Articles | Volume 22, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3965-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3965-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
20 Jul 2018
Research article |
| 20 Jul 2018
| 20 Jul 2018
Water ages in the critical zone of long-term experimental sites in northern latitudes
Matthias Sprenger
Northern Rivers Institute, School of Geosciences, University of
Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
Doerthe Tetzlaff
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
IGB Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
Northern Rivers Institute, School of Geosciences, University of
Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
Jim Buttle
School of the Environment, Trent University, Ontario, Canada
Hjalmar Laudon
Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
Chris Soulsby
Northern Rivers Institute, School of Geosciences, University of
Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
Related authors
Filip Muhic, Pertti Ala-Aho, Matthias Sprenger, Björn Klöve, and Hannu Marttila
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4861–4881, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4861-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4861-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The snowmelt event governs the hydrological cycle of sub-arctic areas. In this study, we conducted a tracer experiment on a forested hilltop in Lapland to identify how high-volume infiltration events modify the soil water storage. We found that a strong tracer signal remained in deeper soil layers after the experiment and over the winter, but it got fully displaced during the snowmelt. We propose a conceptual infiltration model that explains how the snowmelt homogenizes the soil water storage.
Matthias Sprenger, Rosemary W. H. Carroll, David Marchetti, Carleton Bern, Harsh Beria, Wendy Brown, Alexander Newman, Curtis Beutler, and Kenneth H. Williams
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 1711–1723, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1711-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1711-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Stable isotopes of water (described as d-excess) in mountain snowpack can be used to infer proportions of high-elevation snowmelt in stream water. In a Colorado River headwater catchment, nearly half of the water during peak streamflow is derived from melted snow at elevations greater than 3200 m. High-elevation snowpack contributions were higher for years with lower snowpack and warmer spring temperatures. Thus, we suggest that d-excess could serve to assess high-elevation snowpack changes.
Shiqin Wang, Zhixiong Zhang, Shoucai Wei, Wenbo Zheng, Binbin Liu, Matthias Sprenger, Yanjun Shen, and Yizhang Zhang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-391, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-391, 2023
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
By seasonal isotopic signatures of precipitation and groundwater, we obtained the mechanism of groundwater recharge dominated by preferential soil flow and the cause of nitrate variation. Large pores in soils accelerate the infiltration of water and contamination, increasing groundwater recharge while increasing the risk of contamination.Groundwater recharge shows different hysteresis characteristics due to the combination of geological and anthropogenic factors.
Matthias Sprenger, Pilar Llorens, Francesc Gallart, Paolo Benettin, Scott T. Allen, and Jérôme Latron
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4093–4107, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4093-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4093-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Our catchment-scale transit time modeling study shows that including stable isotope data on evapotranspiration in addition to the commonly used stream water isotopes helps constrain the model parametrization and reveals that the water taken up by plants has resided longer in the catchment storage than the water leaving the catchment as stream discharge. This finding is important for our understanding of how water is stored and released, which impacts the water availability for plants and humans.
Matthias Sprenger, Pilar Llorens, Carles Cayuela, Francesc Gallart, and Jérôme Latron
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2751–2762, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2751-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2751-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We find that the stable isotopic compositions of mobile and matrix bound soil water are continuously different over 8 months. Long-term data further show that these isotopic differences result from the refilling of small soil pores by isotopically depleted rains during low soil moisture conditions. Thus, subsurface water is not well mixed, but flow velocities and storage in soils are highly variable; this has important implications for ecohydrological studies and soil hydrological modeling.
Matthias Sprenger, Doerthe Tetzlaff, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3839–3858, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3839-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3839-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We sampled the isotopic composition in the top 20 cm at four different sites in the Scottish Highlands at 5 cm intervals over 1 year. The relationship between the soil water isotopic fractionation and evapotranspiration showed a hysteresis pattern due to a lag response to onset and offset of the evaporative losses. The isotope data revealed that vegetation had a significant influence on the soil evaporation with evaporation being double from soils beneath Scots pine compared to heather.
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
Short summary
Short summary
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
Maria Magdalena Warter, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Chris Soulsby, Tobias Goldhammer, Daniel Gebler, Kati Vierrikko, and Michael T. Monaghan
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3537, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3537, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
There is a lack of understanding of how urban aquatic nature-based solutions affect ecohydrology and how they in turn are affected by urbanization and climate change. We use a multi-tracer approach using stable water isotopes, hydrochemistry and microbial and macrophyte diversity, to disentangle the effects of hydroclimate and urbanization. The results show potential limitations of aquaNBS impacts on water quality and biodiversity in response to hydroclimate and urban water sources.
Tejshree Tiwari and Hjalmar Laudon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-337, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-337, 2024
Preprint under review for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
A 40-year hydro-climatic time series from the Krycklan catchment revealed warmer winters associated with higher baseflow and lower summer baseflow. Climate index models suggest that while warmer winters enhance baseflow, they reduce water reserves necessary for summer baseflow. This was supported by an increasing winter precipitation isotope signal in winter baseflow, contrasted with a decreasing isotope signal in summer baseflow.
Maria Magdalena Warter, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Christian Marx, and Chris Soulsby
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3907–3924, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3907-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3907-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Streams are increasingly impacted by droughts and floods. Still, the amount of water needed for sustainable flows remains unclear and contested. A comparison of two streams in the Berlin–Brandenburg region of northeast Germany, using stable water isotopes, shows strong groundwater dependence with seasonal rainfall contributing to high/low flows. Understanding streamflow variability can help us assess the impacts of climate change on future water resource management.
Filip Muhic, Pertti Ala-Aho, Matthias Sprenger, Björn Klöve, and Hannu Marttila
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4861–4881, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4861-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4861-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The snowmelt event governs the hydrological cycle of sub-arctic areas. In this study, we conducted a tracer experiment on a forested hilltop in Lapland to identify how high-volume infiltration events modify the soil water storage. We found that a strong tracer signal remained in deeper soil layers after the experiment and over the winter, but it got fully displaced during the snowmelt. We propose a conceptual infiltration model that explains how the snowmelt homogenizes the soil water storage.
Salim Goudarzi, Chris Soulsby, Jo Smith, Jamie Lee Stevenson, Alessandro Gimona, Scot Ramsay, Alison Hester, Iris Aalto, and Josie Geris
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2258, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2258, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Planting trees on farmlands is now considered as one of the potential solutions to climate change. Trees can suck CO2 out of our atmosphere and store it in their trunks and in the soil beneath them. They can promote biodiversity, protect against soil erosion and drought. They can even help reduce flood risk for downstream communities. But we need models that can tell us the likely impact of trees at different locations and scales. Our study provides such a model.
Shirin Karimi, Eliza Maher Hasselquist, Järvi Järveoja, Virginia Mosquera, and Hjalmar Laudon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-158, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-158, 2024
Preprint under review for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
There is an increasing interest in rewetting drained peatlands to regain their important ecosystem functions. However, as peatland rewetting is a relatively new strategy, the scientific foundation for this approach is not solid. Therefore, we investigated the impact of rewetting on flood mitigation using high-resolution hydrological field observations. Our results showed that peatland rewetting has significantly reduced peak flow, runoff coefficient, and mitigated flashy hydrograph responses.
Matthias Sprenger, Rosemary W. H. Carroll, David Marchetti, Carleton Bern, Harsh Beria, Wendy Brown, Alexander Newman, Curtis Beutler, and Kenneth H. Williams
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 1711–1723, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1711-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1711-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Stable isotopes of water (described as d-excess) in mountain snowpack can be used to infer proportions of high-elevation snowmelt in stream water. In a Colorado River headwater catchment, nearly half of the water during peak streamflow is derived from melted snow at elevations greater than 3200 m. High-elevation snowpack contributions were higher for years with lower snowpack and warmer spring temperatures. Thus, we suggest that d-excess could serve to assess high-elevation snowpack changes.
Doerthe Tetzlaff, Aaron Smith, Lukas Kleine, Hauke Daempfling, Jonas Freymueller, and Chris Soulsby
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 1543–1554, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1543-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1543-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present a comprehensive set of ecohydrological hydrometric and stable water isotope data of 2 years of data. The data set is unique as the different compartments of the landscape were sampled and the effects of a prolonged drought (2018–2020) captured by a marked negative rainfall anomaly (the most severe regional drought of the 21st century). Thus, the data allow the drought effects on water storage, flux and age dynamics, and persistence of lowland landscapes to be investigated.
Anna Lupon, Stefan Willem Ploum, Jason Andrew Leach, Lenka Kuglerová, and Hjalmar Laudon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 613–625, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-613-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-613-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Discrete riparian inflow points (DRIPs) transport dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from large areas to discrete sections of streams, yet the mechanisms by which DRIPs affect stream DOC concentration, cycling, and export are still unknown. Here, we tested four models that account for different hydrologic and biological representations to show that DRIPs generally reduce DOC exports by either diluting stream DOC (snowmelt period) or promoting aquatic metabolism (summer).
Shiqin Wang, Zhixiong Zhang, Shoucai Wei, Wenbo Zheng, Binbin Liu, Matthias Sprenger, Yanjun Shen, and Yizhang Zhang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-391, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-391, 2023
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
By seasonal isotopic signatures of precipitation and groundwater, we obtained the mechanism of groundwater recharge dominated by preferential soil flow and the cause of nitrate variation. Large pores in soils accelerate the infiltration of water and contamination, increasing groundwater recharge while increasing the risk of contamination.Groundwater recharge shows different hysteresis characteristics due to the combination of geological and anthropogenic factors.
Xiaoqiang Yang, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Chris Soulsby, and Dietrich Borchardt
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2022-239, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2022-239, 2022
Preprint retracted
Short summary
Short summary
We develop the catchment water quality assessment platform HiWaQ v1.0, which is compatible with multiple hydrological model structures. The nitrogen module (HiWaQ-N) and its coupling tests with two contrasting grid-based hydrological models demonstrate the robustness of the platform in estimating catchment N dynamics. With the unique design of the coupling flexibility, HiWaQ can leverage advancements in hydrological modelling and advance integrated catchment water quantity-quality assessments.
Guangxuan Li, Xi Chen, Zhicai Zhang, Lichun Wang, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5515–5534, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5515-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5515-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a coupled flow–tracer model to understand the effects of passive storage on modeling hydrological function and isotope dynamics in a karst flow system. Models with passive storages show improvement in matching isotope dynamics performance, and the improved performance also strongly depends on the number and location of passive storages. Our results also suggested that the solute transport is primarily controlled by advection and hydrodynamic dispersion in the steep hillslope unit.
Johannes Larson, William Lidberg, Anneli M. Ågren, and Hjalmar Laudon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4837–4851, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4837-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4837-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Terrain indices constitute a good candidate for modelling the spatial variation of soil moisture conditions in many landscapes. In this study, we evaluate nine terrain indices on varying DEM resolution and user-defined thresholds with validation using an extensive field soil moisture class inventory. We demonstrate the importance of field validation for selecting the appropriate DEM resolution and user-defined thresholds and that failing to do so can result in ambiguous and incorrect results.
Matthias Sprenger, Pilar Llorens, Francesc Gallart, Paolo Benettin, Scott T. Allen, and Jérôme Latron
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4093–4107, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4093-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4093-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Our catchment-scale transit time modeling study shows that including stable isotope data on evapotranspiration in addition to the commonly used stream water isotopes helps constrain the model parametrization and reveals that the water taken up by plants has resided longer in the catchment storage than the water leaving the catchment as stream discharge. This finding is important for our understanding of how water is stored and released, which impacts the water availability for plants and humans.
Aaron Smith, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Jessica Landgraf, Maren Dubbert, and Chris Soulsby
Biogeosciences, 19, 2465–2485, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2465-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2465-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This research utilizes high-spatiotemporal-resolution soil and vegetation measurements, including water stable isotopes, within an ecohydrological model to partition water flux dynamics and identify flow paths and durations. Results showed high vegetation water use and high spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation water source and vegetation isotopes. The evaluation of these dynamics further revealed relatively fast flow paths through both shallow soil and vegetation.
Jessica Landgraf, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Maren Dubbert, David Dubbert, Aaron Smith, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2073–2092, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2073-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2073-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Using water stable isotopes, we studied from which water source (lake water, stream water, groundwater, or soil water) two willows were taking their water. We monitored the environmental conditions (e.g. air temperature and soil moisture) and the behaviour of the trees (water flow in the stem). We found that the most likely water sources of the willows were the upper soil layers but that there were seasonal dynamics.
Conrad Jackisch, Sibylle K. Hassler, Tobias L. Hohenbrink, Theresa Blume, Hjalmar Laudon, Hilary McMillan, Patricia Saco, and Loes van Schaik
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5277–5285, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5277-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5277-2021, 2021
Aaron J. Neill, Christian Birkel, Marco P. Maneta, Doerthe Tetzlaff, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4861–4886, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4861-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4861-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Structural changes (cover and height of vegetation plus tree canopy characteristics) to forests during regeneration on degraded land affect how water is partitioned between streamflow, groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration. Partitioning most strongly deviates from baseline conditions during earlier stages of regeneration with dense forest, while recovery may be possible as the forest matures and opens out. This has consequences for informing sustainable landscape restoration strategies.
Mikael Gillefalk, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Reinhard Hinkelmann, Lena-Marie Kuhlemann, Aaron Smith, Fred Meier, Marco P. Maneta, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3635–3652, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3635-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3635-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We used a tracer-aided ecohydrological model to quantify water flux–storage–age interactions for three urban vegetation types: trees, shrub and grass. The model results showed that evapotranspiration increased in the order shrub < grass < trees during one growing season. Additionally, we could show how
infiltration hotspotscreated by runoff from sealed onto vegetated surfaces can enhance both evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge.
Aaron Smith, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Lukas Kleine, Marco Maneta, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2239–2259, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2239-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2239-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We used a tracer-aided ecohydrological model on a mixed land use catchment in northeastern Germany to quantify water flux–storage–age interactions at four model grid resolutions. The model's ability to reproduce spatio-temporal flux–storage–age interactions decreases with increasing model grid sizes. Similarly, larger model grids showed vegetation-influenced changes in blue and green water partitioning. Simulations reveal the value of measured soil and stream isotopes for model calibration.
Jenna R. Snelgrove, James M. Buttle, Matthew J. Kohn, and Dörthe Tetzlaff
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2169–2186, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2169-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2169-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Co-evolution of plant and soil water isotopic composition throughout the growing season in a little-studied northern mixed forest landscape was explored. Marked inter-specific differences in the isotopic composition of xylem water relative to surrounding soil water occurred, despite thin soil cover constraining inter-species differences in rooting depths. We provide potential explanations for differences in temporal evolution of xylem water isotopic composition in this northern landscape.
Elin Jutebring Sterte, Fredrik Lidman, Emma Lindborg, Ylva Sjöberg, and Hjalmar Laudon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2133–2158, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2133-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2133-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
A numerical model was used to estimate annual and seasonal mean travel times across 14 long-term nested monitored catchments in the boreal region. The estimated travel times and young water fractions were consistent with observed variations of base cation concentration and stable water isotopes, δ18O. Soil type was the most important factor regulating the variation in mean travel times among sub-catchments, while the areal coverage of mires increased the young water fraction.
Lena-Marie Kuhlemann, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Aaron Smith, Birgit Kleinschmit, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 927–943, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-927-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-927-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We studied water partitioning under urban grassland, shrub and trees during a warm and dry growing season in Berlin, Germany. Soil evaporation was highest under grass, but total green water fluxes and turnover time of soil water were greater under trees. Lowest evapotranspiration losses under shrub indicate potential higher drought resilience. Knowledge of water partitioning and requirements of urban green will be essential for better adaptive management of urban water and irrigation strategies.
Lukas Kleine, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Aaron Smith, Hailong Wang, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3737–3752, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3737-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3737-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We investigated the effects of the 2018 drought on water partitioning in a lowland catchment under grassland and forest in north-eastern Germany. Conditions resulted in drying up of streams, yield losses, and lower groundwater levels. Oak trees continued to transpire during the drought. We used stable isotopes to assess the fluxes and ages of water. Sustainable use of resource water requires such understanding of ecohydrological water partitioning.
Nataliia Kozii, Kersti Haahti, Pantana Tor-ngern, Jinshu Chi, Eliza Maher Hasselquist, Hjalmar Laudon, Samuli Launiainen, Ram Oren, Matthias Peichl, Jörgen Wallerman, and Niles J. Hasselquist
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2999–3014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2999-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2999-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The hydrologic cycle is one of the greatest natural processes on Earth and strongly influences both regional and global climate as well as ecosystem functioning. Results from this study clearly show the central role trees play in regulating the water cycle of boreal catchments, implying that forest management impacts on stand structure as well as climate change effects on tree growth are likely to have large cascading effects on the way water moves through boreal forested landscapes.
Stefan W. Ploum, Hjalmar Laudon, Andrés Peralta-Tapia, and Lenka Kuglerová
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1709–1720, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1709-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1709-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Near-stream areas, or riparian zones, are important for the health of streams and rivers. If these areas are disturbed by forestry or other anthropogenic activity, the water quality and all life in streams may be at risk. We examined which riparian areas are particularly sensitive. We found that only a few wet areas bring most of the rainwater from the landscape to the stream, and they have a unique water quality. In order to maintain healthy streams and rivers, these areas should be protected.
Aaron Smith, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Hjalmar Laudon, Marco Maneta, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3319–3334, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3319-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3319-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We adapted and used a spatially distributed eco-hydrological model, EcH2O-iso, to temporally evaluate the influence of soil freeze–thaw dynamics on evaporation and transpiration fluxes in a northern Swedish catchment. We used multi-criterion calibration over multiple years and found an early-season influence of soil frost on transpiration water ages. This work provides a framework for quantifying the current and future interactions of soil water, evaporation, and transpiration.
Matthias Sprenger, Pilar Llorens, Carles Cayuela, Francesc Gallart, and Jérôme Latron
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2751–2762, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2751-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2751-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We find that the stable isotopic compositions of mobile and matrix bound soil water are continuously different over 8 months. Long-term data further show that these isotopic differences result from the refilling of small soil pores by isotopically depleted rains during low soil moisture conditions. Thus, subsurface water is not well mixed, but flow velocities and storage in soils are highly variable; this has important implications for ecohydrological studies and soil hydrological modeling.
Thea I. Piovano, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Sean K. Carey, Nadine J. Shatilla, Aaron Smith, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2507–2523, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2507-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2507-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We adapted the spatially distributed, tracer-aided model, STARR, to a permafrost-influenced catchment in the Yukon Territory, Canada, with a time-variable implementation of field capacity to capture thaw layer spatio-temporal dynamics. We applied a multi-criteria calibration with multi-year field data. This study demonstrates the value of the integration of isotope data in a spatially distributed model to quantify catchment water storage and age dynamics in a permafrost-influenced environment.
Hongkai Gao, Christian Birkel, Markus Hrachowitz, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Chris Soulsby, and Hubert H. G. Savenije
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 787–809, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-787-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-787-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Supported by large-sample ecological observations, a novel, simple and topography-driven runoff generation module (HSC-MCT) was created. The HSC-MCT is calibration-free, and therefore it can be used to predict in ungauged basins, and has great potential to be generalized at the global scale. Also, it allows us to reproduce the variation of saturation areas, which has great potential to be used for broader hydrological, ecological, climatological, and biogeochemical studies.
Zhicai Zhang, Xi Chen, Qinbo Cheng, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 51–71, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-51-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-51-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a new tracer-aided hydrological model for karst catchments. This model captured the flow and tracer dynamics within each landscape unit quite well, and we could estimate the storage, fluxes and age of water within each. Such tracer-aided models enhance our understanding of the hydrological connectivity between different landscape units and the mixing processes between various flow sources. It is an encouraging step forward in tracer-aided modelling of karst catchments.
Marcus Klaus, Erik Geibrink, Anders Jonsson, Ann-Kristin Bergström, David Bastviken, Hjalmar Laudon, Jonatan Klaminder, and Jan Karlsson
Biogeosciences, 15, 5575–5594, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-5575-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-5575-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Forest management is widely used to mitigate climate change. However, forest greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets neglect to consider that clear-cuts often release carbon and nitrogen into streams and lakes and may affect aquatic GHG emissions. Here, we show that such emissions remain unaffected by experimental boreal forest clear-cutting despite increased groundwater carbon dioxide and methane concentrations, highlighting that riparian zones or in-stream processes may have buffered clear-cut leachates.
Sylvain Kuppel, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Marco P. Maneta, and Chris Soulsby
Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 3045–3069, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-3045-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-3045-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents a novel ecohydrological model in which both the fluxes of water and the relative concentration in stable isotopes (2H and 18O) can be simulated. Spatial heterogeneity, lateral transfers and plant-driven water use are incorporated. A thorough evaluation shows encouraging results using a wide range of in situ measurements from a Scottish catchment. The same modelling principles are then used to simulate how (and where) precipitation ages as water transits in the catchment.
Aaron A. Smith, Doerthe Tetzlaff, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-57, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-57, 2018
Preprint withdrawn
Martin Berggren, Marcus Klaus, Balathandayuthabani Panneer Selvam, Lena Ström, Hjalmar Laudon, Mats Jansson, and Jan Karlsson
Biogeosciences, 15, 457–470, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-457-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-457-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The quality of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), especially its color, is a defining feature of freshwater ecosystems. We found that colored DOC fractions are surprisingly resistant to natural degradation during water transit through many brown-water lakes. This is explained by the dominance of microbial processes that appear to selectively remove noncolored DOC. However, in lakes where sunlight degradation plays a relatively larger role, significant DOC bleaching occurs.
Fernando Jaramillo, Neil Cory, Berit Arheimer, Hjalmar Laudon, Ype van der Velde, Thomas B. Hasper, Claudia Teutschbein, and Johan Uddling
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 567–580, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-567-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-567-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Which is the dominant effect on evapotranspiration in northern forests, an increase by recent forests expansion or a decrease by the water use response due to increasing CO2 concentrations? We determined the dominant effect during the period 1961–2012 in 65 Swedish basins. We used the Budyko framework to study the hydroclimatic movements in Budyko space. Our findings suggest that forest expansion is the dominant driver of long-term and large-scale evapotranspiration changes.
Pertti Ala-aho, Doerthe Tetzlaff, James P. McNamara, Hjalmar Laudon, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 5089–5110, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5089-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5089-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We used the Spatially Distributed Tracer-Aided Rainfall-Runoff model (STARR) to simulate streamflows, stable water isotope ratios, snowpack dynamics, and water ages in three snow-influenced experimental catchments with exceptionally long and rich datasets. Our simulations reproduced the hydrological observations in all three catchments, suggested contrasting stream water age distributions between catchments, and demonstrated the importance of snow isotope processes in tracer-aided modelling.
Matthias Sprenger, Doerthe Tetzlaff, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3839–3858, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3839-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3839-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We sampled the isotopic composition in the top 20 cm at four different sites in the Scottish Highlands at 5 cm intervals over 1 year. The relationship between the soil water isotopic fractionation and evapotranspiration showed a hysteresis pattern due to a lag response to onset and offset of the evaporative losses. The isotope data revealed that vegetation had a significant influence on the soil evaporation with evaporation being double from soils beneath Scots pine compared to heather.
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
Short summary
Short summary
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
Fredrik Lidman, Åsa Boily, Hjalmar Laudon, and Stephan J. Köhler
Biogeosciences, 14, 3001–3014, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-3001-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-3001-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The riparian zone is the narrow strip of land that lines a watercourse. This is the last soil that the groundwater is in contact with before it enters the stream and it therefore has a high impact on the water quality. In this paper we show that many elements occur in elevated concentrations in the peat-like riparian zone of boreal headwaters and that this also leads to elevated concentrations in the streams. Hence, understanding riparian soils is crucial for a sustainable management of streams.
Tobias Lindborg, Johan Rydberg, Mats Tröjbom, Sten Berglund, Emma Johansson, Anders Löfgren, Peter Saetre, Sara Nordén, Gustav Sohlenius, Eva Andersson, Johannes Petrone, Micke Borgiel, Ulrik Kautsky, and Hjalmar Laudon
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 8, 439–459, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-8-439-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-8-439-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents a biogeochemical and ecological data set from the Kangerlussuaq region, western Greenland. The data set is used to conceptualize and model terrestrial and limnic ecosystems as well as the land–lake linkage. Both biotic and abiotic data is presented and will be used for biogeochemical mass-balance and transport calculations. The data set constitutes an important source in order to understand and describe accumulation and flow of matter within periglacial landscapes.
Stephen Oni, Martyn Futter, Jose Ledesma, Claudia Teutschbein, Jim Buttle, and Hjalmar Laudon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 2811–2825, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2811-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2811-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents an important framework to improve hydrologic projections in cold regions. Hydrologic modelling/projections are often based on model calibration to long-term data. Here we used dry and wet years as a proxy to quantify uncertainty in projecting hydrologic extremes. We showed that projections based on long-term data could underestimate runoff by up to 35% in boreal regions. We believe the hydrologic modelling community will benefit from new insights derived from this study.
J. Schelker, R. Sponseller, E. Ring, L. Högbom, S. Löfgren, and H. Laudon
Biogeosciences, 13, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-1-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-1-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The scientific question that is addressed in this study is how forest disturbance affects organic and inorganic nitrogen export from a boreal landscape. The key findings are that the mobilization of inorganic nitrogen from the terrestrial environment to streams increased strongly as a response to harvesting, but the stream network removed a major fraction of this load before it reached the outlet, while organic nitrogen was not removed and transported downstream.
M. Haei and H. Laudon
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-12-15763-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-12-15763-2015, 2015
Revised manuscript not accepted
J. R. Poulsen, E. Sebok, C. Duque, D. Tetzlaff, and P. K. Engesgaard
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 1871–1886, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1871-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1871-2015, 2015
F. I. Leith, K. J. Dinsmore, M. B. Wallin, M. F. Billett, K. V. Heal, H. Laudon, M. G. Öquist, and K. Bishop
Biogeosciences, 12, 1881–1892, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-1881-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-1881-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Carbon dioxide transport between the terrestrial and aquatic systems was dominated by export from the near-stream riparian zone. Over the year, riparian export was highest during autumn storms and the spring snowmelt event. This resulted in high downstream export during these periods with vertical evasion from the stream surface accounting for 60% of the total stream water export, highlighting the importance of evasion to carbon export via the aquatic conduit.
H. Zarei, A. M. Akhondali, H. Mohammadzadeh, F. Radmanesh, and H. Laudon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-11-3787-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-11-3787-2014, 2014
Manuscript not accepted for further review
A. M. Ågren, I. Buffam, D. M. Cooper, T. Tiwari, C. D. Evans, and H. Laudon
Biogeosciences, 11, 1199–1213, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-1199-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-1199-2014, 2014
E. Bosson, T. Lindborg, S. Berglund, L.-G. Gustafsson, J.-O. Selroos, H. Laudon, L. L. Claesson, and G. Destouni
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-10-9271-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-10-9271-2013, 2013
Revised manuscript not accepted
J. L. J. Ledesma, T. Grabs, M. N. Futter, K. H. Bishop, H. Laudon, and S. J. Köhler
Biogeosciences, 10, 3849–3868, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-3849-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-3849-2013, 2013
S. K. Oni, M. N. Futter, K. Bishop, S. J. Köhler, M. Ottosson-Löfvenius, and H. Laudon
Biogeosciences, 10, 2315–2330, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-2315-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-2315-2013, 2013
M. Hrachowitz, H. Savenije, T. A. Bogaard, D. Tetzlaff, and C. Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 533–564, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-533-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-533-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject: Vadose Zone Hydrology | Techniques and Approaches: Modelling approaches
Modeling 2D gravity-driven flow in unsaturated porous media for different infiltration rates
Mesoscale permeability variations estimated from natural airflows in the decorated Cosquer Cave (southeastern France)
Identification of parameter importance for benzene transport in the unsaturated zone using global sensitivity analysis
Evapotranspiration prediction for European forest sites does not improve with assimilation of in situ soil water content data
A comprehensive study of deep learning for soil moisture prediction
Quantifying the potential of using SMAP soil moisture variability to predict subsurface water dynamics
Modelling groundwater recharge, actual evaporation, and transpiration in semi-arid sites of the Lake Chad basin: the role of soil and vegetation in groundwater recharge
Predicting soil hydraulic properties for binary mixtures – concept and application for constructed Technosols
Application of an improved distributed hydrological model based on the soil–gravel structure in the Niyang River basin, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Assessment of the interactions between soil–biosphere–atmosphere (ISBA) land surface model soil hydrology, using four closed-form soil water relationships and several lysimeters
Soil–vegetation–water interactions controlling solute flow and chemical weathering in volcanic ash soils of the high Andes
Estimating vadose zone water fluxes from soil water monitoring data: a comprehensive field study in Austria
Semi-continuum modeling of unsaturated porous media flow to explain Bauters' paradox
Effects of dynamic changes of desiccation cracks on preferential flow: experimental investigation and numerical modeling
Numerical assessment of morphological and hydraulic properties of moss, lichen and peat from a permafrost peatland
A robust upwind mixed hybrid finite element method for transport in variably saturated porous media
Stepping beyond perfectly mixed conditions in soil hydrological modelling using a Lagrangian approach
Using machine learning to predict optimal electromagnetic induction instrument configurations for characterizing the shallow subsurface
Gravity as a tool to improve the hydrologic mass budget in karstic areas
A scaling procedure for straightforward computation of sorptivity
From hydraulic root architecture models to macroscopic representations of root hydraulics in soil water flow and land surface models
Simulated or measured soil moisture: which one is adding more value to regional landslide early warning?
Interaction of soil water and groundwater during the freezing–thawing cycle: field observations and numerical modeling
Assessing the dynamics of soil salinity with time-lapse inversion of electromagnetic data guided by hydrological modelling
Simulation of reactive solute transport in the critical zone: a Lagrangian model for transient flow and preferential transport
Investigating the impact of exit effects on solute transport in macroporous media
Comparison of root water uptake models in simulating CO2 and H2O fluxes and growth of wheat
Understanding the mass, momentum, and energy transfer in the frozen soil with three levels of model complexities
A field-validated surrogate crop model for predicting root-zone moisture and salt content in regions with shallow groundwater
Characterizing uncertainty in the hydraulic parameters of oil sands mine reclamation covers and its influence on water balance predictions
Simulating preferential soil water flow and tracer transport using the Lagrangian Soil Water and Solute Transport Model
Assessment of simulated soil moisture from WRF Noah, Noah-MP, and CLM land surface schemes for landslide hazard application
Efficient estimation of effective hydraulic properties of stratal undulating surface layer using time-lapse multi-channel GPR
Partitioning snowmelt and rainfall in the critical zone: effects of climate type and soil properties
A unique vadose zone model for shallow aquifers: the Hetao irrigation district, China
Modelling of shallow water table dynamics using conceptual and physically based integrated surface-water–groundwater hydrologic models
Capturing soil-water and groundwater interactions with an iterative feedback coupling scheme: new HYDRUS package for MODFLOW
Caffeine vs. carbamazepine as indicators of wastewater pollution in a karst aquifer
Predicting the soil water retention curve from the particle size distribution based on a pore space geometry containing slit-shaped spaces
Technical note: Saturated hydraulic conductivity and textural heterogeneity of soils
Ecohydrological particle model based on representative domains
Impact of capillary rise and recirculation on simulated crop yields
Soil hydraulic material properties and layered architecture from time-lapse GPR
Root growth, water uptake, and sap flow of winter wheat in response to different soil water conditions
Using lagged dependence to identify (de)coupled surface and subsurface soil moisture values
Shallow water table effects on water, sediment, and pesticide transport in vegetative filter strips – Part 1: nonuniform infiltration and soil water redistribution
Shallow water table effects on water, sediment, and pesticide transport in vegetative filter strips – Part 2: model coupling, application, factor importance, and uncertainty
A pore-size classification for peat bogs derived from unsaturated hydraulic properties
Monitoring and modeling infiltration–recharge dynamics of managed aquifer recharge with desalinated seawater
Effect of unrepresented model errors on estimated soil hydraulic material properties
Jakub Kmec and Miloslav Šír
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4947–4970, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4947-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4947-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The most mysterious part of the hydrological cycle is the infiltration of water into porous soil. In this process, water enters the soil, some of it is retained in the soil or evaporates, and the remaining water continues to move below and through the rock environment. The physical description of infiltration, specifically the dependence of the infiltration rate on the flow, shows very unusual features that are beyond the normal human experience. Our paper is devoted to their elucidation.
Hugo Pellet, Bruno Arfib, Pierre Henry, Stéphanie Touron, and Ghislain Gassier
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4035–4057, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4035-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4035-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Conservation of decorated caves is highly dependent on airflows and is correlated with rock formation permeability. We present the first conceptual model of flows around the Paleolithic decorated Cosquer coastal cave (southeastern France), quantify air permeability, and show how its variation affects water levels inside the cave. This study highlights that airflows may change in karst unsaturated zones in response to changes in the water cycle and may thus be affected by climate change.
Meirav Cohen, Nimrod Schwartz, and Ravid Rosenzweig
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 1585–1604, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1585-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1585-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Contamination from fuel constituents poses a major threat to groundwater. However, studies devoted to identification of the driving parameters for fuel derivative transport in soils are scarce, and none have dealt with heterogeneous layered media. Here, we performed global sensitivity analysis (GSA) on a model of benzene transport to groundwater. The results identified the parameters controlling benzene transport in soils and showed that GSA is as an important tool for transport model analysis.
Lukas Strebel, Heye Bogena, Harry Vereecken, Mie Andreasen, Sergio Aranda-Barranco, and Harrie-Jan Hendricks Franssen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 1001–1026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1001-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1001-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We present results from using soil water content measurements from 13 European forest sites in a state-of-the-art land surface model. We use data assimilation to perform a combination of observed and modeled soil water content and show the improvements in the representation of soil water content. However, we also look at the impact on evapotranspiration and see no corresponding improvements.
Yanling Wang, Liangsheng Shi, Yaan Hu, Xiaolong Hu, Wenxiang Song, and Lijun Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 917–943, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-917-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-917-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
LSTM temporal modeling suits soil moisture prediction; attention mechanisms enhance feature learning efficiently, as their feature selection capabilities are proven through Transformer and attention–LSTM hybrids. Adversarial training strategies help extract additional information from time series’ data. SHAP analysis and t-SNE visualization reveal differences in encoded features across models. This work serves as a reference for time series’ data processing in hydrology problems.
Aruna Kumar Nayak, Xiaoyong Xu, Steven K. Frey, Omar Khader, Andre R. Erler, David R. Lapen, Hazen A. J. Russell, and Edward A. Sudicky
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-309, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-309, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite remote sensing measures only the near-surface soil water content. This study demonstrates that satellite-based near-surface soil water variability is a strong reflection of deeper subsurface water fluctuation and quantifies the response time differences between dynamics of satellite near-surface soil water and water in deeper subsurface. Result support the use of satellite near-surface soil water measurements as indicators and/or predictors of water resources in deeper subsurface.
Christoph Neukum, Angela Morales-Santos, Melanie Ronelngar, Aminu Bala, and Sara Vassolo
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3601–3619, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3601-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3601-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
A generalized approach that requires limited field data and well-established models is tested for assessing groundwater recharge in the southern Lake Chad basin. E and T coefficients are estimated with the FAO-dual Kc concept at six locations. Measured soil water content and chloride concentrations along vertical soil profiles together with different scenarios for E and T partitioning and a Bayesian calibration approach are used to simulate water flow and chloride transport using Hydrus-1D.
Moreen Willaredt, Thomas Nehls, and Andre Peters
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3125–3142, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3125-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3125-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study proposes a model to predict soil hydraulic properties (SHPs) of constructed Technosols for urban greening. The SHPs are determined by the Technosol composition and describe their capacity to store and supply water to plants. The model predicts SHPs of any binary mixture based on the SHPs of its two pure components, facilitating simulations of flow and transport processes before production. This can help create Technosols designed for efficient urban greening and water management.
Pengxiang Wang, Zuhao Zhou, Jiajia Liu, Chongyu Xu, Kang Wang, Yangli Liu, Jia Li, Yuqing Li, Yangwen Jia, and Hao Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2681–2701, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2681-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2681-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Considering the impact of the special geological and climatic conditions of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau on the hydrological cycle, this study established the WEP-QTP hydrological model. The snow cover and gravel layers affected the temporal and spatial changes in frozen soil and improved the regulation of groundwater on the flow process. Ignoring he influence of special underlying surface conditions has a great impact on the hydrological forecast and water resource utilization in this area.
Antoine Sobaga, Bertrand Decharme, Florence Habets, Christine Delire, Noële Enjelvin, Paul-Olivier Redon, Pierre Faure-Catteloin, and Patrick Le Moigne
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2437–2461, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2437-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2437-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Seven instrumented lysimeters are used to assess the simulation of the soil water dynamic in one land surface model. Four water potential and hydraulic conductivity closed-form equations, including one mixed form, are evaluated. One form is more relevant for simulating drainage, especially during intense drainage events. The soil profile heterogeneity of one parameter of the closed-form equations is shown to be important.
Sebastián Páez-Bimos, Armando Molina, Marlon Calispa, Pierre Delmelle, Braulio Lahuatte, Marcos Villacís, Teresa Muñoz, and Veerle Vanacker
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1507–1529, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1507-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1507-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study analyzes how vegetation influences soil hydrology, water fluxes, and chemical weathering rates in the high Andes. There are clear differences in the A horizon. The extent of soil chemical weathering varies depending on vegetation type. This difference is attributed mainly to the water fluxes. Our findings reveal that vegetation can modify soil properties in the uppermost horizon, altering the water balance, solutes, and chemical weathering throughout the entire soil profile.
Marleen Schübl, Giuseppe Brunetti, Gabriele Fuchs, and Christine Stumpp
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1431–1455, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1431-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1431-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Estimating groundwater recharge through the unsaturated zone is a difficult task that is fundamentally associated with uncertainties. One of the few methods available is inverse modeling based on soil water measurements. Here, we used a nested sampling algorithm within a Bayesian probabilistic framework to assess model uncertainties at 14 sites in Austria. Further, we analyzed simulated recharge rates to identify factors influencing groundwater recharge rates and their temporal variability.
Jakub Kmec, Miloslav Šír, Tomáš Fürst, and Rostislav Vodák
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1279–1300, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1279-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1279-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
When rain falls on the ground, most of the water subsequently flows through the soil. The movement of water through the partially wet soil layer is surprisingly complicated. For decades, no mathematical model has been able to capture this process in its entire complexity. Here, we present a model that aims to solve this long-standing problem. In this paper, we show that the model correctly reproduces the transition between diffusion and preferential flow regimes.
Yi Luo, Jiaming Zhang, Zhi Zhou, Juan P. Aguilar-Lopez, Roberto Greco, and Thom Bogaard
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 783–808, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-783-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-783-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes an experiment and modeling of the hydrological response of desiccation cracks under long-term wetting–drying cycles. We developed a new dynamic dual-permeability model to quantify the dynamic evolution of desiccation cracks and associated preferential flow and moisture distribution. Compared to other models, the dynamic dual-permeability model could describe the experimental data much better, but it also provided an improved description of the underlying physics.
Simon Cazaurang, Manuel Marcoux, Oleg S. Pokrovsky, Sergey V. Loiko, Artem G. Lim, Stéphane Audry, Liudmila S. Shirokova, and Laurent Orgogozo
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 431–451, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-431-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-431-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Moss, lichen and peat samples are reconstructed using X-ray tomography. Most samples can be cut down to a representative volume based on porosity. However, only homogeneous samples could be reduced to a representative volume based on hydraulic conductivity. For heterogeneous samples, a devoted pore network model is computed. The studied samples are mostly highly porous and water-conductive. These results must be put into perspective with compressibility phenomena occurring in field tests.
Anis Younes, Hussein Hoteit, Rainer Helmig, and Marwan Fahs
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5227–5239, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5227-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5227-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Despite its advantages for the simulation of flow in heterogeneous and fractured porous media, the mixed hybrid finite element method has been rarely used for transport as it suffers from strong unphysical oscillations. We develop here a new upwind scheme for the mixed hybrid finite element that can avoid oscillations. Numerical examples confirm the robustness of this new scheme for the simulation of contaminant transport in both saturated and unsaturated conditions.
Alexander Sternagel, Ralf Loritz, Brian Berkowitz, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1615–1629, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1615-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1615-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present a (physically based) Lagrangian approach to simulate diffusive mixing processes on the pore scale beyond perfectly mixed conditions. Results show the feasibility of the approach for reproducing measured mixing times and concentrations of isotopes over pore sizes and that typical shapes of breakthrough curves (normally associated with non-uniform transport in heterogeneous soils) may also occur as a result of imperfect subscale mixing in a macroscopically homogeneous soil matrix.
Kim Madsen van't Veen, Ty Paul Andrew Ferré, Bo Vangsø Iversen, and Christen Duus Børgesen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 55–70, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-55-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-55-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Geophysical instruments are often used in hydrological surveys. A geophysical model that couples electrical conductivity in the subsurface layers with measurements from an electromagnetic induction instrument was combined with a machine learning algorithm. The study reveals that this combination can estimate the identifiability of electrical conductivity in a layered soil and provide insight into the best way to configure the instrument for a specific field site.
Tommaso Pivetta, Carla Braitenberg, Franci Gabrovšek, Gerald Gabriel, and Bruno Meurers
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 6001–6021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6001-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6001-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Gravimetry offers a valid complement to classical hydrologic measurements in order to characterize karstic systems in which the recharge process causes fast accumulation of large water volumes in the voids of the epi-phreatic system. In this contribution we show an innovative integration of gravimetric and hydrologic observations to constrain a hydrodynamic model of the Škocjan Caves (Slovenia). We demonstrate how the inclusion of gravity observations improves the water mass budget estimates.
Laurent Lassabatere, Pierre-Emmanuel Peyneau, Deniz Yilmaz, Joseph Pollacco, Jesús Fernández-Gálvez, Borja Latorre, David Moret-Fernández, Simone Di Prima, Mehdi Rahmati, Ryan D. Stewart, Majdi Abou Najm, Claude Hammecker, and Rafael Angulo-Jaramillo
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5083–5104, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5083-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5083-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Soil sorptivity is a crucial parameter for the modeling of water infiltration into soils. The standard equation used to compute sorptivity from the soil water retention curve, the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, and initial and final water contents may lead to erroneous estimates due to its complexity. This study proposes a new straightforward scaling procedure for estimations of sorptivity for four famous and commonly used hydraulic models.
Jan Vanderborght, Valentin Couvreur, Felicien Meunier, Andrea Schnepf, Harry Vereecken, Martin Bouda, and Mathieu Javaux
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4835–4860, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4835-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4835-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Root water uptake is an important process in the terrestrial water cycle. How this process depends on soil water content, root distributions, and root properties is a soil–root hydraulic problem. We compare different approaches to implementing root hydraulics in macroscopic soil water flow and land surface models.
Adrian Wicki, Per-Erik Jansson, Peter Lehmann, Christian Hauck, and Manfred Stähli
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4585–4610, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4585-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4585-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Soil moisture information was shown to be valuable for landslide prediction. Soil moisture was simulated at 133 sites in Switzerland, and the temporal variability was compared to the regional occurrence of landslides. We found that simulated soil moisture is a good predictor for landslides, and that the forecast goodness is similar to using in situ measurements. This encourages the use of models for complementing existing soil moisture monitoring networks for regional landslide early warning.
Hong-Yu Xie, Xiao-Wei Jiang, Shu-Cong Tan, Li Wan, Xu-Sheng Wang, Si-Hai Liang, and Yijian Zeng
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4243–4257, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4243-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4243-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Freezing-induced groundwater migration and water table decline are widely observed, but quantitative understanding of these processes is lacking. By considering wintertime atmospheric conditions and occurrence of lateral groundwater inflow, a model coupling soil water and groundwater reproduced field observations of soil temperature, soil water content, and groundwater level well. The model results led to a clear understanding of the balance of the water budget during the freezing–thawing cycle.
Mohammad Farzamian, Dario Autovino, Angelo Basile, Roberto De Mascellis, Giovanna Dragonetti, Fernando Monteiro Santos, Andrew Binley, and Antonio Coppola
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1509–1527, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1509-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1509-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Soil salinity is a serious threat in numerous arid and semi-arid areas of the world. Given this threat, efficient field assessment methods are needed to monitor the dynamics of soil salinity in salt-affected lands efficiently. We demonstrate that rapid and non-invasive geophysical measurements modelled by advanced numerical analysis of the signals and coupled with hydrological modelling can provide valuable information to assess the spatio-temporal variability in soil salinity over large areas.
Alexander Sternagel, Ralf Loritz, Julian Klaus, Brian Berkowitz, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1483–1508, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1483-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1483-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The key innovation of the study is a method to simulate reactive solute transport in the vadose zone within a Lagrangian framework. We extend the LAST-Model with a method to account for non-linear sorption and first-order degradation processes during unsaturated transport of reactive substances in the matrix and macropores. Model evaluations using bromide and pesticide data from irrigation experiments under different flow conditions on various timescales show the feasibility of the method.
Jérôme Raimbault, Pierre-Emmanuel Peyneau, Denis Courtier-Murias, Thomas Bigot, Jaime Gil Roca, Béatrice Béchet, and Laurent Lassabatère
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 671–683, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-671-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-671-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Contaminant transport in soils is known to be affected by soil heterogeneities such as macropores. The transport properties of heterogeneous porous media can be studied in laboratory columns. However, the results reported in this study (a combination of breakthrough experiments, magnetic resonance imaging and computer simulations of transport) show that these properties can be largely affected by the boundary devices of the columns, thus highlighting the need to take their effect into account.
Thuy Huu Nguyen, Matthias Langensiepen, Jan Vanderborght, Hubert Hüging, Cho Miltin Mboh, and Frank Ewert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4943–4969, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4943-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4943-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The mechanistic Couvreur root water uptake (RWU) model that is based on plant hydraulics and links root system properties to RWU, water stress, and crop development can evaluate the impact of certain crop properties on crop performance in different environments and soils, while the Feddes RWU approach does not possess such flexibility. This study also shows the importance of modeling root development and how it responds to water deficiency to predict the impact of water stress on crop growth.
Lianyu Yu, Yijian Zeng, and Zhongbo Su
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4813–4830, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4813-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4813-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Soil mass and heat transfer processes were represented in three levels of model complexities to understand soil freeze–thaw mechanisms. Results indicate that coupled mass and heat transfer models considerably improved simulations of the soil hydrothermal regime. Vapor flow and thermal effects on water flow are the main mechanisms for the improvements. Given the explicit consideration of airflow, vapor flow and its effects on heat transfer were enhanced during the freeze–thaw transition period.
Zhongyi Liu, Zailin Huo, Chaozi Wang, Limin Zhang, Xianghao Wang, Guanhua Huang, Xu Xu, and Tammo Siert Steenhuis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4213–4237, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4213-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4213-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We have developed an integrated surrogate model for arid irrigated areas with shallow groundwater that links crop growth with soil water and salinity in the vadose zone. The model recognizes that field capacity is reached when the matric potential is equal to the height above the groundwater table. The model applies areas with shallow groundwater for which only very few surrogate models are available for most surface irrigation systems in the world without suffering from high groundwater.
M. Shahabul Alam, S. Lee Barbour, and Mingbin Huang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 735–759, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-735-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-735-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This study quantifies uncertainties in the prediction of long-term water balance for mine reclamation soil covers using random sampling of model parameter distributions. Parameter distributions were obtained from model optimization for field monitoring data. Variability in climate is a greater source of uncertainty than the model parameters in evaporation predictions, while climate variability and model parameters exert similar uncertainty on predictions of net percolation.
Alexander Sternagel, Ralf Loritz, Wolfgang Wilcke, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4249–4267, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4249-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4249-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We present our hydrological LAST-Model to simulate preferential soil water flow and tracer transport in macroporous soils. It relies on a Lagrangian perspective of the movement of discrete water particles carrying tracer masses through the subsoil and is hence an alternative approach to common models. Sensitivity analyses reveal the physical validity of the model concept and evaluation tests show that LAST can depict well observed tracer mass profiles with fingerprints of preferential flow.
Lu Zhuo, Qiang Dai, Dawei Han, Ningsheng Chen, and Binru Zhao
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4199–4218, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4199-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4199-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This study assesses the usability of WRF model-simulated soil moisture for landslide monitoring in northern Italy. In particular, three advanced land surface model schemes (Noah, Noah-MP, and CLM4) are used to provide multi-layer soil moisture data. The results have shown Noah-MP can provide the best landslide monitoring performance. It is also demonstrated that a single soil moisture sensor located in plain area has a high correlation with a significant proportion of the study area.
Xicai Pan, Stefan Jaumann, Jiabao Zhang, and Kurt Roth
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3653–3663, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3653-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3653-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This study suggests an efficient approach to obtain plot-scale soil hydraulic properties for the shallow structural soils via non-invasive ground-penetrating radar measurements. Facilitated by spatial information of lateral water flow, this approach is more efficient than the widely used inversion approaches relying on intensive soil moisture monitoring. The acquisition of such quantitative information is of great interest to fields such as hydrology and precision agriculture.
John C. Hammond, Adrian A. Harpold, Sydney Weiss, and Stephanie K. Kampf
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3553–3570, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3553-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3553-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Streamflow in high-elevation and high-latitude areas may be vulnerable to snow loss, making it important to quantify how snowmelt and rainfall are divided between soil storage, drainage below plant roots, evapotranspiration and runoff. We examine this separation in different climates and soils using a physically based model. Results show runoff may be reduced with snowpack decline in all climates. The mechanisms responsible help explain recent observations of streamflow sensitivity to snow loss.
Zhongyi Liu, Xingwang Wang, Zailin Huo, and Tammo Siert Steenhuis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3097–3115, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3097-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3097-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
A novel approach is taken in simulating the hydrology of the vadose zone in areas with shallow groundwater. The model recognizes that field capacity is reached when the matric potential is equal to the height above the groundwater table. The model can be used in areas with shallow groundwater to optimize irrigation water use and minimize tailwater losses.
Mohammad Bizhanimanzar, Robert Leconte, and Mathieu Nuth
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2245–2260, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2245-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2245-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Modelling of shallow water table fluctuations is usually carried out using physically based numerical models. These models have notable limitations regarding intensive required data and computational burden. This paper presents an alternative modelling approach for modelling of such cases by introducing modifications to the calculation of groundwater recharge and saturated flow of a conceptual hydrologic model.
Jicai Zeng, Jinzhong Yang, Yuanyuan Zha, and Liangsheng Shi
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 637–655, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-637-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-637-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Accurately capturing the soil-water–groundwater interaction is vital for all disciplines related to subsurface flow but is difficult when undergoing significant nonlinearity in the modeling system. A new soil-water flow package is developed to solve the switching-form Richards’ equation. A multi-scale water balance analysis joins unsaturated–saturated models at separated scales. The whole system is solved efficiently with an iterative feedback coupling scheme.
Noam Zach Dvory, Yakov Livshitz, Michael Kuznetsov, Eilon Adar, Guy Gasser, Irena Pankratov, Ovadia Lev, and Alexander Yakirevich
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 6371–6381, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6371-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6371-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This research is paramount given the significance of karst aquifers as essential drinking water sources. While CBZ is considered conservative, CAF is subject to sorption and degradation, and therefore each of these two pollutants can be considered effective tracers for specific assessment of aquifer contamination. The model presented in this paper shows how each of the mentioned contaminants could serve as a better tool for aquifer contamination characterization and its treatment.
Chen-Chao Chang and Dong-Hui Cheng
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 4621–4632, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4621-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4621-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The soil water retention curve (SWRC) is fundamental to researching water flow and chemical transport in unsaturated media. However, the traditional prediction models underestimate the water content in the dry range of the SWRC. A method was therefore proposed to improve the estimation of the SWRC using a pore model containing slit-shaped spaces. The results show that the predicted SWRCs using the improved method reasonably approximated the measured SWRCs.
Carlos García-Gutiérrez, Yakov Pachepsky, and Miguel Ángel Martín
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3923–3932, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3923-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3923-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) is an important soil parameter that highly depends on soil's particle size distribution (PSD). The nature of this dependency is explored in this work in two ways, (1) by using the information entropy as a heterogeneity parameter of the PSD and (2) by using descriptions of PSD in forms of textural triplets, different than the usual description in terms of the triplet of sand, silt, and clay contents.
Conrad Jackisch and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3639–3662, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3639-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3639-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We present a Lagrangian model for non-uniform soil water dynamics. It handles 2-D diffusion (based on a spatial random walk and implicit pore space redistribution) and 1-D advection in representative macropores (as film flow with dynamic interaction with the soil matrix). The interplay between the domains is calculated based on an energy-balance approach which does not require any additional parameterisation. Model tests give insight into the evolution of the non-uniform infiltration patterns.
Joop Kroes, Iwan Supit, Jos van Dam, Paul van Walsum, and Martin Mulder
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2937–2952, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2937-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2937-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Impact of upward flow by capillary rise and recirculation on crop yields is often neglected or underestimated. Case studies and model experiments are used to illustrate the impact of this upward flow in the Dutch delta. Neglecting upward flow results in yield reductions for grassland, maize and potatoes. Half of the withheld water behind these yield effects comes from recirculated percolation water as occurs in free-drainage conditions; the other half from increased upward capillary rise.
Stefan Jaumann and Kurt Roth
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2551–2573, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2551-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2551-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a noninvasive and nondestructive measurement method to monitor the hydraulic processes precisely and efficiently. We analyze synthetic as well as measured data from the ASSESS test site and show that the analysis yields accurate estimates for the soil hydraulic material properties as well as for the subsurface architecture by comparing the results to references derived from time domain reflectometry (TDR) and subsurface architecture ground truth data.
Gaochao Cai, Jan Vanderborght, Matthias Langensiepen, Andrea Schnepf, Hubert Hüging, and Harry Vereecken
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2449–2470, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2449-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2449-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Different crop growths had consequences for the parameterization of root water uptake models. The root hydraulic parameters of the Couvreur model but not the water stress parameters of the Feddes–Jarvis model could be constrained by the field data measured from rhizotron facilities. The simulated differences in transpiration from the two soils and the different water treatments could be confirmed by sap flow measurements. The Couvreur model predicted the ratios of transpiration fluxes better.
Coleen D. U. Carranza, Martine J. van der Ploeg, and Paul J. J. F. Torfs
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2255–2267, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2255-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2255-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Remote sensing has been popular for mapping surface soil moisture. However, estimating subsurface values using surface soil moisture remains a challenge, as decoupling can occur. Depth-integrated soil moisture values used in hydrological models are affected by vertical variability. Using statistical methods, we investigate vertical variability between the surface (5 cm) and subsurface (40 cm) to quantify decoupling. We also discuss potential controls for decoupling during wet and dry conditions.
Rafael Muñoz-Carpena, Claire Lauvernet, and Nadia Carluer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 53–70, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-53-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-53-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Seasonal shallow water tables (WTs) in lowlands limit vegetation-buffer efficiency to control runoff pollution. Mechanistic models are needed to quantify true field efficiency. A new simplified algorithm for soil infiltration over WTs is tested against reference models and lab data showing WT effects depend on local settings but are negligible after 2 m depth. The algorithm is coupled to a complete vegetation buffer model in a companion paper to analyze pesticide and sediment control in situ.
Claire Lauvernet and Rafael Muñoz-Carpena
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 71–87, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-71-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-71-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Vegetation buffers, often placed in lowlands to control runoff pollution, can exhibit limited efficiency due to seasonal shallow water tables (WTs). A new shallow water table infiltration algorithm developed in a companion paper is coupled to a complete vegetation buffer model to quantify pesticide and sediment control in the field. We evaluated the model on two field experiments in France with and without WT conditions and show WTs can control efficiency depending on land and climate settings.
Tobias Karl David Weber, Sascha Christian Iden, and Wolfgang Durner
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 6185–6200, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6185-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6185-2017, 2017
Yonatan Ganot, Ran Holtzman, Noam Weisbrod, Ido Nitzan, Yoram Katz, and Daniel Kurtzman
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4479–4493, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4479-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4479-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We monitor infiltration at multiple scales during managed aquifer recharge with desalinated seawater in an infiltration pond, while groundwater recharge is evaluated by simplified and numerical models. We found that pond-surface clogging is negated by the high-quality desalinated seawater or negligible compared to the low-permeability layers of the unsaturated zone. We show that a numerical model with a 1-D representative sediment profile is able to capture infiltration and recharge dynamics.
Stefan Jaumann and Kurt Roth
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4301–4322, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4301-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4301-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the quantitative effect of neglected sensor position, small-scale heterogeneity, and lateral flow on soil hydraulic material properties. Thus, we analyze a fluctuating water table experiment in a 2-D architecture (ASSESS) with increasingly complex studies based on time domain reflectometry and hydraulic potential data. We found that 1-D studies may yield biased parameters and that estimating sensor positions as well as small-scale heterogeneity improves the model significantly.
Cited articles
Ala-aho, P., Tetzlaff, D., McNamara, J. P., Laudon, H., Kormos, P., and
Soulsby, C.: Modeling the isotopic evolution of snowpack and snowmelt:
testing a spatially distributed parsimonious approach, Water Resour. Res., 53,
5813–5830, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017WR020650, 2017a.
Ala-aho, P., Tetzlaff, D., McNamara, J. P., Laudon, H., and Soulsby, C.:
Using isotopes to constrain water flux and age estimates in snow-influenced
catchments using the STARR (Spatially distributed Tracer-Aided
Rainfall–Runoff) model, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 5089–5110,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5089-2017, 2017b.
Ali, M., Fiori, A., and Russo, D.: A comparison of travel-time based
catchment transport models, with application to numerical experiments, J.
Hydrol., 511, 605–618, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.02.010, 2014.
Allen, R. G., Pereira, L. S., Raes, D., and Smith, M.: Crop
evapotranspiration-Guidelines for computing crop water requirements-FAO
Irrigation and drainage paper 56, FAO, Rome, 300, D05109, 1998.
Asano, Y., Uchida, T., and Ohte, N.: Residence times and flow paths of water
in steep unchannelled catchments, Tanakami, Japan, J. Hydrol., 261, 173–192,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(02)00005-7, 2002.
Benettin, P., van der Velde, Y., van der Zee, S. E. A. T. M., Rinaldo, A.,
and Botter, G.: Chloride circulation in a lowland catchment and the
formulation of transport by travel time distributions, Water Resour. Res.,
49, 4619–4632, https://doi.org/10.1002/wrcr.20309, 2013.
Benettin, P., Rinaldo, A., and Botter, G.: Tracking residence times in
hydrological systems: forward and backward formulations, Hydrol. Process.,
29, 5203–5213, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10513, 2015.
Benettin, P., Soulsby, C., Birkel, C., Tetzlaff, D., Botter, G., and Rinaldo,
A.: Using SAS functions and high-resolution isotope data to unravel travel
time distributions in headwater catchments, Water Resour. Res., 53,
1864–1878, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR020117, 2017.
Birkel, C., Soulsby, C., Tetzlaff, D., Dunn, S., and Spezia, L.:
High-frequency storm event isotope sampling reveals time-variant transit time
distributions and influence of diurnal cycles, Hydrol. Process., 26,
308–316, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8210, 2012.
Birkel, C., Soulsby, C., and Tetzlaff, D.: Conceptual modelling to assess
how the interplay of hydrological connectivity, catchment storage and tracer
dynamics controls nonstationary water age estimates, Hydrol. Process., 29,
2956–2969, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10414, 2015.
Botter, G., Bertuzzo, E., and Rinaldo, A.: Transport in the hydrologic
response: Travel time distributions, soil moisture dynamics, and the old
water paradox, Water Resour. Res., 46, W03514, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009wr008371,
2010.
Botter, G., Bertuzzo, E., and Rinaldo, A.: Catchment residence and travel
time distributions: The master equation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L11403,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2011gl047666, 2011.
Brantley, S. L., Eissenstat, D. M., Marshall, J. A., Godsey, S. E.,
Balogh-Brunstad, Z., Karwan, D. L., Papuga, S. A., Roering, J., Dawson, T.
E., Evaristo, J., Chadwick, O., McDonnell, J. J., and Weathers, K. C.:
Reviews and syntheses: on the roles trees play in building and plumbing the
critical zone, Biogeosciences, 14, 5115–5142,
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-5115-2017, 2017.
Brooks, J. R., Barnard, H. R., Coulombe, R., and McDonnell, J. J.:
Ecohydrologic separation of water between trees and streams in a
Mediterranean climate, Nat. Geosci., 3, 100–104, https://doi.org/10.1038/NGEO722, 2010.
Ellsworth, P. Z. and Sternberg, L. S. L.: Seasonal water use by deciduous
and evergreen woody species in a scrub community is based on water
availability and root distribution, Ecohydrol., 8, 538–551,
https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1523, 2015.
Forkel, M., Carvalhais, N., Rödenbeck, C., Keeling, R., Heimann, M.,
Thonicke, K., Zaehle, S., and Reichstein, M.: Enhanced seasonal CO2
exchange caused by amplified plant productivity in northern ecosystems,
Science (New York, N.Y.), 351, 696–699, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac4971, 2016.
Geris, J., Tetzlaff, D., McDonnell, J., Anderson, J., Paton, G., and
Soulsby, C.: Ecohydrological separation in wet, low energy northern
environments?: A preliminary assessment using different soil water
extraction techniques, Hydrol. Process., 29, 5139–5152,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10603, 2015.
Godsey, S. E., Aas, W., Clair, T. A., Wit, H. A. de, Fernandez, I. J., Kahl,
J. S., Malcolm, I. A., Neal, C., Neal, M., Nelson, S. J., Norton, S. A.,
Palucis, M. C., Skjelkvale, B. L., Soulsby, C., Tetzlaff, D., and Kirchner,
J. W.: Generality of fractal 1/f scaling in catchment tracer time series, and
its implications for catchment travel time distributions, Hydrol. Process.,
24, 1660–1671, https://doi.org/10.1002/Hyp.7677, 2010.
Good, S. P., Noone, D., and Bowen, G.: Hydrologic connectivity constrains
partitioning of global terrestrial water fluxes, Science, 349, 175–177,
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa5931, 2015.
Harman, C. J.: Time-variable transit time distributions and transport:
Theory and application to storage-dependent transport of chloride in a
watershed, Water Resour. Res., 51, 1–30, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014WR015707, 2015.
Harman, C. J. and Kim, M.: An efficient tracer test for time-variable
transit time distributions in periodic hydrodynamic systems, Geophys. Res.
Lett., 41, 1567–1575, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013GL058980, 2014.
Hartmann, D. L., Klein Tank, A. M. G., Rusticucci, M., Alexander, L. V.,
Brönnimann, S., Charabi, Y., Dentener, F. J., Dlugokencky, E. J.,
Easterling, D. R., Kaplan, A., Soden, B. J., Thorne, P. W., Wild, A., and
Zhai, P. M.: Observations: Atmosphere and Surface, in: Climate Change 2013:
The Physical Science Basis.: Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth
Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, edited
by: Stocker, T. F., Qin, D., Plattner, G.-K., Tignor, M., Allen, S. K.,
Boschung, J., Nauels, A., Xia, Y., Bex, V., and Midgley, P. M., Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 2013.
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.
Heidbüchel, I., Troch, P. A., and Lyon, S. W.: Separating physical and
meteorological controls of variable transit times in zero-order catchments,
Water Resour. Res., 49, 7644–7657, https://doi.org/10.1002/2012WR013149, 2013.
Hrachowitz, M., Soulsby, C., Tetzlaff, D., Malcolm, I. A., and Schoups, G.:
Gamma distribution models for transit time estimation in catchments: Physical
interpretation of parameters and implications for time-variant transit time
assessment, Water Resour. Res., 46, W10536, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010WR009148, 2010.
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, 2013.
Hrachowitz, M., Benettin, P., van Breukelen, B. M., Fovet, O., Howden, N. J.
K., Ruiz, L., van der Velde, Y., and Wade, A. J.: Transit times – the link
between hydrology and water quality at the catchment scale, WIREs Water, 3,
629–657, https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1155, 2016.
Hu, K., Chen, H., Nie, Y., and Wang, K.: Seasonal recharge and mean
residence times of soil and epikarst water in a small karst catchment of
southwest China, Sci. Rep., 5, 10215, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep10215, 2015.
Hutson, J. L. and Wagenet, R. J.: A Multiregion Model Describing Water Flow
and Solute Transport in Heterogeneous Soils, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 59, 743, https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1995.03615995005900030016x, 1995.
Ingraham, N. L. and Criss, R. E.: Effects of surface area and volume on the
rate of isotopic exchange between water and water vapor, J. Geophys. Res.,
98, 20547–20553, https://doi.org/10.1029/93JD01735, 1993.
Kirchner, J. W.: Aggregation in environmental systems – Part 1: Seasonal
tracer cycles quantify young water fractions, but not mean transit times, in
spatially heterogeneous catchments, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 279–297,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-279-2016, 2016.
Knighton, J., Saia, S. M., Morris, C. K., Archiblad, J. A., and Walter, M.
T.: Ecohydrologic Considerations for Modeling of Stable Water Isotopes in a
Small Intermittent Watershed, Hydrol. Process., 31, 2438–2452,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11194, 2017.
Kulmatiski, A. and Beard, K. H.: Root niche partitioning among grasses,
saplings, and trees measured using a tracer technique, Oecologia, 171,
25–37, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-012-2390-0, 2013.
Kuppel, S., Tetzlaff, D., Maneta, M. P., and Soulsby, C.: EcH2O-iso 1.0:
Water isotopes and age tracking in a process-based, distributed
ecohydrological model, Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss.,
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2018-25, in review, 2018.
Landon, M. K., Delin, G. N., Komor, S. C., and Regan, C. P.: Comparison of
the stable-isotopic composition of soil water collected from suction
lysimeters, wick samplers, and cores in a sandy unsaturated zone, J. Hydrol.,
224, 45–54, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(99)00120-1, 1999.
Laudon, H., Sjöblom, V., Buffam, I., Seibert, J., and Mörth, M.: The
role of catchment scale and landscape characteristics for runoff generation
of boreal streams, J. Hydrol., 344, 198–209,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.07.010, 2007.
McDonnell, J. J.: The two water worlds hypothesis: ecohydrological
separation of water between streams and trees?, WIREs Water, 1, 323–329,
https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1027, 2014.
McMillan, H., Tetzlaff, D., Clark, M., and Soulsby, C.: Do time-variable
tracers aid the evaluation of hydrological model structure? A multimodel
approach, Water Resour. Res., 48, W05501, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR011688, 2012.
Meunier, F., Rothfuss, Y., Bariac, T., Biron, P., Richard, P., Durand, J.-L.,
Couvreur, V., Vanderborght, J., and Javaux, M.: Measuring and Modeling
Hydraulic Lift of Using Stable Water Isotopes, Vadose Zone J., 17, 160134,
https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2016.12.0134, 2018.
Muñoz-Villers, L. E. and McDonnell, J. J.: Runoff generation in a steep,
tropical montane cloud forest catchment on permeable volcanic substrate,
Water Resour. Res., 48, W09528, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR011316, 2012.
Nyberg, L., Stähli, M., Mellander, P.-E., and Bishop, K. H.: Soil frost
effects on soil water and runoff dynamics along a boreal forest transect: 1.
Field investigations, Hydrol. Process., 15, 909–926, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.256,
2001.
Oerter, E. and Bowen, G.: In situ monitoring of H and O stable isotopes in
soil water reveals ecohydrologic dynamics in managed soil systems,
Ecohydrol., 10, e1841, https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1841, 2017.
Or, D., Lehmann, P., Shahraeeni, E., and Shokri, N.: Advances in Soil
Evaporation Physics – A Review, Vadose Zone J., 12, vzj2012.0163,
https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2012.0163, 2013.
Pangle, L. A., Kim, M., Cardoso, C., Lora, M., Meira Neto, A. A., Volkmann,
T. H. M., Wang, Y., Troch, P. A., and Harman, C. J.: The mechanistic basis
for storage-dependent age distributions of water discharged from an
experimental hillslope, Water Resour. Res., 53, 2733–2754,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR019901, 2017.
Peralta-Tapia, A., Sponseller, R. A., Tetzlaff, D., Soulsby, C., and Laudon,
H.: Connecting precipitation inputs and soil flow pathways to stream water
in contrasting boreal catchments, Hydrol. Process., 29, 3546–3555,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10300, 2015.
Peralta-Tapia, A., Soulsby, C., Tetzlaff, D., Sponseller, R., Bishop, K., and
Laudon, H.: Hydroclimatic influences on non-stationary transit time
distributions in a boreal headwater catchment, J. Hydrol., 543, 7–16,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.01.079, 2016.
Peters, N. E., Burns, D. A., and Aulenbach, B. T.: Evaluation of
High-Frequency Mean Streamwater Transit-Time Estimates Using Groundwater Age
and Dissolved Silica Concentrations in a Small Forested Watershed, Aquat. Geochem., 20, 183–202, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10498-013-9207-6, 2014.
Pfister, L., Martínez-Carreras, N., Hissler, C., Klaus, J., Carrer, G.
E., Stewart, M. K., and McDonnell, J. J.: Bedrock geology controls on
catchment storage, mixing and release: A comparative analysis of 16 nested
catchments, Hydrol. Process., 31, 1828–1845, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11134, 2017.
Piovano, T., Tetzlaff, D., Ala-aho, P., Buttle, J., Mitchell, C. P. J., and
Soulsby, C.: Testing a spatially distributed tracer-aided runoff model in a
snow-influenced catchment: effects of multi-criteria calibration on
streamwater ages, Hydrol. Process., in review, 2018.
Queloz, P., Carraro, L., Benettin, P., Botter, G., Rinaldo, A., and
Bertuzzo, E.: Transport of fluorobenzoate tracers in a vegetated hydrologic
control volume: 2. Theoretical inferences and modeling, Water Resour. Res.,
51, 2793–2806, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014WR016508, 2015.
Ritchie, J. T.: Model for predicting evaporation from a row crop with
incomplete cover, Water Resour. Res., 8, 1204–1213,
https://doi.org/10.1029/WR008i005p01204, 1972.
Ritsema, C. J., Dekker, L. W., Hendrickx, J. M. H., and Hamminga, W.:
Preferential flow mechanism in a water repellent sandy soil, Water Resour.
Res., 29, 2183–2193, https://doi.org/10.1029/93WR00394, 1993.
Schaap, M. G., Leij, F. J., and van Genuchten, M. T.: ROSETTA: a computer
program for estimating soil hydraulic parameters with hierarchical
pedotransfer functions, J. Hydrol., 251, 163–176,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(01)00466-8, 2001.
Seeger, S. and Weiler, M.: Reevaluation of transit time distributions, mean
transit times and their relation to catchment topography, Hydrol. Earth Syst.
Sci., 18, 4751–4771, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4751-2014, 2014.
Smith, A. A., Tetzlaff, D., and Soulsby, C.: Using StorAge Selection
functions to quantify ecohydrological controls on the time-variant age of
evapotranspiration, soil water, and recharge, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.
Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-57, in review, 2018.
Soulsby, C., Birkel, C., Geris, J., Dick, J., Tunaley, C., and Tetzlaff, D.:
Stream water age distributions controlled by storage dynamics and nonlinear
hydrologic connectivity: Modeling with high-resolution isotope data, Water
Resour. Res., 51, 7759–7776, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015WR017888, 2015.
Soulsby, C., Birkel, C., and Tetzlaff, D.: Characterizing the age
distribution of catchment evaporative losses, Hydrol. Process., 30,
1308–1312, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10751, 2016.
Soulsby, C., Dick, J., Scheliga, B., and Tetzlaff, D.: Taming the Flood –
how far can we go with trees?, Hydrol. Process., 31, 3122–3126,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11226, 2017.
Sprenger, M., Herbstritt, B., and Weiler, M.: Established methods and new
opportunities for pore water stable isotope analysis, Hydrol. Process., 29,
5174–5192, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10643, 2015a.
Sprenger, M., Volkmann, T. H. M., Blume, T., and Weiler, M.: Estimating flow
and transport parameters in the unsaturated zone with pore water stable
isotopes, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2617–2635,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2617-2015, 2015b.
Sprenger, M., Seeger, S., Blume, T., and Weiler, M.: Travel times in the
vadose zone: variability in space and time, Water Resour. Res., 52,
5727–5754, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015WR018077, 2016.
Sprenger, M., Tetzlaff, D., and Soulsby, C.: Soil water stable isotopes
reveal evaporation dynamics at the soil–plant–atmosphere interface of the
critical zone, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3839–3858,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3839-2017, 2017.
Sprenger, M., Tetzlaff, D., Buttle, J., Carey, S. K., McNamara, J. P.,
Laudon, H., Shatilla, N. J., and Soulsby, C.: Storage, mixing and fluxes of
water in the critical zone across northern environments inferred by stable
isotopes of soil water, Hydrol. Process., 32, 1720–1737,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13135, 2018a.
Sprenger, M., Tetzlaff, D., Buttle, J. M., Laudon, H., Leistert, H.,
Mitchell, C. P. J., Snelgrove, J., Weiler, M., and Soulsby, C.: Measuring and
modelling stable isotopes of mobile and bulk soil water, Vadose Zone J., 17,
170149, https://doi.org/10.2136/VZJ2017.08.0149, 2018b.
Stähli, M., Nyberg, L., Mellander, P.-E., Jansson, P.-E., and Bishop, K.
H.: Soil frost effects on soil water and runoff dynamics along a boreal
transect: 2. Simulations, Hydrol. Process., 15, 927–941, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.232,
2001.
Staudinger, M., Stoelzle, M., Seeger, S., Seibert, J., Weiler, M., and
Stahl, K.: Catchment water storage variation with elevation, Hydrol. Process.,
31, 2000–2015, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11158, 2017.
Sterling, S. M., Ducharne, A., and Polcher, J.: The impact of global
land-cover change on the terrestrial water cycle, Nat. Clim. Change, 3,
385–390, https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1690, 2013.
Stumpp, C., Nützmann, G., Maciejewski, S., and Maloszewski, P.: A
comparative modeling study of a dual tracer experiment in a large lysimeter
under atmospheric conditions, J. Hydrol., 375, 566–577,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.07.010, 2009.
Stumpp, C., Stichler, W., Kandolf, M., and Šimůnek, J.: Effects of
Land Cover and Fertilization Method on Water Flow and Solute Transport in
Five Lysimeters: A Long-Term Study Using Stable Water Isotopes, Vadose Zone
J., 11, vzj2011.0075, https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2011.0075, 2012.
Tetzlaff, D., Carey, S., Soulsby, C., Tetzlaff, D., Soulsby, C., Buttle, J.,
Capell, R., Carey, S. K., Laudon, H., McDonnell, J., McGuire, K., Seibert,
J., and Shanley, J.: Catchments on the cusp? Structural and functional
change in northern ecohydrology, Hydrol. Process., 27, 766–774,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9700, 2013.
Tetzlaff, D., Birkel, C., Dick, J., Geris, J., and Soulsby, C.: Storage
dynamics in hydropedological units control hillslope connectivity, runoff
generation and the evolution of catchment transit time distributions, Water
Resour. Res., 50, 969–985, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013WR014147, 2014.
Tetzlaff, D., Buttle, J., Carey, S. K., van Huijgevoort, M. H. J., Laudon,
H., McNamara, J., Mitchell, C. P. J., Spence, C., Gabor, R. S., and Soulsby,
C.: A preliminary assessment of water partitioning and ecohydrological
coupling in northern headwaters using stable isotopes and conceptual runoff
models, Hydrol. Process., 29, 5153–5173, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10515, 2015.
Timbe, E., Windhorst, D., Crespo, P., Frede, H.-G., Feyen, J., and Breuer,
L.: Understanding uncertainties when inferring mean transit times of water
trough tracer-based lumped-parameter models in Andean tropical montane cloud
forest catchments, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 1503–1523,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1503-2014, 2014.
Vanderborght, J. and Vereecken, H.: Review of Dispersivities for Transport
Modeling in Soils, Vadose Zone J., 6, 29–52, https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2006.0096, 2007.
van der Velde, Y., Torfs, P. J. J. F., van der Zee, S. E. A. T. M., and
Uijlenhoet, R.: Quantifying catchment-scale mixing and its effect on
time-varying travel time distributions, Water Resour. Res., 48, W06536,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR011310, 2012.
van der Velde, Y., Heidbüchel, I., Lyon, S. W., Nyberg, L., Rodhe, A.,
Bishop, K., and Troch, P. A.: Consequences of mixing assumptions for
time-variable travel time distributions, Hydrol. Process., 29, 3460–3474,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10372, 2015.
van Genuchten, M. T.: A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic
conductivity of unsaturated soils, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 44, 892–898,
1980.
van Huijgevoort, M. H. J., Tetzlaff, D., Sutanudjaja, E. H., and Soulsby,
C.: Using high resolution tracer data to constrain water storage, flux and
age estimates in a spatially distributed rainfall-runoff model, Hydrol.
Process., 30, 4761–4778, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10902, 2016.
Vargas, A. I., Schaffer, B., Yuhong, L., and Sternberg, L. d. S. L.: Testing
plant use of mobile vs immobile soil water sources using stable isotope
experiments, New Phytologist, 215, 582–594, https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14616, 2017.
Venables, W. N. and Ripley, B. D.: Modern applied statistics with S, 4th ed.,
Statistics and computing, Springer, New York, Berlin, Heidelberg, 495 pp.,
2011.
Volkmann, T. H. M., Haberer, K., Gessler, A., and Weiler, M.: High-resolution
isotope measurements resolve rapid ecohydrological dynamics at the soil-plant
interface, New Phytol., 210, 839–849, https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13868, 2016.
Wang, H., Tetzlaff, D., and Soulsby, C.: Assessing the environmental controls
on Scots pine transpiration and the implications for water partitioning in a
boreal headwater catchment, Agr. Forest Meteorol., 240–241, 58–66,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2017.04.002, 2017a.
Wang, H., Tetzlaff, D., and Soulsby, C.: Testing the Maximum Entropy
Production approach for estimating evapotranspiration from closed canopy
shrubland in a low-energy humid environment, Hydrol. Process., 31,
4613–4621, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11363, 2017b.
Wang, H., Tetzlaff, D., and Soulsby, C.: Modelling the effects of land cover
and climate change on soil water partitioning in a boreal headwater
catchment, J. Hydrol., 558, 520–531, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.02.002,
2018.
Wassenaar, L. I., Hendry, M. J., Chostner, V. L., and Lis, G. P.: High
Resolution Pore Water δ2H and δ18O Measurements by
H2O (liquid) -H2O (vapor) Equilibration Laser Spectroscopy,
Environ. Sci. Technol., 42, 9262–9267, https://doi.org/10.1021/es802065s, 2008.
Wei, X., Li, Q., Zhang, M., Giles-Hansen, K., Liu, W., Fan, H., Wang, Y.,
Zhou, G., Piao, S., and Liu, S.: Vegetation cover-another dominant factor in
determining global water resources in forested regions, Glob. Change Biol., 24, 786–795, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13983, 2018.
Weiler, M. and Naef, F.: An experimental tracer study of the role of
macropores in infiltration in grassland soils, Hydrol. Process., 17, 477–493,
https://doi.org/10.1002/Hyp.1136, 2003.
Short summary
We estimated water ages in the upper critical zone with a soil physical model (SWIS) and found that the age of water stored in the soil, as well as of water leaving the soil via evaporation, transpiration, or recharge, was younger the higher soil water storage (inverse storage effect). Travel times of transpiration and evaporation were different. We conceptualized the subsurface into fast and slow flow domains and the water was usually half as young in the fast as in the slow flow domain.
We estimated water ages in the upper critical zone with a soil physical model (SWIS) and found...
