Articles | Volume 20, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4525-2016
© Author(s) 2016. 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-20-4525-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
11 Nov 2016
Research article |
| 11 Nov 2016
Multiple runoff processes and multiple thresholds control agricultural runoff generation
Shabnam Saffarpour
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
Andrew W. Western
Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
Russell Adams
Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
Jeffrey J. McDonnell
Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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Tobias Frederick Selkirk, Andrew W. Western, and J. Angus Webb
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2427, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2427, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
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This study finds three cycles in yearly rainfall worldwide of approximately 13, 20 and 28 years. The cycles rise and fall together across continents and also appear in the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a major climate driver of rain. However the signal in ENSO is too small to explain the strong local influence, the results point to another, still-unknown force that may shape both ENSO and global rainfall.
Olaleye Babatunde, Meenakshi Arora, Siva Naga Venkat Nara, Danlu Guo, Ian Cartwright, and Andrew W. Western
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2456, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2456, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Biogeosciences (BG).
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Nitrogen inputs can pollute streams and degrade water quality. We estimated fertiliser nitrogen inputs across different land uses and assessed their relationship with stream nitrogen concentrations. Only a small fraction of the applied nitrogen was exported, with most retained within the landscape. Land use, rainfall, and flow patterns strongly influenced nitrogen dynamics and export. These findings support strategies to reduce stream pollution and protect water quality in agricultural areas.
Chen Yang, Zitong Jia, Wenjie Xu, Zhongwang Wei, Xiaolang Zhang, Yiguang Zou, Jeffrey McDonnell, Laura Condon, Yongjiu Dai, and Reed Maxwell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2201–2218, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2201-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2201-2025, 2025
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We developed the first high-resolution, integrated surface water–groundwater hydrologic model of the entirety of continental China using ParFlow. The model shows good performance in terms of streamflow and water table depth when compared to global data products and observations. It is essential for water resources management and decision-making in China within a consistent framework in the changing world. It also has significant implications for similar modeling in other places in the world.
Tobias F. Selkirk, Andrew W. Western, and J. Angus Webb
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2167–2184, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2167-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2167-2025, 2025
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This study investigated rainfall in eastern Australia to search for patterns that may aid in predicting flood and drought. The current popular consensus is that such cycles do not exist. We analysed 130 years of rainfall using a very modern technique for identifying cycles in complex signals. The results showed strong evidence of three clear cycles of 12.9, 20.4 and 29.1 years with a confidence of 99.99 %. When combined, they showed an 80 % alignment with years of extremely high and low rainfall.
Theresa Boas, Heye Reemt Bogena, Dongryeol Ryu, Harry Vereecken, Andrew Western, and Harrie-Jan Hendricks Franssen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3143–3167, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3143-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3143-2023, 2023
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In our study, we tested the utility and skill of a state-of-the-art forecasting product for the prediction of regional crop productivity using a land surface model. Our results illustrate the potential value and skill of combining seasonal forecasts with modelling applications to generate variables of interest for stakeholders, such as annual crop yield for specific cash crops and regions. In addition, this study provides useful insights for future technical model evaluations and improvements.
Keirnan Fowler, Murray Peel, Margarita Saft, Tim J. Peterson, Andrew Western, Lawrence Band, Cuan Petheram, Sandra Dharmadi, Kim Seong Tan, Lu Zhang, Patrick Lane, Anthony Kiem, Lucy Marshall, Anne Griebel, Belinda E. Medlyn, Dongryeol Ryu, Giancarlo Bonotto, Conrad Wasko, Anna Ukkola, Clare Stephens, Andrew Frost, Hansini Gardiya Weligamage, Patricia Saco, Hongxing Zheng, Francis Chiew, Edoardo Daly, Glen Walker, R. Willem Vervoort, Justin Hughes, Luca Trotter, Brad Neal, Ian Cartwright, and Rory Nathan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6073–6120, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6073-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6073-2022, 2022
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Recently, we have seen multi-year droughts tending to cause shifts in the relationship between rainfall and streamflow. In shifted catchments that have not recovered, an average rainfall year produces less streamflow today than it did pre-drought. We take a multi-disciplinary approach to understand why these shifts occur, focusing on Australia's over-10-year Millennium Drought. We evaluate multiple hypotheses against evidence, with particular focus on the key role of groundwater processes.
Qichun Yang, Quan J. Wang, Andrew W. Western, Wenyan Wu, Yawen Shao, and Kirsti Hakala
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 941–954, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-941-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-941-2022, 2022
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Forecasts of evaporative water loss in the future are highly valuable for water resource management. These forecasts are often produced using the outputs of climate models. We developed an innovative method to correct errors in these forecasts, particularly the errors caused by deficiencies of climate models in modeling the changing climate. We apply this method to seasonal forecasts of evaporative water loss across Australia and achieve significant improvements in the forecast quality.
Shuci Liu, Dongryeol Ryu, J. Angus Webb, Anna Lintern, Danlu Guo, David Waters, and Andrew W. Western
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2663–2683, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2663-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2663-2021, 2021
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Riverine water quality can change markedly at one particular location. This study developed predictive models to represent the temporal variation in stream water quality across the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia. The model structures were informed by a data-driven approach, which is useful for identifying important factors determining temporal changes in water quality and, in turn, providing critical information for developing management strategies.
Chris M. DeBeer, Howard S. Wheater, John W. Pomeroy, Alan G. Barr, Jennifer L. Baltzer, Jill F. Johnstone, Merritt R. Turetsky, Ronald E. Stewart, Masaki Hayashi, Garth van der Kamp, Shawn Marshall, Elizabeth Campbell, Philip Marsh, Sean K. Carey, William L. Quinton, Yanping Li, Saman Razavi, Aaron Berg, Jeffrey J. McDonnell, Christopher Spence, Warren D. Helgason, Andrew M. Ireson, T. Andrew Black, Mohamed Elshamy, Fuad Yassin, Bruce Davison, Allan Howard, Julie M. Thériault, Kevin Shook, Michael N. Demuth, and Alain Pietroniro
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1849–1882, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1849-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1849-2021, 2021
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This article examines future changes in land cover and hydrological cycling across the interior of western Canada under climate conditions projected for the 21st century. Key insights into the mechanisms and interactions of Earth system and hydrological process responses are presented, and this understanding is used together with model application to provide a synthesis of future change. This has allowed more scientifically informed projections than have hitherto been available.
Theresa Boas, Heye Bogena, Thomas Grünwald, Bernard Heinesch, Dongryeol Ryu, Marius Schmidt, Harry Vereecken, Andrew Western, and Harrie-Jan Hendricks Franssen
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 573–601, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-573-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-573-2021, 2021
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In this study we were able to significantly improve CLM5 model performance for European cropland sites by adding a winter wheat representation, specific plant parameterizations for important cash crops, and a cover-cropping and crop rotation subroutine to its crop module. Our modifications should be applied in future studies of CLM5 to improve regional yield predictions and to better understand large-scale impacts of agricultural management on carbon, water, and energy fluxes.
Danlu Guo, Anna Lintern, J. Angus Webb, Dongryeol Ryu, Ulrike Bende-Michl, Shuci Liu, and Andrew William Western
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 827–847, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-827-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-827-2020, 2020
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This study developed predictive models to represent the spatial and temporal variation of stream water quality across Victoria, Australia. The model structures were informed by a data-driven approach, which identified the key controls of water quality variations from long-term records. These models are helpful to identify likely future changes in water quality and, in turn, provide critical information for developing management strategies to improve stream water quality.
Bernd R. Schöne, Aliona E. Meret, Sven M. Baier, Jens Fiebig, Jan Esper, Jeffrey McDonnell, and Laurent Pfister
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 673–696, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-673-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-673-2020, 2020
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We present the first annually resolved stable isotope record (1819–1998) from shells of Swedish river mussels. Data reflect hydrological processes in the catchment and changes in the isotope value of local precipitation. The latter is related to the origin of moisture from which precipitation formed (North Atlantic or the Arctic) and governed by large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns. Results help to better understand climate dynamics and constrain ecological changes in river ecosystems.
Magali F. Nehemy, Paolo Benettin, Mitra Asadollahi, Dyan Pratt, Andrea Rinaldo, and Jeffrey J. McDonnell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2019-528, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2019-528, 2019
Preprint withdrawn
Anna E. Coles, Jeffrey J. McDonnell, and Brian G. McConkey
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 11, 1375–1383, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1375-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1375-2019, 2019
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Long hydrological records from cold regions with seasonally frozen ground are rare. This paper presents a 50-year dataset from a site (the Swift Current hillslopes) on the Canadian Prairies. The dataset includes information on runoff, soil and water nutrient concentrations, snowpack, soil moisture, agricultural practices and topography. This is a valuable resource for water management and sustainability research, particularly for understanding land use and climate change impacts in cold regions.
Daniele Penna, Luisa Hopp, Francesca Scandellari, Scott T. Allen, Paolo Benettin, Matthias Beyer, Josie Geris, Julian Klaus, John D. Marshall, Luitgard Schwendenmann, Till H. M. Volkmann, Jana von Freyberg, Anam Amin, Natalie Ceperley, Michael Engel, Jay Frentress, Yamuna Giambastiani, Jeff J. McDonnell, Giulia Zuecco, Pilar Llorens, Rolf T. W. Siegwolf, Todd E. Dawson, and James W. Kirchner
Biogeosciences, 15, 6399–6415, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-6399-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-6399-2018, 2018
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Understanding how water flows through ecosystems is needed to provide society and policymakers with the scientific background to manage water resources sustainably. Stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in water are a powerful tool for tracking water fluxes, although the heterogeneity of natural systems and practical methodological issues still limit their full application. Here, we examine the challenges in this research field and highlight new perspectives based on interdisciplinary research.
Natalie Orlowski, Lutz Breuer, Nicolas Angeli, Pascal Boeckx, Christophe Brumbt, Craig S. Cook, Maren Dubbert, Jens Dyckmans, Barbora Gallagher, Benjamin Gralher, Barbara Herbstritt, Pedro Hervé-Fernández, Christophe Hissler, Paul Koeniger, Arnaud Legout, Chandelle Joan Macdonald, Carlos Oyarzún, Regine Redelstein, Christof Seidler, Rolf Siegwolf, Christine Stumpp, Simon Thomsen, Markus Weiler, Christiane Werner, and Jeffrey J. McDonnell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3619–3637, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3619-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3619-2018, 2018
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To extract water from soils for isotopic analysis, cryogenic water extraction is the most widely used removal technique. This work presents results from a worldwide laboratory intercomparison test of cryogenic extraction systems. Our results showed large differences in retrieved isotopic signatures among participating laboratories linked to interactions between soil type and properties, system setup, extraction efficiency, extraction system leaks, and each lab’s internal accuracy.
Chinchu Mohan, Andrew W. Western, Yongping Wei, and Margarita Saft
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2689–2703, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2689-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2689-2018, 2018
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To ensure a sustainable supply of groundwater, scientific information about what is going into the system as recharge and what is taken out of the system via pumping is essential. This study identified the most influential factors in groundwater recharge and developed an empirical global recharge model. The meteorological and vegetation factors were the most important factors, and the long-term global average recharge was 134 mm per year. This model will aid in groundwater policy-making.
Willem J. van Verseveld, Holly R. Barnard, Chris B. Graham, Jeffrey J. McDonnell, J. Renée Brooks, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 5891–5910, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5891-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5891-2017, 2017
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How stream water responds immediately to a rainfall or snow event, while the average time it takes water to travel through the hillslope can be years or decades and is poorly understood. We assessed this difference by combining a 24-day sprinkler experiment (a tracer was applied at the start) with a process-based hydrologic model. Immobile soil water, deep groundwater contribution and soil depth variability explained this difference at our hillslope site.
Susan L. Brantley, David M. Eissenstat, Jill A. Marshall, Sarah E. Godsey, Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad, Diana L. Karwan, Shirley A. Papuga, Joshua Roering, Todd E. Dawson, Jaivime Evaristo, Oliver Chadwick, Jeffrey J. McDonnell, and Kathleen C. Weathers
Biogeosciences, 14, 5115–5142, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-5115-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-5115-2017, 2017
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This review represents the outcome from an invigorating workshop discussion that involved tree physiologists, geomorphologists, ecologists, geochemists, and hydrologists and developed nine hypotheses that could be tested. We argue these hypotheses point to the essence of issues we must explore if we are to understand how the natural system of the earth surface evolves, and how humans will affect its evolution. This paper will create discussion and interest both before and after publication.
Anna E. Coles, Willemijn M. Appels, Brian G. McConkey, and Jeffrey J. McDonnell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2016-564, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2016-564, 2016
Manuscript not accepted for further review
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We used a long-term hydrological and meteorological dataset to unravel the interactions and feedbacks between controls on snowmelt-runoff over Canadian Prairie hillslopes. We found a condition-dependent hierarchy of controls on snowmelt-runoff, which include soil water content, precipitation, melt season length and melt rate. These results have implications for hydrological modeling on seasonally-frozen ground, and for guiding cost-effective and useful field measurements.
Lyssette E. Muñoz-Villers, Daniel R. Geissert, Friso Holwerda, and Jeffrey J. McDonnell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 1621–1635, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-1621-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-1621-2016, 2016
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This study provides an important first step towards a better understanding of the hydrology of tropical montane regions and the factors influencing baseflow mean transit times (MTT). Our MTT estimates ranged between 1.2 and 2.7 years, suggesting deep and long subsurface pathways contributing to sustain dry season flows. Our findings showed that topography and subsurface permeability are the key factors controlling baseflow MTTs. Longest MTTs were found in the cloud forest headwater catchments.
N. Martínez-Carreras, C. E. Wetzel, J. Frentress, L. Ector, J. J. McDonnell, L. Hoffmann, and L. Pfister
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3133–3151, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3133-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3133-2015, 2015
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We tested the hypothesis that different diatom species assemblages inhabit specific moisture domains of the catchment and, consequently, the presence of certain species assemblages in the stream during runoff events offers the potential for recording whether there was hydrological connectivity between these domains or not. In the Weierbach catchment, the transport of aerial diatoms during events suggested a rapid connectivity between the soil surface and the stream.
Z. K. Tesemma, Y. Wei, M. C. Peel, and A. W. Western
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2821–2836, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2821-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2821-2015, 2015
Z. Lu, Y. Wei, H. Xiao, S. Zou, J. Xie, J. Ren, and A. Western
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2261–2273, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2261-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2261-2015, 2015
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This paper quantitatively analyzed the evolution of human-water relationships in the Heihe River basin over the past 2000 years by reconstructing the catchment water balance. The results provided the basis for investigating the impacts of human societies on hydrological systems. The evolutionary processes of human-water relationships can be divided into four stages: predevelopment, take-off, acceleration, and rebalancing. And the transition of the human-water relationship had no fixed pattern.
R. Adams, P. F. Quinn, and M. J. Bowes
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 1641–1657, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1641-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1641-2015, 2015
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Nutrient pollution models need to have an appropriate level of complexity and must be applicable at the mesoscale. Here we show the minimum information requirement approach to building models that are used by policy makers to look at the broad-scale effects of their decisions. CRAFT (Catchment Runoff Attenuation Flux Tool) relies on the representation of hydrological flow pathways and how they can be altered. A case study is shown to demonstrate what can be simulated at the mesoscale.
J. F. Costelloe, T. J. Peterson, K. Halbert, A. W. Western, and J. J. McDonnell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 1599–1613, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1599-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1599-2015, 2015
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Groundwater surface mapping is used as an independent data set to better estimate groundwater discharge to streamflow. The groundwater surfaces indicated when other techniques likely overestimated the groundwater discharge component of baseflow. Groundwater surfaces also identified areas where regional groundwater could not be contributing to tributary streamflow. This method adds significant value to water resource management where sufficient groundwater monitoring data are available.
J. Klaus, J. J. McDonnell, C. R. Jackson, E. Du, and N. A. Griffiths
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 125–135, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-125-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-125-2015, 2015
Z. K. Tesemma, Y. Wei, M. C. Peel, and A. W. Western
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-11-10515-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-11-10515-2014, 2014
Revised manuscript not accepted
L. E. Muñoz-Villers and J. J. McDonnell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 3543–3560, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3543-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3543-2013, 2013
R. Adams, P. F. Quinn, and M. J. Bowes
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-10-10161-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-10-10161-2013, 2013
Preprint withdrawn
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Hillslope characteristics as controls of subsurface flow variability
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Use of the 3-D scanner in mapping and monitoring the dynamic degradation of soils: case study of the Cucuteni-Baiceni Gully on the Moldavian Plateau (Romania)
A porewater-based stable isotope approach for the investigation of subsurface hydrological processes
Subsurface lateral flow from hillslope and its contribution to nitrate loading in streams through an agricultural catchment during subtropical rainstorm events
The effect of slope steepness and antecedent moisture content on interrill erosion, runoff and sediment size distribution in the highlands of Ethiopia
Surface and subsurface flow effect on permanent gully formation and upland erosion near Lake Tana in the northern highlands of Ethiopia
The benefits of gravimeter observations for modelling water storage changes at the field scale
Shallow soil moisture – ground thaw interactions and controls – Part 1: Spatiotemporal patterns and correlations over a subarctic landscape
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Plot and field scale soil moisture dynamics and subsurface wetness control on runoff generation in a headwater in the Ore Mountains
Chao Ma, Shoupeng Wang, Dongshuo Zheng, Yan Zhang, Jie Tang, Yanru Wen, and Jie Dong
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 823–839, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-823-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-823-2025, 2025
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Soil loss results from the hydrological and hydromechanical responses. The soil loss intensity theoretically relates to the soil water storage and the suction stress. This work contributes to exhibiting the close relationship between erosion intensity in the bed and on the slope and the soil water storage and suction stress. The results of this work highlight that antecedent precipitation should be considered in predicting soil loss in the permanent gully rather than solely from rainfall amount.
Victor Aloyse Gauthier, Anna Leuteritz, and Ilja van Meerveld
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-398, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-398, 2025
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
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This study explored the occurrence of flow on and just below the soil surface for 14 small vegetated plots across a pre-Alpine catchment. Overland flow and lateral flow through the topsoil occurred frequently. The spatial variation in the occurrence and amount of flow depended on site characteristics, in particular the Topographic Wetness Index. The amount of flow also depended on the antecedent wetness conditions and total precipitation.
Yulei Ma, Yifan Liu, Jesús Rodrigo-Comino, Manuel López-Vicente, and Gao-Lin Wu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 3947–3961, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3947-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3947-2024, 2024
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Runoff and sediment reduction benefits of hillside mixed grasslands were examined. Cultivated grasslands effectively increased runoff and decreased sediment along ages. Runoff was the dominant factor affecting the soil erosion modulus on alpine hillsides. This implies that protective measures should be prioritized during the initial planting stage of cultivated grasslands on degraded alpine hillsides.
Judith Eeckman, Brian De Grenus, Floreana Miesen, James Thornton, Philip Brunner, and Nadav Peleg
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1832, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1832, 2024
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The fate of liquid water from melting snow in winter and spring is difficult to understand in the mountains. This work uses uncommon methods to accurately track the dynamics of snowmelt and infiltration at different depths in the ground and at different altitudes. The results show that melting snow quickly infiltrates into the upper layers of the soil but is also quickly transferred into the surface layer of the soil along the slopes towards the river.
Fabian Maier, Florian Lustenberger, and Ilja van Meerveld
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 4609–4635, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4609-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4609-2023, 2023
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We used a fluorescent sand tracer with afterglow in combination with sprinkling experiments to visualize and determine the movement of sediments on natural hillslopes. We compared the observed transport patterns with the characteristics of the hillslopes. Results show that the fluorescent sand can be used to monitor sediment redistribution on the soil surface and that infiltration on older hillslopes decreased sediment transport due to more developed vegetation cover and root systems.
Anne Hartmann, Markus Weiler, Konrad Greinwald, and Theresa Blume
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4953–4974, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4953-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4953-2022, 2022
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Analyzing the impact of soil age and rainfall intensity on vertical subsurface flow paths in calcareous soils, with a special focus on preferential flow occurrence, shows how water flow paths are linked to the organization of evolving landscapes. The observed increase in preferential flow occurrence with increasing moraine age provides important but rare data for a proper representation of hydrological processes within the feedback cycle of the hydro-pedo-geomorphological system.
Guofeng Zhu, Leilei Yong, Xi Zhao, Yuwei Liu, Zhuanxia Zhang, Yuanxiao Xu, Zhigang Sun, Liyuan Sang, and Lei Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3771–3784, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3771-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3771-2022, 2022
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In arid areas, the processes of water storage have not been fully understood in different vegetation zones in mountainous areas. This study monitored the stable isotopes in the precipitation and soil water of the Xiying River Basin. In the four vegetation zones, soil water evaporation intensities were mountain grassland > deciduous forest > coniferous forest > alpine meadow, and soil water storage capacity was alpine meadow > deciduous forest > coniferous forest > mountain grassland.
Stein Bondevik and Asgeir Sorteberg
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4147–4158, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4147-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4147-2021, 2021
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Pore pressure is important for the trigger of debris slides and flows. But how, exactly, does the pore pressure vary just before a slide happens? We drilled and installed a piezometer 1.6 m below the ground in a hillslope susceptible to debris flows in western Norway and measured pore pressure and water temperature through the years 2010–2013. We found the largest anomaly in our groundwater data during the storm named Hilde in November in 2013, when a debris flow happened in this slope.
Maria Teresa Brunetti, Massimo Melillo, Stefano Luigi Gariano, Luca Ciabatta, Luca Brocca, Giriraj Amarnath, and Silvia Peruccacci
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3267–3279, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3267-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3267-2021, 2021
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Satellite and rain gauge data are tested to predict landslides in India, where the annual toll of human lives and loss of property urgently demands the implementation of strategies to prevent geo-hydrological instability. For this purpose, we calculated empirical rainfall thresholds for landslide initiation. The validation of thresholds showed that satellite-based rainfall data perform better than ground-based data, and the best performance is obtained with an hourly temporal resolution.
Daniel Beiter, Markus Weiler, and Theresa Blume
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 5713–5744, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5713-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5713-2020, 2020
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We investigated the interactions between streams and their adjacent hillslopes in terms of water flow. It could be revealed that soil structure has a strong influence on how hillslopes connect to the streams, while the groundwater table tells us a lot about when the two connect. This observation could be used to improve models that try to predict whether or not hillslopes are in a state where a rain event will be likely to produce a flood in the stream.
Mariano Moreno-de-las-Heras, Luis Merino-Martín, Patricia M. Saco, Tíscar Espigares, Francesc Gallart, and José M. Nicolau
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2855–2872, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2855-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2855-2020, 2020
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This study shifts from present discussions of the connectivity theory to the practical application of the connectivity concept for the analysis of runoff and sediment dynamics in Mediterranean dry slope systems. Overall, our results provide evidence for the feasibility of using the connectivity concept to understand how the spatial distribution of vegetation and micro-topography (including rills) interact with rainfall dynamics to generate spatially continuous runoff and sediment fluxes.
Alissa White, Bryan Moravec, Jennifer McIntosh, Yaniv Olshansky, Ben Paras, R. Andres Sanchez, Ty P. A. Ferré, Thomas Meixner, and Jon Chorover
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4661–4683, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4661-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4661-2019, 2019
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This paper examines the influence of the subsurface structure on water routing, water residence times, and the hydrologic response of distinct groundwater stores and further investigates their contribution to streamflow. We conclude that deep groundwater from the fractured aquifer system, rather than shallow groundwater, is the dominant source of streamflow, which highlights the need to better characterize the deep subsurface of mountain systems using interdisciplinary studies such as this one.
Jamil A. A. Anache, Edson Wendland, Lívia M. P. Rosalem, Cristian Youlton, and Paulo T. S. Oliveira
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1263–1279, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1263-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1263-2019, 2019
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We assessed the water balance over 5 years in different land uses typical of the Brazilian Cerrado: tropical woodland, bare land, pasture and sugarcane. Land uses may affect hillslope hydrology and cause trade-offs; the woodland consumes the soil water storage along the dry season, while the agricultural LCLU (pasture and sugarcane) reduces the water consumption in either season, and the aquifer recharge rates may be reduced in forested areas due to increased water demand by the vegetation.
Willem J. van Verseveld, Holly R. Barnard, Chris B. Graham, Jeffrey J. McDonnell, J. Renée Brooks, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 5891–5910, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5891-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5891-2017, 2017
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How stream water responds immediately to a rainfall or snow event, while the average time it takes water to travel through the hillslope can be years or decades and is poorly understood. We assessed this difference by combining a 24-day sprinkler experiment (a tracer was applied at the start) with a process-based hydrologic model. Immobile soil water, deep groundwater contribution and soil depth variability explained this difference at our hillslope site.
Rico Hübner, Thomas Günther, Katja Heller, Ursula Noell, and Arno Kleber
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 5181–5199, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5181-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5181-2017, 2017
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In our study, we used a spatially and temporally high resolved 3-D ERT in addition to matric potential measurements to monitor the infiltration and subsurface water flow on a hillslope with layered slope deposits. We derived some interesting findings about the capillary barrier effect as a main driving factor for the activation of different flow pathways. Thus, the maintenance or breakdown of a capillary barrier has a decisive influence on the precipitation runoff response of of the catchment.
Lisa Angermann, Conrad Jackisch, Niklas Allroggen, Matthias Sprenger, Erwin Zehe, Jens Tronicke, Markus Weiler, and Theresa Blume
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3727–3748, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3727-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3727-2017, 2017
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This study investigates the temporal dynamics and response velocities of lateral preferential flow at the hillslope. The results are compared to catchment response behavior to infer the large-scale implications of the observed processes. A large portion of mobile water flows through preferential flow paths in the structured soils, causing an immediate discharge response. The study presents a methodological approach to cover the spatial and temporal domain of these highly heterogeneous processes.
Conrad Jackisch, Lisa Angermann, Niklas Allroggen, Matthias Sprenger, Theresa Blume, Jens Tronicke, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3749–3775, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3749-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3749-2017, 2017
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Rapid subsurface flow in structured soils facilitates fast vertical and lateral redistribution of event water. We present its in situ exploration through local measurements and irrigation experiments. Special emphasis is given to a coherent combination of hydrological and geophysical methods. The study highlights that form and function operate as conjugated pairs. Dynamic imaging through time-lapse GPR was key to observing both and to identifying hydrologically relevant structures.
Lukáš Vlček, Kristýna Falátková, and Philipp Schneider
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3025–3040, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3025-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3025-2017, 2017
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The role of mountain headwater area in hydrological cycle was investigated at two opposite hillslopes covered by mineral and organic soils. Similarities and differences in percolation and preferential flow paths between the hillslopes were identified by sprinkling experiments with Brilliant Blue and Fluorescein. The dye solutions infiltrated into the soil and continued either as lateral subsurface pipe flow (organic soil), or percolated vertically towards the bedrock (mineral soil).
Lyssette E. Muñoz-Villers, Daniel R. Geissert, Friso Holwerda, and Jeffrey J. McDonnell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 1621–1635, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-1621-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-1621-2016, 2016
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This study provides an important first step towards a better understanding of the hydrology of tropical montane regions and the factors influencing baseflow mean transit times (MTT). Our MTT estimates ranged between 1.2 and 2.7 years, suggesting deep and long subsurface pathways contributing to sustain dry season flows. Our findings showed that topography and subsurface permeability are the key factors controlling baseflow MTTs. Longest MTTs were found in the cloud forest headwater catchments.
Haimanote K. Bayabil, Tigist Y. Tebebu, Cathelijne R. Stoof, and Tammo S. Steenhuis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 875–885, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-875-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-875-2016, 2016
P. T. S. Oliveira, E. Wendland, M. A. Nearing, R. L. Scott, R. Rosolem, and H. R. da Rocha
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2899–2910, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2899-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2899-2015, 2015
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We determined the main components of the water balance for an undisturbed cerrado.
Evapotranspiration ranged from 1.91 to 2.60mm per day for the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Canopy interception ranged from 4 to 20% and stemflow values were approximately 1% of gross precipitation.
The average runoff coefficient was less than 1%, while cerrado deforestation has the potential to increase that amount up to 20-fold.
The water storage may be estimated by the difference between P and ET.
J. Bechet, J. Duc, M. Jaboyedoff, A. Loye, and N. Mathys
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 1849–1855, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1849-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1849-2015, 2015
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High-resolution three-dimensional point clouds are used to analyse erosion processes at the millimetre scale. The processes analysed here play a role in the closure of cracks. We demonstrated how micro-scale infiltration can influence the degradation of soil surface by inducing downward mass movements that are not reversible. This development will aid in designing future experiments to analyse processes such as swelling, crack closure, micro-landslides, etc.
R. Hübner, K. Heller, T. Günther, and A. Kleber
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 225–240, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-225-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-225-2015, 2015
T. G. Wilson, C. Cortis, N. Montaldo, and J. D. Albertson
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 4169–4183, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4169-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4169-2014, 2014
P. Schneider, S. Pool, L. Strouhal, and J. Seibert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 875–892, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-875-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-875-2014, 2014
S. Popp, D. Altdorff, and P. Dietrich
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1297–1307, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1297-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1297-2013, 2013
J. Klaus, E. Zehe, M. Elsner, C. Külls, and J. J. McDonnell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 103–118, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-103-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-103-2013, 2013
S. Bachmair and M. Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 3699–3715, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-3699-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-3699-2012, 2012
F. Tauro, S. Grimaldi, A. Petroselli, M. C. Rulli, and M. Porfiri
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 2973–2983, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-2973-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-2973-2012, 2012
B. A. Ebel, E. S. Hinckley, and D. A. Martin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 1401–1417, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1401-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1401-2012, 2012
G. Romanescu, V. Cotiuga, A. Asandulesei, and C. Stoleriu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 953–966, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-953-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-953-2012, 2012
J. Garvelmann, C. Külls, and M. Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 631–640, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-631-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-631-2012, 2012
B. Zhang, J. L. Tang, Ch. Gao, and H. Zepp
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 3153–3170, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-3153-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-3153-2011, 2011
M. B. Defersha, S. Quraishi, and A. Melesse
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 2367–2375, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-2367-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-2367-2011, 2011
T. Y. Tebebu, A. Z. Abiy, A. D. Zegeye, H. E. Dahlke, Z. M. Easton, S. A. Tilahun, A. S. Collick, S. Kidnau, S. Moges, F. Dadgari, and T. S. Steenhuis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 2207–2217, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-2207-2010, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-2207-2010, 2010
B. Creutzfeldt, A. Güntner, S. Vorogushyn, and B. Merz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 1715–1730, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-1715-2010, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-1715-2010, 2010
X. J. Guan, C. J. Westbrook, and C. Spence
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 1375–1386, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-1375-2010, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-1375-2010, 2010
X. J. Guan, C. Spence, and C. J. Westbrook
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 1387–1400, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-1387-2010, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-1387-2010, 2010
E. Zehe, T. Graeff, M. Morgner, A. Bauer, and A. Bronstert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 873–889, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-873-2010, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-873-2010, 2010
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Short summary
A variety of threshold mechanisms influence the transfer of rainfall to runoff from catchments. Some of these mechanisms depend on the occurrence of intense rainfall and others depend on the catchment being wet. This article first provides a framework for considering which mechanisms are important in different situations and then uses that framework to examine the behaviour of a catchment in Australia that exhibits a mix of both rainfall intensity and catchment wetness dependent thresholds.
A variety of threshold mechanisms influence the transfer of rainfall to runoff from catchments....
