Articles | Volume 23, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-5069-2019
© Author(s) 2019. 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-23-5069-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
16 Dec 2019
Research article |
| 16 Dec 2019
| 16 Dec 2019
Pattern and structure of microtopography implies autogenic origins in forested wetlands
Quantitative Ecohydrology Laboratory, RiverLy, Irstea, Lyon, 69100,
France
Continental Geo-hydrosystems Laboratory, University of Tours, Tours,
37200, France
Daniel L. McLaughlin
School of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia
Tech, Blacksburg, 24060, USA
Robert A. Slesak
Minnesota Forest Resources Council, St. Paul, 55108, USA
Atticus Stovall
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, 20771, USA
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Camille Minaudo, Andras Abonyi, Carles Alcaraz, Jacob Diamond, Nicholas J. K. Howden, Michael Rode, Estela Romero, Vincent Thieu, Fred Worrall, Qian Zhang, and Xavier Benito
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-58, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-58, 2025
Preprint under review for ESSD
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Many waterbodies undergo nutrient decline globally, called oligotrophication, but a comprehensive dataset to understand ecosystem responses is lacking. The OLIGOTREND database comprises multi-decadal chlorophyll-a and nutrient timeseries from rivers, lakes, and estuaries with 4.3 million observations from 1,894 unique measurement locations. The database provides empirical evidence for oligotrophication responses with a spatial and temporal coverage exceeding previous efforts.
Aurélien Beaufort, Jacob S. Diamond, Eric Sauquet, and Florentina Moatar
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3477–3495, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3477-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3477-2022, 2022
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We developed one of the largest stream temperature databases to calculate a simple, ecologically relevant metric – the thermal peak – that captures the magnitude of summer thermal extremes. Using statistical models, we extrapolated the thermal peak to nearly every stream in France, finding the hottest thermal peaks along large rivers without forested riparian zones and groundwater inputs. Air temperature was a poor proxy for the thermal peak, highlighting the need to grow monitoring networks.
Hanieh Seyedhashemi, Jean-Philippe Vidal, Jacob S. Diamond, Dominique Thiéry, Céline Monteil, Frédéric Hendrickx, Anthony Maire, and Florentina Moatar
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2583–2603, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2583-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2583-2022, 2022
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Stream temperature appears to be increasing globally, but its rate remains poorly constrained due to a paucity of long-term data. Using a thermal model, this study provides a large-scale understanding of the evolution of stream temperature over a long period (1963–2019). This research highlights that air temperature and streamflow can exert joint influence on stream temperature trends, and riparian shading in small mountainous streams may mitigate warming in stream temperatures.
Jacob S. Diamond, Daniel L. McLaughlin, Robert A. Slesak, and Atticus Stovall
Biogeosciences, 17, 901–915, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-901-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-901-2020, 2020
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Many wetland systems exhibit lumpy, or uneven, soil surfaces where higher points are called hummocks and lower points are called hollows. We found that, while hummocks extended only ~ 20 cm above hollow surfaces, they exhibited distinct plant communities, plant growth, and soil properties. Differences between hummocks and hollows were the greatest in wetter sites, supporting the hypothesis that plants create and maintain their own hummocks in response to saturated soil conditions.
André Chandesris, Kris Van Looy, Jacob S. Diamond, and Yves Souchon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4509–4525, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4509-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4509-2019, 2019
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We found that small dams in rivers alter the thermal regimes of downstream waters in two distinct ways: either only the downstream daily minimum temperatures increase, or both the downstream daily minimum and maximum temperatures increase. We further show that only two physical dam characteristics can explain this difference in temperature response: (1) residence time, and (2) surface area. These results may help managers prioritize efforts to restore the fragmented thermalscapes of rivers.
Camille Minaudo, Andras Abonyi, Carles Alcaraz, Jacob Diamond, Nicholas J. K. Howden, Michael Rode, Estela Romero, Vincent Thieu, Fred Worrall, Qian Zhang, and Xavier Benito
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Many waterbodies undergo nutrient decline globally, called oligotrophication, but a comprehensive dataset to understand ecosystem responses is lacking. The OLIGOTREND database comprises multi-decadal chlorophyll-a and nutrient timeseries from rivers, lakes, and estuaries with 4.3 million observations from 1,894 unique measurement locations. The database provides empirical evidence for oligotrophication responses with a spatial and temporal coverage exceeding previous efforts.
Aurélien Beaufort, Jacob S. Diamond, Eric Sauquet, and Florentina Moatar
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3477–3495, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3477-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3477-2022, 2022
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We developed one of the largest stream temperature databases to calculate a simple, ecologically relevant metric – the thermal peak – that captures the magnitude of summer thermal extremes. Using statistical models, we extrapolated the thermal peak to nearly every stream in France, finding the hottest thermal peaks along large rivers without forested riparian zones and groundwater inputs. Air temperature was a poor proxy for the thermal peak, highlighting the need to grow monitoring networks.
Hanieh Seyedhashemi, Jean-Philippe Vidal, Jacob S. Diamond, Dominique Thiéry, Céline Monteil, Frédéric Hendrickx, Anthony Maire, and Florentina Moatar
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2583–2603, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2583-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2583-2022, 2022
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Stream temperature appears to be increasing globally, but its rate remains poorly constrained due to a paucity of long-term data. Using a thermal model, this study provides a large-scale understanding of the evolution of stream temperature over a long period (1963–2019). This research highlights that air temperature and streamflow can exert joint influence on stream temperature trends, and riparian shading in small mountainous streams may mitigate warming in stream temperatures.
Subodh Acharya, Daniel McLaughlin, David Kaplan, and Matthew J. Cohen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1859–1870, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1859-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1859-2020, 2020
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Interception is the storage and subsequent evaporation of rain by vegetation and surface litter. Quantifying interception is critical for understanding the water balance, but it can be difficult and costly to measure. We developed an approach to estimate interception using automated soil moisture measurements during rainfall events. Results suggest that interception can be estimated using soil moisture data, leading to potential cost savings and logistical advantages over conventional methods.
Jacob S. Diamond, Daniel L. McLaughlin, Robert A. Slesak, and Atticus Stovall
Biogeosciences, 17, 901–915, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-901-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-901-2020, 2020
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Many wetland systems exhibit lumpy, or uneven, soil surfaces where higher points are called hummocks and lower points are called hollows. We found that, while hummocks extended only ~ 20 cm above hollow surfaces, they exhibited distinct plant communities, plant growth, and soil properties. Differences between hummocks and hollows were the greatest in wetter sites, supporting the hypothesis that plants create and maintain their own hummocks in response to saturated soil conditions.
André Chandesris, Kris Van Looy, Jacob S. Diamond, and Yves Souchon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4509–4525, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4509-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4509-2019, 2019
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We found that small dams in rivers alter the thermal regimes of downstream waters in two distinct ways: either only the downstream daily minimum temperatures increase, or both the downstream daily minimum and maximum temperatures increase. We further show that only two physical dam characteristics can explain this difference in temperature response: (1) residence time, and (2) surface area. These results may help managers prioritize efforts to restore the fragmented thermalscapes of rivers.
Kimberly J. Van Meter, Michael Steiff, Daniel L. McLaughlin, and Nandita B. Basu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 2629–2647, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2629-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2629-2016, 2016
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Although village-scale rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures have been used for millennia in India, many of these structures have fallen into disrepair due to increased dependence on groundwater. This dependence has contributed to declines in groundwater resources, and in turn to efforts to revive older RWH systems. In the present study, we use field data to quantify water fluxes in a cascade of irrigation tanks to better our understanding of the impact of RWH systems on the water balance in con
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Yi Liu, Jingfeng Xiao, Xing Li, and Yue Li
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1241–1258, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1241-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1241-2025, 2025
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This work demonstrates that multi-source satellite-based water and carbon fluxes can capture critical soil moisture at a large spatial scale. In particular, grassland and clay with critical soil moisture higher than average soil moisture may be in a state of water limitation for long periods. Increased water demand could expose western grassland to more vulnerability.
Lu Wang, Haiting Gu, Li Liu, Xiao Liang, Siwei Chen, and Yue-Ping Xu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 361–379, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-361-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-361-2025, 2025
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To understand how ecohydrological variables evolve jointly and why, this study develops a framework using correlation and causality to construct complex relationships between variables at the system level. Causality provides more detailed information that the compound causes of evolutions regarding any variable can be traced. Joint evolution is controlled by the combination of external drivers and direct causality. Overall, the study facilitates the comprehension of ecohydrological processes.
Meng Zhao, Erica L. McCormick, Geruo A, Alexandra G. Konings, and Bailing Li
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Root-zone water storage capacity (Sr) influences ecosystem resilience to droughts and affects runoff and groundwater recharge but is hard to measure. Using GRACE satellite data, we estimate global Sr at 220 ± 40 mm, much higher than previous estimates. Our Sr estimate improves water storage and evapotranspiration simulations and correlates well with vegetation productivity data, highlighting the need for refined Sr estimates for better water resource management and ecosystem sustainability.
Annett Bartsch, Aleksandra Efimova, Barbara Widhalm, Xaver Muri, Clemens von Baeckmann, Helena Bergstedt, Ksenia Ermokhina, Gustaf Hugelius, Birgit Heim, and Marina Leibman
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 2421–2481, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2421-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2421-2024, 2024
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Wetness gradients and landcover diversity for the entire Arctic tundra have been assessed using a novel satellite-data-based map. Patterns of lakes, wetlands, general soil moisture conditions and vegetation physiognomy are represented at 10 m. About 40 % of the area north of the treeline falls into three units of dry types, with limited shrub growth. Wetter regions have higher landcover diversity than drier regions.
Italo Sampaio Rodrigues, Christopher Hopkinson, Laura Chasmer, Ryan J. MacDonald, Suzanne E. Bayley, and Brian Brisco
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 2203–2221, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2203-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2203-2024, 2024
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The research evaluated the trends and changes in land cover and river discharge in the Upper Columbia River Wetlands using remote sensing and hydroclimatic data. The river discharge increased during the peak flow season, resulting in a positive trend in the open-water extent in the same period, whereas open-water area declined on an annual basis. Furthermore, since 2003 the peak flow has occurred 11 d earlier than during 1903–1928, which has led to larger discharges in a shorter time.
Matthias Forkel, Luisa Schmidt, Ruxandra-Maria Zotta, Wouter Dorigo, and Marta Yebra
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 39–68, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-39-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-39-2023, 2023
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The live fuel moisture content (LFMC) of vegetation canopies is a driver of wildfires. We investigate the relation between LFMC and passive microwave satellite observations of vegetation optical depth (VOD) and develop a method to estimate LFMC from VOD globally. Our global VOD-based estimates of LFMC can be used to investigate drought effects on vegetation and fire risks.
Sinan Li, Li Zhang, Jingfeng Xiao, Rui Ma, Xiangjun Tian, and Min Yan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6311–6337, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6311-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6311-2022, 2022
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Accurate estimation for global GPP and ET is important in climate change studies. In this study, the GLASS LAI, SMOS, and SMAP datasets were assimilated jointly and separately in a coupled model. The results show that the performance of joint assimilation for GPP and ET is better than that of separate assimilation. The joint assimilation in water-limited regions performed better than in humid regions, and the global assimilation results had higher accuracy than other products.
Peng Zhu and Jennifer Burney
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 827–840, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-827-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-827-2022, 2022
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Satellite data were used to disentangle water and heat stress alleviation due to irrigation. Our findings are as follows. (1) Irrigation-induced cooling was captured by satellite LST but air temperature failed. (2) Irrigation extended maize growing season duration, especially during grain filling. (3) Water and heat stress alleviation constitutes 65 % and 35 % of the irrigation benefit. (4) The crop model simulating canopy temperature better captures the irrigation benefit.
Bonan Li and Stephen P. Good
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5029–5045, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5029-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5029-2021, 2021
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We found that satellite retrieved soil moisture has large uncertainty, with uncertainty caused by the algorithm being closely related to the satellite soil moisture quality. The information provided by the two main inputs is mainly redundant. Such redundant components and synergy components provided by two main inputs to the satellite soil moisture are related to how the satellite algorithm performs. The satellite remote sensing algorithms may be improved by performing such analysis.
Hailong Wang, Kai Duan, Bingjun Liu, and Xiaohong Chen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4741–4758, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4741-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4741-2021, 2021
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Using remote sensing and reanalysis data, we examined the relationships between vegetation development and water resource availability in a humid subtropical basin. We found overall increases in total water storage and surface greenness and vegetation production, and the changes were particularly profound in cropland-dominated regions. Correlation analysis implies water availability leads the variations in greenness and production, and irrigation may improve production during dry periods.
David N. Dralle, W. Jesse Hahm, K. Dana Chadwick, Erica McCormick, and Daniella M. Rempe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2861–2867, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2861-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2861-2021, 2021
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Root zone water storage capacity determines how much water can be stored belowground to support plants during periods without precipitation. Here, we develop a satellite remote sensing method to estimate this key variable at large scales that matter for management. Importantly, our method builds on previous approaches by accounting for snowpack, which may bias estimates from existing approaches. Ultimately, our method will improve large-scale understanding of plant access to subsurface water.
María P. González-Dugo, Xuelong Chen, Ana Andreu, Elisabet Carpintero, Pedro J. Gómez-Giraldez, Arnaud Carrara, and Zhongbo Su
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 755–768, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-755-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-755-2021, 2021
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Drought is a devastating natural hazard and difficult to define, detect and quantify. Global meteorological data and remote-sensing products present new opportunities to characterize drought in an objective way. In this paper, we applied the surface energy balance model SEBS to estimate monthly evapotranspiration (ET) from 2001 to 2018 over the dehesa area of the Iberian Peninsula. ET anomalies were used to identify the main drought events and analyze their impacts on dehesa vegetation.
Sheng Wang, Monica Garcia, Andreas Ibrom, and Peter Bauer-Gottwein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3643–3661, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3643-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3643-2020, 2020
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Remote sensing only provides snapshots of rapidly changing land surface variables; this limits its application for water resources and ecosystem management. To obtain continuous estimates of surface temperature, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, and ecosystem productivity, a simple and operational modelling scheme is presented. We demonstrate it with temporally sparse optical and thermal remote sensing data from an unmanned aerial system at a Danish bioenergy plantation eddy covariance site.
John O'Connor, Maria J. Santos, Karin T. Rebel, and Stefan C. Dekker
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3917–3931, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3917-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3917-2019, 2019
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The Amazon rainforest has undergone extensive land use change, which greatly reduces the rate of evapotranspiration. Forest with deep roots is replaced by agriculture with shallow roots. The difference in rooting depth can greatly reduce access to water, especially during the dry season. However, large areas of the Amazon have a sufficiently shallow water table that may provide access for agriculture. We used remote sensing observations to compare the impact of deep and shallow water tables.
Anne J. Hoek van Dijke, Kaniska Mallick, Adriaan J. Teuling, Martin Schlerf, Miriam Machwitz, Sibylle K. Hassler, Theresa Blume, and Martin Herold
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2077–2091, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2077-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2077-2019, 2019
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Satellite images are often used to estimate land water fluxes over a larger area. In this study, we investigate the link between a well-known vegetation index derived from satellite data and sap velocity, in a temperate forest in Luxembourg. We show that the link between the vegetation index and transpiration is not constant. Therefore we suggest that the use of vegetation indices to predict transpiration should be limited to ecosystems and scales where the link has been confirmed.
Olanrewaju O. Abiodun, Huade Guan, Vincent E. A. Post, and Okke Batelaan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2775–2794, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2775-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2775-2018, 2018
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In recent decades, evapotranspiration estimation has been improved by remote sensing methods as well as by hydrological models. However, comparing these methods shows differences of up to 31 % at a spatial resolution of 1 km2. Land cover differences and catchment averaged climate data in the hydrological model were identified as the principal causes of the differences in results. The implication is that water management will have to deal with large uncertainty in estimated water balances.
Shoubo Li, Yan Zhao, Yongping Wei, and Hang Zheng
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4233–4244, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4233-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4233-2017, 2017
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This study aims to investigate the evolution of natural and crop vegetation systems over the past 2000 years accommodated with the changes in water regimes at the basin scale. It is based on remote-sensing data and previous historical research. The methods developed and the findings obtained from this study could assist in understanding how current ecosystem problems were created in the past and what their implications for future river basin management are.
A. A. Harpold, J. A. Marshall, S. W. Lyon, T. B. Barnhart, B. A. Fisher, M. Donovan, K. M. Brubaker, C. J. Crosby, N. F. Glenn, C. L. Glennie, P. B. Kirchner, N. Lam, K. D. Mankoff, J. L. McCreight, N. P. Molotch, K. N. Musselman, J. Pelletier, T. Russo, H. Sangireddy, Y. Sjöberg, T. Swetnam, and N. West
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2881–2897, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2881-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2881-2015, 2015
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This review's objective is to demonstrate the transformative potential of lidar by critically assessing both challenges and opportunities for transdisciplinary lidar applications in geomorphology, hydrology, and ecology. We find that using lidar to its full potential will require numerous advances, including more powerful open-source processing tools, new lidar acquisition technologies, and improved integration with physically based models and complementary observations.
Y. Wang, M. L. Roderick, Y. Shen, and F. Sun
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 3499–3509, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-3499-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-3499-2014, 2014
Y. Liu, Y. Zhou, W. Ju, J. Chen, S. Wang, H. He, H. Wang, D. Guan, F. Zhao, Y. Li, and Y. Hao
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4957–4980, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4957-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4957-2013, 2013
M. Gokmen, Z. Vekerdy, W. Verhoef, and O. Batelaan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 3779–3794, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3779-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3779-2013, 2013
H. Liu, F. Tian, H. C. Hu, H. P. Hu, and M. Sivapalan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 805–815, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-805-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-805-2013, 2013
T. S. Ahring and D. R. Steward
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 4133–4142, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-4133-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-4133-2012, 2012
D. Fernández, J. Barquín, M. Álvarez-Cabria, and F. J. Peñas
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 3851–3862, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-3851-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-3851-2012, 2012
P. Sun, Z. Yu, S. Liu, X. Wei, J. Wang, N. Zegre, and N. Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 3835–3850, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-3835-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-3835-2012, 2012
M. Otto, D. Scherer, and J. Richters
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 1713–1727, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-1713-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-1713-2011, 2011
C. Cammalleri, M. C. Anderson, G. Ciraolo, G. D'Urso, W. P. Kustas, G. La Loggia, and M. Minacapilli
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 2643–2659, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-2643-2010, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-2643-2010, 2010
E. Teferi, S. Uhlenbrook, W. Bewket, J. Wenninger, and B. Simane
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 2415–2428, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-2415-2010, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-2415-2010, 2010
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Short summary
We found evidence for spatial patterning of soil elevation in forested wetlands that was well explained by hydrology. The patterns that we found were strongest at wetter sites, and were weakest at drier sites. When a site was wet, soil elevations typically only belonged to two groups: tall "hummocks" and low "hollows. The tall, hummock groups were spaced equally apart from each other and were a similar size. We believe this is evidence for a biota–hydrology feedback that creates hummocks.
We found evidence for spatial patterning of soil elevation in forested wetlands that was well...
