Gaillardet, Sophie Guillon, Yannick Hamon, Hocine Henine, Patrice Petitjean, Anne-Catherine Pierson-Wickmann, Marie-Claire Pierret, and Ophélie Fovet
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4309–4329, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4309-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4309-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The proposed methodology consists of simultaneously analysing the concentration variation of solute pairs during a storm event by plotting the concentration variation of one solute against the variation of another solute. This can reveal whether two or more end-members contribute to streamflow during a storm event. Furthermore, the variation of the solute ratios during the events can indicate which catchment processes are dominant and which are negligible.
Baibaswata Bhaduri, Ophelie Fovet, Sekhar Muddu, and Laurent Ruiz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-112, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-112, 2023
Publication in HESS not foreseen
Short summary
Short summary
Lumped conceptual groundwater transit time models are widely used for their computational simplicity. But their parameters being empirical, these models are often criticized for their calibration reliance. This study mathematically links lumped conceptual parameters to measurable hydrodynamic properties of a groundwater catchment. This kind of direct parameterization gives lumped models a forward modelling potential, and also improves the choice of parameter constraints in calibration exercises.
Nataline Simon, Olivier Bour, Mikaël Faucheux, Nicolas Lavenant, Hugo Le Lay, Ophélie Fovet, Zahra Thomas, and Laurent Longuevergne
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1459–1479, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1459-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1459-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Groundwater discharge into streams plays a major role in the preservation of stream ecosystems. There were two complementary methods, both based on the use of the distributed temperature sensing technology, applied in a headwater catchment. Measurements allowed us to characterize the spatial and temporal patterns of groundwater discharge and quantify groundwater inflows into the stream, opening very promising perspectives for a novel characterization of the groundwater–stream interface.
Muhammad Ibrahim, Markus Hrachowitz, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, and Ruud van der Ent
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4226, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4226, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
Short summary
Short summary
Root zone storage capacity is an important parameter in hydrological and land-surface models and is often estimated using the memory method rather than through model calibration. We evaluated the uncertainty associated with this widely used method across thousands of catchments worldwide. Our results show that uncertainty varies systematically with climate, while memory method estimates remain in close agreement with calibrated values, supporting the commonly used 20-year return period.
Julia M. Rudlang, Thiago V. M. do Nascimento, Ruud van der Ent, Fabrizio Fenicia, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 4481–4508, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4481-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4481-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
River flow (streamflow) behaviour varies across Europe and is shaped by climate and landscape. Using data from more than 7000 European catchments, we identified 10 hydrological response types based on flow magnitude, timing, and seasonality. At the continental scale, streamflow behaviour is mainly driven by climate, but landscape features are equally or more influential in several regions. These results show that streamflow behaviour emerges from the combined effects of climate and landscape.
Hatice Türk, Christine Stumpp, Markus Hrachowitz, Peter Strauss, Günter Blöschl, and Michael Stockinger
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 1053–1076, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-1053-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-1053-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
This study shows that streamflow isotope data in a catchment-scale isotope-based transport model were sufficient to isolate preferential flow in the unsaturated zone but insufficient to isolate the preferential release of young groundwater, as isotope signals were strongly damped by large passive groundwater storage. As a result, groundwater age-selection assumptions affected estimates of long transit times, making it difficult to quantify the fraction of stream water older than 100 days.
Thiago V. M. do Nascimento, Julia Rudlang, Sebastian Gnann, Jan Seibert, Markus Hrachowitz, and Fabrizio Fenicia
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 7173–7200, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-7173-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-7173-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We show that geological maps with varying levels of detail may influence the identification of geology–streamflow relationships across European catchments at multiple scales. At the large scale, controls varied between basins, with no map consistently superior. At the intermediate and small scales, however, higher geological detail consistently strengthened correlations, particularly for baseflow signatures, with the regional map highlighting controls more consistent with process understanding.
Nathalie Rombeek, Markus Hrachowitz, and Remko Uijlenhoet
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 6715–6733, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-6715-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-6715-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
On 29 October 2024 Valencia (Spain) was struck by torrential rainfall, triggering devastating floods in this area. In this study, we quantify and describe the spatial and temporal structure of this rainfall event using personal weather stations (PWSs). These PWSs provide near real-time observations at a temporal resolution of ~5 min. This study shows the potential of PWSs for real-time rainfall monitoring and potentially flood early warning systems by complementing dedicated rain gauge networks.
Nathalie Rombeek, Markus Hrachowitz, Arjan Droste, and Remko Uijlenhoet
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 4585–4606, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4585-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4585-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Rain gauge networks from personal weather stations (PWSs) have a network density 100 times higher than dedicated rain gauge networks in the Netherlands. However, PWSs are prone to several sources of error, as they are generally not installed and maintained according to international guidelines. This study systematically quantifies and describes the uncertainties arising from PWS rainfall estimates. In particular, the focus is on the highest rainfall accumulations.
Hatice Türk, Christine Stumpp, Markus Hrachowitz, Karsten Schulz, Peter Strauss, Günter Blöschl, and Michael Stockinger
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 3935–3956, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3935-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3935-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Using advances in transit time estimation and tracer data, we tested if fast-flow transit times are controlled solely by soil moisture or if they are also controlled by precipitation intensity. We used soil-moisture-dependent and precipitation-intensity-conditional transfer functions. We showed that a significant portion of event water bypasses the soil matrix through fast flow paths (overland flow, tile drains, preferential-flow paths) in dry soil conditions for both low- and high-intensity precipitation.
Magali Ponds, Sarah Hanus, Harry Zekollari, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, Gerrit Schoups, Roland Kaitna, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 3545–3568, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3545-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3545-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This research examines how future climate changes impact root zone storage, a key hydrological model parameter. Root zone storage – the soil water accessible to plants – adapts to climate but is often kept constant in models. We estimated climate-adapted storage in six Austrian Alps catchments. While storage increased, streamflow projections showed minimal change, which suggests that dynamic root zone representation is less critical in humid regions but warrants further study in arid areas.
Nicolai Brekenfeld, Solenn Cotel, Mikael Faucheux, Colin Fourtet, Yannick Hamon, Patrice Petitjean, Arnaud Blanchouin, Celine Bouillis, Marie-Claire Pierret, Hocine Henine, Anne-Catherine Pierson-Wickmann, Sophie Guillon, Paul Floury, and Ophelie Fovet
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2615–2631, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2615-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2615-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In the last decade, the development of on-site field laboratories to measure water chemistry at sub-hourly measurement intervals has drastically advanced, while there is no literature that provides detailed technical, organisational and operational guidelines in running such equipment. Based on our experiences of running three French field laboratories over 7 years, we share the main stages in the deployment of this tool in the field, the difficulties encountered and the proposed solutions.
Muhammad Ibrahim, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Ruud van der Ent, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1703–1723, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1703-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1703-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The quantification of precipitation into evaporation and runoff is vital for water resources management. The Budyko framework, based on aridity and evaporative indices of a catchment, can be an ideal tool for that. However, recent research highlights deviations of catchments from the expected evaporative index, casting doubt on its reliability. This study quantifies deviations of 2387 catchments, finding them minor and predictable. Integrating these into predictions upholds the framework's efficacy.
Wouter R. Berghuijs, Ross A. Woods, Bailey J. Anderson, Anna Luisa Hemshorn de Sánchez, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1319–1333, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1319-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1319-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Water balances of catchments will often strongly depend on their state in the recent past, but such memory effects may persist at annual timescales. We use global data sets to show that annual memory is typically absent in precipitation but strong in terrestrial water stores and also present in evaporation and streamflow (including low flows and floods). Our experiments show that hysteretic models provide behaviour that is consistent with these observed memory behaviours.
Jordy Salmon-Monviola, Ophélie Fovet, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 127–158, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-127-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-127-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
To increase the predictive power of hydrological models, it is necessary to improve their consistency, i.e. their physical realism, which is measured by the ability of the model to reproduce observed system dynamics. Using a model to represent the dynamics of water and nitrate and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in an agricultural catchment, we showed that using solute-concentration data for calibration is useful to improve the hydrological consistency of the model.
Nienke Tempel, Laurène Bouaziz, Riccardo Taormina, Ellis van Noppen, Jasper Stam, Eric Sprokkereef, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4577–4597, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4577-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4577-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study explores the impact of climatic variability on root zone water storage capacities and, thus, on hydrological predictions. Analysing data from 286 areas in Europe and the US, we found that, despite some variations in root zone storage capacity due to changing climatic conditions over multiple decades, these changes are generally minor and have a limited effect on water storage and river flow predictions.
Hongkai Gao, Markus Hrachowitz, Lan Wang-Erlandsson, Fabrizio Fenicia, Qiaojuan Xi, Jianyang Xia, Wei Shao, Ge Sun, and Hubert H. G. Savenije
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4477–4499, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4477-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4477-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The concept of the root zone is widely used but lacks a precise definition. Its importance in Earth system science is not well elaborated upon. Here, we clarified its definition with several similar terms to bridge the multi-disciplinary gap. We underscore the key role of the root zone in the Earth system, which links the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and anthroposphere. To better represent the root zone, we advocate for a paradigm shift towards ecosystem-centred modelling.
Nicolai Brekenfeld, Solenn Cotel, Mikaël Faucheux, Paul Floury, Colin Fourtet, Jérôme Gaillardet, Sophie Guillon, Yannick Hamon, Hocine Henine, Patrice Petitjean, Anne-Catherine Pierson-Wickmann, Marie-Claire Pierret, and Ophélie Fovet
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4309–4329, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4309-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4309-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The proposed methodology consists of simultaneously analysing the concentration variation of solute pairs during a storm event by plotting the concentration variation of one solute against the variation of another solute. This can reveal whether two or more end-members contribute to streamflow during a storm event. Furthermore, the variation of the solute ratios during the events can indicate which catchment processes are dominant and which are negligible.
Siyuan Wang, Markus Hrachowitz, and Gerrit Schoups
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4011–4033, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4011-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4011-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Root zone storage capacity (Sumax) changes significantly over multiple decades, reflecting vegetation adaptation to climatic variability. However, this temporal evolution of Sumax cannot explain long-term fluctuations in the partitioning of water fluxes as expressed by deviations ΔIE from the parametric Budyko curve over time with different climatic conditions, and it does not have any significant effects on shorter-term hydrological response characteristics of the upper Neckar catchment.
Fransje van Oorschot, Ruud J. van der Ent, Andrea Alessandri, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 2313–2328, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2313-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2313-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Vegetation plays a crucial role in regulating the water cycle by transporting water from the subsurface to the atmosphere via roots; this transport depends on the extent of the root system. In this study, we quantified the effect of irrigation on roots at a global scale. Our results emphasize the importance of accounting for irrigation in estimating the vegetation root extent, which is essential to adequately represent the water cycle in hydrological and climate models.
Fransje van Oorschot, Ruud J. van der Ent, Markus Hrachowitz, Emanuele Di Carlo, Franco Catalano, Souhail Boussetta, Gianpaolo Balsamo, and Andrea Alessandri
Earth Syst. Dynam., 14, 1239–1259, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-1239-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-1239-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Vegetation largely controls land hydrology by transporting water from the subsurface to the atmosphere through roots and is highly variable in space and time. However, current land surface models have limitations in capturing this variability at a global scale, limiting accurate modeling of land hydrology. We found that satellite-based vegetation variability considerably improved modeled land hydrology and therefore has potential to improve climate predictions of, for example, droughts.
Siyuan Wang, Markus Hrachowitz, Gerrit Schoups, and Christine Stumpp
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3083–3114, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3083-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3083-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study shows that previously reported underestimations of water ages are most likely not due to the use of seasonally variable tracers. Rather, these underestimations can be largely attributed to the choices of model approaches which rely on assumptions not frequently met in catchment hydrology. We therefore strongly advocate avoiding the use of this model type in combination with seasonally variable tracers and instead adopting StorAge Selection (SAS)-based or comparable model formulations.
Baibaswata Bhaduri, Ophelie Fovet, Sekhar Muddu, and Laurent Ruiz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-112, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-112, 2023
Publication in HESS not foreseen
Short summary
Short summary
Lumped conceptual groundwater transit time models are widely used for their computational simplicity. But their parameters being empirical, these models are often criticized for their calibration reliance. This study mathematically links lumped conceptual parameters to measurable hydrodynamic properties of a groundwater catchment. This kind of direct parameterization gives lumped models a forward modelling potential, and also improves the choice of parameter constraints in calibration exercises.
Pau Wiersma, Jerom Aerts, Harry Zekollari, Markus Hrachowitz, Niels Drost, Matthias Huss, Edwin H. Sutanudjaja, and Rolf Hut
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5971–5986, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5971-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5971-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We test whether coupling a global glacier model (GloGEM) with a global hydrological model (PCR-GLOBWB 2) leads to a more realistic glacier representation and to improved basin runoff simulations across 25 large-scale basins. The coupling does lead to improved glacier representation, mainly by accounting for glacier flow and net glacier mass loss, and to improved basin runoff simulations, mostly in strongly glacier-influenced basins, which is where the coupling has the most impact.
Judith Uwihirwe, Alessia Riveros, Hellen Wanjala, Jaap Schellekens, Frederiek Sperna Weiland, Markus Hrachowitz, and Thom A. Bogaard
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3641–3661, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-3641-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-3641-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study compared gauge-based and satellite-based precipitation products. Similarly, satellite- and hydrological model-derived soil moisture was compared to in situ soil moisture and used in landslide hazard assessment and warning. The results reveal the cumulative 3 d rainfall from the NASA-GPM to be the most effective landslide trigger. The modelled antecedent soil moisture in the root zone was the most informative hydrological variable for landslide hazard assessment and warning in Rwanda.
Judith Uwihirwe, Markus Hrachowitz, and Thom Bogaard
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1723–1742, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-1723-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-1723-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This research tested the value of regional groundwater level information to improve landslide predictions with empirical models based on the concept of threshold levels. In contrast to precipitation-based thresholds, the results indicated that relying on threshold models exclusively defined using hydrological variables such as groundwater levels can lead to improved landslide predictions due to their implicit consideration of long-term antecedent conditions until the day of landslide occurrence.
Elisa Ragno, Markus Hrachowitz, and Oswaldo Morales-Nápoles
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1695–1711, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1695-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1695-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We explore the ability of non-parametric Bayesian networks to reproduce maximum daily discharge in a given month in a catchment when the remaining hydro-meteorological and catchment attributes are known. We show that a saturated network evaluated in an individual catchment can reproduce statistical characteristics of discharge in about ~ 40 % of the cases, while challenges remain when a saturated network considering all the catchments together is evaluated.
Nataline Simon, Olivier Bour, Mikaël Faucheux, Nicolas Lavenant, Hugo Le Lay, Ophélie Fovet, Zahra Thomas, and Laurent Longuevergne
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1459–1479, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1459-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1459-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Groundwater discharge into streams plays a major role in the preservation of stream ecosystems. There were two complementary methods, both based on the use of the distributed temperature sensing technology, applied in a headwater catchment. Measurements allowed us to characterize the spatial and temporal patterns of groundwater discharge and quantify groundwater inflows into the stream, opening very promising perspectives for a novel characterization of the groundwater–stream interface.
Laurène J. E. Bouaziz, Emma E. Aalbers, Albrecht H. Weerts, Mark Hegnauer, Hendrik Buiteveld, Rita Lammersen, Jasper Stam, Eric Sprokkereef, Hubert H. G. Savenije, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1295–1318, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1295-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1295-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Assuming stationarity of hydrological systems is no longer appropriate when considering land use and climate change. We tested the sensitivity of hydrological predictions to changes in model parameters that reflect ecosystem adaptation to climate and potential land use change. We estimated a 34 % increase in the root zone storage parameter under +2 K global warming, resulting in up to 15 % less streamflow in autumn, due to 14 % higher summer evaporation, compared to a stationary system.
Cited articles
Ali, G. A., L'Heureux, C., Roy, A. G., Turmel, M.-C., and Courchesne, F.: Linking spatial patterns of perched groundwater storage and stormflow generation processes in a headwater forested catchment, Hydrol. Process., 25, 3843–3857, 2011.
Andermann, C., Longuevergne, L., Bonnet, S., Crave, A., Davy, Ph., and Gloaguen, R.: Impact of transient groundwater storage on the discharge of Himalayan rivers, Nat. Geosci., 5, 127–132, 2012.
Andréassian, V., Le Moine, N., Perrin, C., Ramos, M. H., Oudin, L., Mathevet, T., Lerat, J., and Berthet, L.: All that glitters is not gold: the case of calibrating hydrological models, Hydrol. Process., 26, 2206–2210, 2012.
Aubert, A. H., Gascuel-Odoux, C., Gruau, G., Akkal, N., Faucheux, M., Fauvel, Y., Grimaldi, C., Hamon, Y., Jaffrézic, A., Lecoz-Boutnik, M., Molénat, J., Petitjean, P., Ruiz, L., and Merot, P.: Solute transport dynamics in small, shallow groundwater-dominated agricultural catchments: insights from a high-frequency, multisolute 10 yr-long monitoring study, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1379–1391, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1379-2013, 2013.
Aubert, A. H., Gascuel-Odoux, C., and Merot, P.: Annual hysteresis of water quality: A method to analyse the effect of intra- and inter-annual climatic conditions, J. Hydrol., 478, 29–39, 2013.
Bergström, S.: The HBV model, in: Computer Models of Watershed Hydrology, edited by: Singh, V. P., Water Resources Publications: Highlands Ranch, CO, 443-476, 1995.
Beven, K.: How far can we go in distributed hydrological modelling?, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 5, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-5-1-2001, 2001.
Beven, K.: A manifesto for the equifinality thesis, J. Hydrol., 320, 18–36, 2006.
Beven, K.: So how much of your error is epistemic? Lessons from Japan and Italy, Hydrol. Process., 27, 1677–1680, 2013.
Butturini, A., Alvarez, M., Bernal, S., Vazquez, E., and Sabater, F.: Diversity and temporal sequences of forms of DOC and NO3-discharge responses in an intermittent stream: Predictable or random succession?, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeosci., 113, G03016, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JG000721, 2008.
Creutzfeldt, B., Ferré, T., Troch, P., Merz, B., Wziontek, H., and Güntne, A.: Total water storage dynamics in response to climate variability and extremes: Inference from long-term terrestrial gravity measurement, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 117, D08112, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JD016472, 2012.
Criss, R. E. and Winston, W.,E.: Do Nash values have value? Discussion and alternate proposals, Hydrol. Process., 22, 2723–2725, 2008.
Euser, T., Winsemius, H. C., Hrachowitz, M., Fenicia, F., Uhlenbrook, S., and Savenije, H. H. G.: A framework to assess the realism of model structures using hydrological signatures, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1893–1912, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1893-2013, 2013.
Evans, C. and Davies, T. D.: Causes of concentration/discharge hysteresis and its potential as a tool for analysis of episode hydrochemistry, Water Resour. Res., 34, 129–137, 1998.
Evans, C., Davies, T. D., and Murdoch, P. S.: Component flow processes at four streams in the Catskill Mountains, New York, analysed using episodic concentration/discharge relationships, Hydrol. Process., 13, 563–575, 1999.
Everett, D. H. and Whitton, W. I.: A general approach of hysteresis, Trans. Faraday Soc., 48, 749–757, 1952.
Fenicia, F., McDonnell, J. J., and Savenije, H. H. G.: Learning from model improvement: On the contribution of complementary data to process understanding, Water Resour. Res., 44, W06419, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007WR006386, 2008.
Franks, S. W., Gineste, P., Beven, K. J., and Merot, P.: On constraining the predictions of a distributed moder: The incorporation of fuzzy estimates of saturated areas into the calibration process, Water Resour. Res., 34, 787–797, 1998.
Freer, J., Beven, K., and Ambroise, B.: Bayesian estimation of uncertainty in runoff prediction and the value of data: An application of the GLUE approach, Water Resour. Res., 32, 2161–2173, 1996.
Freer, J., Beven, K., and Peters, N.: Multivariate Seasonal Period Model Rejection Within the Generalised Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation Procedure, in: Calibration of Watershed Models, edited by: Duan, Q., Gupta, H. V., Sorooshian, S., Rousseau, A. N. and Turcotte, R., American Geophysical Union, Washington, D. C., https://doi.org/10.1029/WS006p0069, 69–87, 2003.
Freer, J. E., McMillan, H., McDonnell, J. J., and Beven, K. J.: Constraining dynamic TOPMODEL responses for imprecise water table information using fuzzy rule based performance measures, J. Hydrol., 291, 254–277, 2004.
Frei, S., Lischeid, G., and Fleckenstein, J. H.: Effects of micro-topography on surface-subsurface exchange and runoff generation in a virtual riparian wetland - A modeling study, Adv. Water Resour., 33, 1388–1401, 2010.
Gabrielli, C. P., McDonnell, J. J., and Jarvis, W. T.: The role of bedrock groundwater in rainfall–runoff response at hillslope and catchment scales, J. Hydrol., 450–45, 117–133, 2012.
Gascuel-Odoux, C., Weiler, M., and Molenat, J.: Effect of the spatial distribution of physical aquifer properties on modelled water table depth and stream discharge in a headwater catchment, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 1179–1194, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-1179-2010, 2010.
Gharari, S., Hrachowitz, M., Fenicia, F., Gao, H., and Savenije, H. H. G.: Using expert knowledge to increase realism in environmental system models can dramatically reduce the need for calibration, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 4839–4859, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4839-2014, 2014.
Giustolisi, O. and Simeone, V.: Optimal design of artificial neural networks by a multiobjective strategy: groundwater level predictions, Hydrol. Sci. J.-J. Sci. Hydrol., 51, 502–523, 2006.
Gupta, H. V., Clark, M. P., Vrugt, J. A., Abramowitz, G., and Ye, M.: Towards a comprehensive assessment of model structural adequacy, Water Resour. Res., 48, W08301, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR011044, 2012.
Gupta, H. V., Wagener, T., and Liu, Y. Q.: Reconciling theory with observations: elements of a diagnostic approach to model evaluation, Hydrol. Process., 22, 3802–3813, 2008.
Gupta, H. V., Sorooshian, S., and Yapo, P. O.: Toward improved calibration of hydrologic models: Multiple and noncommensurable measures of information, Water Resour. Res., 34, 751–763, 1998.
Hartmann, A., Wagener, T., Rimmer, A. , Lange, J., Brielmann, H., and Weiler, M.: Testing the realism of model structures to identify karst system processes using water quality and quantity signatures, Water Resour. Res., 49, 3345–3358, https://doi.org/10.1002/wrcr.20229, 2013a.
Hartmann, A., Weiler, M., Wagener, T., Lange, J., Kralik, M., Humer, F., Mizyed, N., Rimmer, A., Barberá, J. A., Andreo, B., Butscher, C., and Huggenberger, P.: Process-based karst modelling to relate hydrodynamic and hydrochemical characteristics to system properties, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 3305–3321, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3305-2013, 2013.
Haught, D. R. W. and van Meerveld, H. J.: Spatial variation in transient water table responses: differences between an upper and lower hillslope zone, Hydrol. Process., 25, 3866–3877, 2011.
Heidbüchel, I., Troch, P. A., Lyon, S. W., and Weiler, M.: The master transit time distribution of variable flow systems, Water Resour. Res., 48, W06520, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR011293, 2012.
Hopmans, P. and Bren, L. J.: Long-term changes in water quality and solute exports in headwater streams of intensively managed radiata pine and natural eucalypt forest catchments in south-eastern Australia, Forest Ecol. Manage., 253, 244–261, 2007.
Hrachowitz, M., Soulsby, C., Tetzlaff, D., and Malcolm, I. A.: Sensitivity of mean transit time estimates to model conditioning and data availabilityle, Hydrol. Process., 25, 980–990, 2011.
Hrachowitz, M., Savenije, H., Bogaard, T. A., Tetzlaff, D., and Soulsby, C.: What can flux tracking teach us about water age distribution patterns and their temporal dynamics?, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 533–564, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-533-2013, 2013a.
Hrachowitz, M., Savenije, H. H. G., Blöschl, G., McDonnell, J. J., Sivapalan, M., Pomeroy, J. W., Arheimer, B., Blume, T., Clark, M. P., Ehret, U., Fenicia, F., Freer, J. E., Gelfan, A., Gupta, H. V., Hughes, D. A., Hut, R. W., Montanari, A., Pande, S., Tetzlaff, D., Troch, P. A., Uhlenbrook, S., Wagener, T., Winsemius, H. C., Woods, R. A., Zehe, E., and Cudennec, C.: A decade of predictions in ungauged basins (PUB) – a review, Hydrol. Sci. J., 58, 1198–1255, 2013b.
Hrachowitz, M., Fovet, O., Ruiz, L., Euser, T., Gharari, S., Nijzink, R., Freer, J, Savenije, H. H. G., and Gascuel-Odoux, C.: Process consistency in models: The importance of system signatures, expert knowledge, and process complexity, Water Resour. Res., 50, 7445–7469, 2014.
Jung, M., Burt, T. P., and Bates, P. D.: Toward a conceptual model of floodplain water table response, Water Resour. Res., 40, W12409, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003WR002619, 2004.
Kampf, S. K. and Burges, S. J.: Parameter estimation for a physics-based distributed hydrologic model using measured outflow fluxes and internal moisture states, Water Resour. Res., 43, W12414, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006WR005605, 2007.
Kavetski, D. and Fenicia, F.: Elements of a flexible approach for conceptual hydrological modeling: 2. Application and experimental insights, Water Resour. Res., 47, W11511, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR010748, 2011.
Kirchner, J. W.: Getting the right answers for the right reasons: Linking measurements, analyses, and models to advance the science of hydrology, Water Resour. Res., 42, W03S04, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005WR004362, 2006.
Lamb, R., Beven, K., and Myrabo, S.: Use of spatially distributed water table observations to constrain uncertainty in a rainfall-runoff model, Adv. Water Resour., 22, 305–317, 1998.
Lawler, D. M., Petts, G. E., Foster, I. D. L., and Harper, S.: Turbidity dynamics during spring storm events in an urban headwater river system: The Upper Tame, West Midlands, UK, Sci. Total Environ., 360, 109–126, 2006.
Martin, C., Molénat, J., Gascuel-Odoux, C., Vouillamoz, J.-M., Robain, H., Ruiz, L., Faucheux, M., and Aquilina, L.: Modelling the effect of physical and chemical characteristics of shallow aquifers on water and nitrate transport in small agricultural catchments, J. Hydrol., 326, 25–42, 2006.
McNamara, J. P., Tetzlaff, D., Bishop, K., Soulsby, C., Seyfried, M., Peters, N. E., Aulenbach, B. T., and Hooper, R.: Storage as a Metric of Catchment Comparison, Hydrol. Process., 25, 3364–3371, 2011.
Mohamed, Y. A., Savenije, H. H. G., Bastiaanssen, W. G. M., and van den Hurk, B. J. J. M.: New lessons on the Sudd hydrology learned from remote sensing and climate modeling, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 10, 507–518, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-10-507-2006, 2006.
Molénat, J., Gascuel-Odoux, C., Davy, P., and Durand, P.: How to model shallow water-table depth variations: the case of the Kervidy-Naizin catchment, France, Hydrol. Process., 19, 901–920, 2005.
Molénat, J., Gascuel-Odoux, C., Ruiz, L., and Gruau, G.: Role of water table dynamics on stream nitrate export and concentration. in agricultural headwater catchment (France), J. Hydrol., 348, 363–378, 2008.
Molénat, J., Gascuel-Odoux,C., Aquilina, L., and Ruiz, L.: Use of gaseous tracers (CFCs and SF6) and transit-time distribution spectrum to validate a shallow groundwater transport model, J. Hydrol., 480, 1–9, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.11.043, 2013.
Moussa, R., Chahinian, N., and Bocquillon, C.: Distributed hydrological modelling of a Mediterranean mountainous catchment - Model construction and multi-site validation, J. Hydrol., 337, 35–51, 2007.
Nash, J. E. and Sutcliffe, J. V.: River flow forecasting through conceptual models part I -A discussion of principles, J. Hydrol., 10, 282–290, 1970.
Nester, T., Kirnbauer, R., Parajka, J., and Bloschl, G.: Evaluating the snow component of a flood forecasting model, Hydrol. Res., 43, 762–779, 2012.
Parajka, J., Naeimi, V., Blöschl, G., Wagner, W., Merz, R., and Scipal, K.: Assimilating scatterometer soil moisture data into conceptual hydrologic models at the regional scale, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 10, 353–368, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-10-353-2006, 2006.
Rouxel, M., Molénat, J., Ruiz, L., Legout, C., Faucheux, M., and Gascuel-Odoux, C.: Seasonal and spatial variation in groundwater quality along the hillslope of an agricultural research catchment (Western France), Hydrol. Process., 25, 831–841, 2011.
Ruiz, L., Abiven, S., Durand, P., Martin, C., Vertès, F., and Beaujouan, V.: Effect on nitrate concentration in stream water of agricultural practices in small catchments in Brittany: I. Annual nitrogen budgets, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 6, 497–506, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-6-497-2002, 2002.
Salant, N. L., Hassan, M. A., and Alonso, C. V.: Suspended sediment dynamics at high and low storm flows in two small watersheds, Hydrol. Process., 22, 1573–1587, 2008.
Savenije, H. H. G.: Equifinality, a blessing in disguise?, Hydrol. Process., 15, 2835–2838, 2001.
Schwientek, M., Osenbruck, K., and Fleischer, M.: Investigating hydrological drivers of nitrate export dynamics in two agricultural catchments in Germany using high-frequency data series, Environ. Earth Sci., 69, 381–393, 2013.
Schwientek, M., Osenbruck, K., and Fleischer, M.: Investigating hydrological drivers of nitrate export dynamics in two agricultural catchments in Germany using high-frequency data series, Environ. Earth Sci., 69, 381–393, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2322-2, 2013.
Seibert, J.: Multi-criteria calibration of a conceptual runoff model using a genetic algorithm, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 4, 215–224, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-4-215-2000, 2000.
Seibert, J. and McDonnell, J. J.: On the dialog between experimentalist and modeler in catchment hydrology: Use of soft data for multicriteria model calibration, Water Resour. Res., 38, 1241, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001WR000978, 2002.
Seibert, J., Rodhe, A., and Bishop, K.: Simulating interactions between saturated and unsaturated storage in a conceptual runoff model, Hydrol. Process., 17, 379–390, 2003.
Sivapalan, M., Bloschl, G., Merz, R., and Gutknecht, D.: Linking flood frequency to long-term water balance: Incorporating effects of seasonality. Water Resour. Res., 41, W06012, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004WR003439, 2005.
Spence, C.: A Paradigm Shift in Hydrology: Storage Thresholds Across Scales Influence Catchment Runoff Generation, Geogr. Compass, 4, 819–833, 2010.
Spence, C., Guan, X. J., Phillips, R., Hedstrom, N., Granger, R., and Reid, B.: Storage dynamics and streamflow in a catchment with a variable contributing area, Hydrol. Process., 24, 2209–2221, 2010.
Sreelash, K., Sekhar, M., Ruiz, L., Buis, S., and Bandyopadhyay, S.: Improved Modeling of Groundwater Recharge in Agricultural Watersheds Using a Combination of Crop Model and Remote Sensing, J. Indian Inst. Sci., 93, 189–207, 2013.
Taghavi, L., Merlina, G., and Probst, J. L.: The role of storm flows in concentration of pesticides associated with particulate and dissolved fractions as a threat to aquatic ecosystems Case study: the agricultural watershed of Save river (Southwest of France), Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems(400), 2011.
Tetzlaff, D., McNamara, J. P., and Carey, S. K.: Measurements and modelling of storage dynamics across scales Preface, Hydrol. Process., 25, 3831–3835, 2011.
Velleux, M. L., England, J. F., and Julien, P. Y.: TREX: Spatially distributed model to assess watershed contaminant transport and fate, Sci. Total Environ., 404, 113–128, 2008.
Vereecken, H., Huisman, J. A., Bogena, H., Vanderborght, J., Vrugt, J. A., and Hopmans, J. W.: On the value of soil moisture measurements in vadose zone hydrology: A review, Water Resour. Res., 44, W00D06, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008WR006829, 2008.
Wagener, T.: Can we model the hydrological impacts of environmental change?, Hydrol. Process., 21, 3233–3236, 2007.
Wagener, T. and Montanari, A.: Convergence of approaches toward reducing uncertainty in predictions in ungauged basins, Water Resour. Res., 47, W06301, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010WR009469, 2011.
Winsemius, H. C., Savenije, H. H. G., and Bastiaanssen, W. G. M.: Constraining model parameters on remotely sensed evaporation: justification for distribution in ungauged basins?, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 12, 1403–1413, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-12-1403-2008, 2008.
Yadav, M., Wagener, T., and Gupta, H.: Regionalization of constraints on expected watershed response behavior for improved predictions in ungauged basins, Adv. Water Resour., 30, 1756–1774, 2007.
Yilmaz, K. K., Gupta, H. V., and Wagener, T.: A process-based diagnostic approach to model evaluation: Application to the NWS distributed hydrologic model, Water Resour. Res., 44, W09417, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007WR006716, 2008.
Short summary
We studied the annual hysteretic patterns observed between stream flow and water storage in the saturated and unsaturated zones of a hillslope and a riparian zone. We described these signatures using a hysteresis index and then used this to assess conceptual hydrological models. This led us to identify four hydrological periods and a clearly distinct behaviour between riparian and hillslope groundwaters and to provide new information about the model performances.
We studied the annual hysteretic patterns observed between stream flow and water storage in the...
