Articles | Volume 23, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-51-2019
© 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-23-51-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
07 Jan 2019
Research article |
| 07 Jan 2019
| 07 Jan 2019
Storage dynamics, hydrological connectivity and flux ages in a karst catchment: conceptual modelling using stable isotopes
Zhicai Zhang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic
Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UF,
UK
College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing
210098, China
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University,
Tianjin,
China
Qinbo Cheng
State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic
Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing
210098, China
Chris Soulsby
School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UF,
UK
Related authors
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.
Maria Magdalena Warter, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Chris Soulsby, Tobias Goldhammer, Daniel Gebler, Kati Vierikko, and Michael T. Monaghan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2707–2725, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2707-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2707-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
There is a lack of understanding of how urban aquatic nature-based solutions (aquaNBSs) affect ecohydrology and how they in turn are affected by urbanization and climate change. We use a multi-tracer approach of stable water isotopes, hydrochemistry, and microbial and macrophyte diversity to disentangle the effects of hydroclimate and urbanization. The results show potential limitations of aquaNBSs regarding water quality and biodiversity in response to hydroclimate and urban water sources.
Cong Jiang, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Songjun Wu, Christian Birkel, Hjalmar Laudon, and Chris Soulsby
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2533, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2533, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
Short summary
Short summary
We used a modelling approach supported by stable water isotopes to explore how forest management – such as conifer, broadleaf, and mixed tree–crop systems – affects water distribution and drought resilience in a drought-sensitive region of Germany. By representing forest type, density, and rooting depth, the model helps quantify and show how land use choices affect water availability and supports better land and water management decisions.
Hanwu Zheng, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Christian Birkel, Songjun Wu, Tobias Sauter, and Chris Soulsby
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2166, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2166, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
Short summary
Short summary
Ecohydrological processes in heavily managed catchments are often incorrectly represented in models. We applied a tracer-aided model STARR in an ET-dominated region (the Middle Spree, NE Germany) with major management impacts. Water isotopes were useful in identifying runoff contributions and partitioning ET even at sparse resolution. Trade-offs between discharge- and isotope-based calibrations could be partially mitigated by integrating more process-based conceptualizations into the model.
Ann-Marie Ring, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Christian Birkel, and Chris Soulsby
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1444, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1444, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
During summer drought, a clear sub-daily cycling of atmospheric water vapour isotopes (δv) and plant xylem water isotopes (δxyl) was observed. δv daytime depletion was driven by evaporation and local atmospheric factors (entrainment). δxyl daytime enrichment was consistent with limited sap flow and stomatal regulation of transpiration. Water limitations during drought in urban trees are visible in δxyl and ecohydrological data. This sub-daily dataset can help constrain ecohydrological models.
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.
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
Preprint archived
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.
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.
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.
Jiarong Wang, Xi Chen, Man Gao, Qi Hu, and Jintao Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3901–3920, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3901-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3901-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The accelerated climate warming in the Tibetan Plateau after 1997 has strong consequences for hydrology, geography, and social wellbeing. In hydrology, the change in streamflow as a result of changes in dynamic water storage originating from glacier melt and permafrost thawing in a warming climate directly affects the available water resources for societies of some of the most populated nations in the world.
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.
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.
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.
Lu Lin, Man Gao, Jintao Liu, Jiarong Wang, Shuhong Wang, Xi Chen, and Hu Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1145–1157, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1145-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1145-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper, recession flow analysis – assuming nonlinearized outflow from aquifers into streams – was used to quantify active groundwater storage in a headwater catchment with high glacierization and large-scale frozen ground on the Tibetan Plateau. Hence, this work provides a perspective to clarify the impact of glacial retreat and frozen ground degradation due to climate change on hydrological processes.
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.
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.
Lu Lin, Man Gao, Jintao Liu, Xi Chen, and Hu Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-541, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-541, 2018
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
In the paper, recession flow analysis assuming nonlinearized outflow from aquifers into streams was used to quantify active groundwater storage in a headwater catchment with larger glacierization and large-scale frozen ground on the Tibetan Plateau, which provides a perspective to clarify the way of glacial retreat and frozen ground degradation on hydrological processes. We are very grateful to all editors and reviewers for their efforts to help us improve the quality of the manuscript.
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.
Matthias Sprenger, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Jim Buttle, Hjalmar Laudon, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3965–3981, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3965-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3965-2018, 2018
Short summary
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.
Ning Qiu, Xi Chen, Qi Hu, Jintao Liu, Richao Huang, and Man Gao
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2891–2901, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2891-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2891-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The spatial runoff is decomposed into a deterministic trend and deviations from it caused by stochastic fluctuations which are described by Budyko method and stochastic interpolation. This coupled method is applied to spatially interpolate runoff in the Huaihe River basin of China. Results show that the coupled method reduces the error in overestimating low runoff and underestimating high runoff suffered by the other two methods, so it improves the prediction accuracy of the mean annual runoff.
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
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.
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: Catchment hydrology | Techniques and Approaches: Modelling approaches
Assessing the adequacy of traditional hydrological models for climate change impact studies: a case for long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks
Assessing the value of high-resolution data and parameter transferability across temporal scales in hydrological modeling: a case study in northern China
Technical note: How many models do we need to simulate hydrologic processes across large geographical domains?
CONCN: a high-resolution, integrated surface water–groundwater ParFlow modeling platform of continental China
Evaluating the effects of topography and land use change on hydrological signatures: a comparative study of two adjacent watersheds
Technical note: What does the Standardized Streamflow Index actually reflect? Insights and implications for hydrological drought analysis
Long short-term memory networks for enhancing real-time flood forecasts: a case study for an underperforming hydrologic model
Assessing the value of high-resolution rainfall and streamflow data for hydrological modeling: an analysis based on 63 catchments in southeast China
Catchments do not strictly follow Budyko curves over multiple decades, but deviations are minor and predictable
Scale dependency in modeling nivo-glacial hydrological systems: the case of the Arolla basin, Switzerland
Extended-range forecasting of stream water temperature with deep-learning models
Technical note: An approach for handling multiple temporal frequencies with different input dimensions using a single LSTM cell
Projections of streamflow intermittence under climate change in European drying river networks
Economic valuation of subsurface water contributions to watershed ecosystem services using a fully integrated groundwater–surface-water model
Analyzing the generalization capabilities of a hybrid hydrological model for extrapolation to extreme events
CH-RUN: a deep-learning-based spatially contiguous runoff reconstruction for Switzerland
Runoff component quantification and future streamflow projection in a large mountainous basin based on a multidata-constrained cryospheric–hydrological model
Multi-variable process-based calibration of a behavioural hydrological model
Exploring the potential processes controlling changes in precipitation–runoff relationships in non-stationary environments
A diversity-centric strategy for the selection of spatio-temporal training data for LSTM-based streamflow forecasting
Simulating the Tone River eastward diversion project in Japan carried out 4 centuries ago
Lack of robustness of hydrological models: a large-sample diagnosis and an attempt to identify hydrological and climatic drivers
Achieving water budget closure through physical hydrological process modelling: insights from a large-sample study
Heavy-tailed flood peak distributions: what is the effect of the spatial variability of rainfall and runoff generation?
A Distributed Hybrid Physics-AI Framework for Learning Corrections of Internal Hydrological Fluxes and Enhancing High-Resolution Regionalized Flood Modeling
State updating of the Xin'anjiang model: joint assimilating streamflow and multi-source soil moisture data via the asynchronous ensemble Kalman filter with enhanced error models
Improving the hydrological consistency of a process-based solute-transport model by simultaneous calibration of streamflow and stream concentrations
Leveraging soil diversity to mitigate hydrological extremes with nature-based solutions in productive catchments
Leveraging a time-series event separation method to disentangle time-varying hydrologic controls on streamflow – application to wildfire-affected catchments
The significance of the leaf area index for evapotranspiration estimation in SWAT-T for characteristic land cover types of West Africa
Improved representation of soil moisture processes through incorporation of cosmic-ray neutron count measurements in a large-scale hydrologic model
Spatio-temporal patterns and trends of streamflow in water-scarce Mediterranean basins
A large-sample modelling approach towards integrating streamflow and evaporation data for the Spanish catchments
Seasonal variation in land cover estimates reveals sensitivities and opportunities for environmental models
Soil moisture and precipitation intensity control the transit time distribution of quick flow in a flashy headwater catchment
Estimating response times, flow velocities, and roughness coefficients of Canadian Prairie basins
Learning landscape features from streamflow with autoencoders
Hydrological regime index for non-perennial rivers
Constraining pesticide degradation in conceptual distributed catchment models with compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA)
On the use of streamflow transformations for hydrological model calibration
Unveiling the Impact of Potential Evapotranspiration Method Selection on Trends in Hydrological Cycle Components Across Europe
Simulation-based inference for parameter estimation of complex watershed simulators
Comparative Hydrological Modeling of Snow-Cover and Frozen Ground Impacts Under Topographically Complex Conditions
Multi-scale soil moisture data and process-based modeling reveal the importance of lateral groundwater flow in a subarctic catchment
Catchment response to climatic variability: implications for root zone storage and streamflow predictions
Hybrid hydrological modeling for large alpine basins: a semi-distributed approach
Controls on spatial and temporal variability of soil moisture across a heterogeneous boreal forest landscape
Where can rewetting of forested peatland reduce extreme flows?
Karst aquifer discharge response to rainfall interpreted as anomalous transport
HESS Opinions: Never train a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network on a single basin
Jean-Luc Martel, François Brissette, Richard Arsenault, Richard Turcotte, Mariana Castañeda-Gonzalez, William Armstrong, Edouard Mailhot, Jasmine Pelletier-Dumont, Gabriel Rondeau-Genesse, and Louis-Philippe Caron
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2811–2836, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2811-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2811-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study compares long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks with traditional hydrological models to predict future streamflow under climate change. Using data from 148 catchments, it finds that LSTM models, which learn from extensive data sequences, perform differently and often better than traditional hydrological models. The continental LSTM model, which includes data from diverse climate zones, is particularly effective for understanding climate impacts on water resources.
Mahmut Tudaji, Yi Nan, and Fuqiang Tian
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2633–2654, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2633-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2633-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We assessed the value of high-resolution data and parameter transferability across temporal scales based on seven catchments in northern China. We found that higher-resolution data do not always improve model performance, questioning the need for such data. Model parameters are transferable across different data resolutions but not across computational time steps. It is recommended to utilize a smaller computational time step when building hydrological models even without high-resolution data.
Wouter J. M. Knoben, Ashwin Raman, Gaby J. Gründemann, Mukesh Kumar, Alain Pietroniro, Chaopeng Shen, Yalan Song, Cyril Thébault, Katie van Werkhoven, Andrew W. Wood, and Martyn P. Clark
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2361–2375, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2361-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2361-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrologic models are needed to provide simulations of water availability, floods, and droughts. The accuracy of these simulations is often quantified with so-called performance scores. A common thought is that different models are more or less applicable to different landscapes, depending on how the model works. We show that performance scores are not helpful in distinguishing between different models and thus cannot easily be used to select an appropriate model for a specific place.
Chen Yang, Zitong Jia, Wenjie Xu, Zhongwang Wei, Xiaolang Zhang, Yiguang Zou, Jeffrey McDonnell, Laura Condon, Yongjiu Dai, and Reed Maxwell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2201–2218, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2201-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2201-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We developed the first high-resolution, integrated surface water–groundwater hydrologic model of the entirety of continental China using ParFlow. The model shows good performance in terms of streamflow and water table depth when compared to global data products and observations. It is essential for water resources management and decision-making in China within a consistent framework in the changing world. It also has significant implications for similar modeling in other places in the world.
Haifan Liu, Haochen Yan, and Mingfu Guan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2109–2132, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2109-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2109-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Land changes and landscape features critically impact water systems. Studying two watersheds in China’s Greater Bay Area, we found slope strongly influences water processes in mountainous areas. However, this relationship is weak in the lower regions of steeper watersheds. Urbanization leads to an increase in annual surface runoff, while flatter watersheds exhibit a buffering capacity against this effect. However, this buffering capacity diminishes with increasing annual rainfall intensity.
Fabián Lema, Pablo A. Mendoza, Nicolás A. Vásquez, Naoki Mizukami, Mauricio Zambrano-Bigiarini, and Ximena Vargas
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1981–2002, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1981-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1981-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrological droughts affect ecosystems and socioeconomic activities worldwide. Despite the fact that they are commonly described with the Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI), there is limited understanding of what they truly reflect in terms of water cycle processes. Here, we used state-of-the-art hydrological models in Andean basins to examine drivers of SSI fluctuations. The results highlight the importance of careful selection of indices and timescales for accurate drought characterization and monitoring.
Sebastian Gegenleithner, Manuel Pirker, Clemens Dorfmann, Roman Kern, and Josef Schneider
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1939–1962, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1939-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1939-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Accurate early-warning systems are crucial for reducing the damage caused by flooding events. In this study, we explored the potential of long short-term memory networks for enhancing the forecast accuracy of hydrologic models employed in operational flood forecasting. The presented approach elevated the investigated hydrologic model’s forecast accuracy for further ahead predictions and at flood event runoff.
Mahmut Tudaji, Yi Nan, and Fuqiang Tian
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1919–1937, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1919-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1919-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Common intuition holds that higher input data resolution leads to better results. To assess the benefits of high-resolution data, we conduct simulation experiments using data with various temporal resolutions across multiple catchments and find that higher-resolution data do not always improve model performance, challenging the necessity of pursuing such data. In catchments with small areas or significant flow variability, high-resolution data is more valuable.
Muhammad Ibrahim, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Ruud van der Ent, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1703–1723, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1703-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1703-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The quantification of precipitation into evaporation and runoff is vital for water resources management. The Budyko framework, based on aridity and evaporative indices of a catchment, can be an ideal tool for that. However, recent research highlights deviations of catchments from the expected evaporative index, casting doubt on its reliability. This study quantifies deviations of 2387 catchments, finding them minor and predictable. Integrating these into predictions upholds the framework's efficacy.
Anne-Laure Argentin, Pascal Horton, Bettina Schaefli, Jamal Shokory, Felix Pitscheider, Leona Repnik, Mattia Gianini, Simone Bizzi, Stuart N. Lane, and Francesco Comiti
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1725–1748, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1725-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1725-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In this article, we show that by taking the optimal parameters calibrated with a semi-lumped model for the discharge at a catchment's outlet, we can accurately simulate runoff at various points within the study area, including three nested and three neighboring catchments. In addition, we demonstrate that employing more intricate melt models, which better represent physical processes, enhances the transfer of parameters in the simulation, until we observe overparameterization.
Ryan S. Padrón, Massimiliano Zappa, Luzi Bernhard, and Konrad Bogner
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1685–1702, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1685-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1685-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We generate operational forecasts of daily maximum stream water temperature for 32 consecutive days at 54 stations in Switzerland with our best-performing data-driven model. The average forecast error is 0.38 °C for 1 d ahead and increases to 0.90 °C for 32 d ahead given the uncertainty in the meteorological variables influencing water temperature. Here we compare the skill of several models, how well they can forecast at new and ungauged stations, and the importance of different model inputs.
Eduardo Acuña Espinoza, Frederik Kratzert, Daniel Klotz, Martin Gauch, Manuel Álvarez Chaves, Ralf Loritz, and Uwe Ehret
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1749–1758, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1749-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1749-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Long short-term memory (LSTM) networks have demonstrated state-of-the-art performance for rainfall-runoff hydrological modelling. However, most studies focus on predictions at a daily scale, limiting the benefits of sub-daily (e.g. hourly) predictions in applications like flood forecasting. In this study, we introduce a new architecture, multi-frequency LSTM (MF-LSTM), designed to use inputs of various temporal frequencies to produce sub-daily (e.g. hourly) predictions at a moderate computational cost.
Louise Mimeau, Annika Künne, Alexandre Devers, Flora Branger, Sven Kralisch, Claire Lauvernet, Jean-Philippe Vidal, Núria Bonada, Zoltán Csabai, Heikki Mykrä, Petr Pařil, Luka Polović, and Thibault Datry
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1615–1636, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1615-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1615-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our study projects how climate change will affect the drying of river segments and stream networks in Europe, using advanced modelling techniques to assess changes in six river networks across diverse ecoregions. We found that drying events will become more frequent and intense and will start earlier or last longer, potentially turning some river sections from perennial to intermittent. The results are valuable for river ecologists for evaluating the ecological health of river ecosystem.
Tariq Aziz, Steven K. Frey, David R. Lapen, Susan Preston, Hazen A. J. Russell, Omar Khader, Andre R. Erler, and Edward A. Sudicky
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1549–1568, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1549-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1549-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study determines the value of subsurface water for ecosystem services' supply in an agricultural watershed in Ontario, Canada. Using a fully integrated water model and an economic valuation approach, the research highlights subsurface water's critical role in maintaining watershed ecosystem services. The study informs on the sustainable use of subsurface water and introduces a new method for managing watershed ecosystem services.
Eduardo Acuña Espinoza, Ralf Loritz, Frederik Kratzert, Daniel Klotz, Martin Gauch, Manuel Álvarez Chaves, and Uwe Ehret
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1277–1294, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1277-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1277-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Data-driven techniques have shown the potential to outperform process-based models in rainfall–runoff simulations. Hybrid models, combining both approaches, aim to enhance accuracy and maintain interpretability. Expanding the set of test cases to evaluate hybrid models under different conditions, we test their generalization capabilities for extreme hydrological events.
Basil Kraft, Michael Schirmer, William H. Aeberhard, Massimiliano Zappa, Sonia I. Seneviratne, and Lukas Gudmundsson
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1061–1082, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1061-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1061-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study reconstructs daily runoff in Switzerland (1962–2023) using a deep-learning model, providing a spatially contiguous dataset on a medium-sized catchment grid. The model outperforms traditional hydrological methods, revealing shifts in Swiss water resources, including more frequent dry years and declining summer runoff. The reconstruction is publicly available.
Mengjiao Zhang, Yi Nan, and Fuqiang Tian
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1033–1060, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1033-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1033-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Owing to differences in the existing published results, we conducted a detailed analysis of the runoff components and future trends in the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin and found that the contributions of snowmelt and glacier melt runoff to streamflow (both ~5 %) are limited and much lower than previous results. The streamflow in this area will continuously increase in the future, but the overestimated contribution of glacier melt could lead to an underestimation of this increasing trend.
Moritz Maximilian Heuer, Hadysa Mohajerani, and Markus Christian Casper
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-636, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-636, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a calibration approach for water balance models. The different calibration steps aim at calibrating different hydrological processes: evapotranspiration, the runoff partitioning into surface runoff, interflow and groundwater recharge, as well as the groundwater behaviour. This allows for selection of a model parameterisation that correctly predicts the discharge at catchment outlet and simultaneously correctly depicts the underlying hydrological processes.
Tian Lan, Tongfang Li, Hongbo Zhang, Jiefeng Wu, Yongqin David Chen, and Chong-Yu Xu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 903–924, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-903-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-903-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study develops an integrated framework based on the novel Driving index for changes in Precipitation–Runoff Relationships (DPRR) to explore the controlling changes in precipitation–runoff relationships in non-stationary environments. According to the quantitative results of the candidate driving factors, the possible process explanations for changes in the precipitation–runoff relationships are deduced. The main contribution offers a comprehensive understanding of hydrological processes.
Everett Snieder and Usman T. Khan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 785–798, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-785-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-785-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Improving the accuracy of flood forecasts is paramount to minimising flood damage. Machine learning (ML) models are increasingly being applied for flood forecasting. Such models are typically trained on large historic hydrometeorological datasets. In this work, we evaluate methods for selecting training datasets that maximise the spatio-temporal diversity of the represented hydrological processes. Empirical results showcase the importance of hydrological diversity in training ML models.
Joško Trošelj and Naota Hanasaki
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 753–766, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-753-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-753-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents the first distributed hydrological simulation which confirms claims raised by historians that the eastward diversion project of the Tone River in Japan was conducted 4 centuries ago to increase low flows and subsequent travelling possibilities surrounding the capital, Edo (Tokyo), using inland navigation. We showed that great steps forward can be made for improving quality of life with small human engineering waterworks and small interventions in the regime of natural flows.
Léonard Santos, Vazken Andréassian, Torben O. Sonnenborg, Göran Lindström, Alban de Lavenne, Charles Perrin, Lila Collet, and Guillaume Thirel
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 683–700, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-683-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-683-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This work investigates how hydrological models are transferred to a period in which climate conditions are different to the ones of the period in which they were set up. The robustness assessment test built to detect dependencies between model error and climatic drivers was applied to three hydrological models in 352 catchments in Denmark, France and Sweden. Potential issues are seen in a significant number of catchments for the models, even though the catchments differ for each model.
Xudong Zheng, Dengfeng Liu, Shengzhi Huang, Hao Wang, and Xianmeng Meng
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 627–653, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-627-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-627-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Water budget non-closure is a widespread phenomenon among multisource datasets which undermines the robustness of hydrological inferences. This study proposes a Multisource Dataset Correction Framework grounded in Physical Hydrological Process Modelling to enhance water budget closure, termed PHPM-MDCF. We examined the efficiency and robustness of the framework using the CAMELS dataset and achieved an average reduction of 49 % in total water budget residuals across 475 CONUS basins.
Elena Macdonald, Bruno Merz, Viet Dung Nguyen, and Sergiy Vorogushyn
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 447–463, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-447-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-447-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Flood peak distributions indicate how likely the occurrence of an extreme flood is at a certain river. If the distribution has a so-called heavy tail, extreme floods are more likely than might be anticipated. We find heavier tails in small catchments compared to large catchments, and spatially variable rainfall leads to a lower occurrence probability of extreme floods. Spatially variable runoff does not show effects. The results can improve estimations of probabilities of extreme floods.
Ngo Nghi Truyen Huynh, Pierre-André Garambois, Benjamin Renard, François Colleoni, Jérôme Monnier, and Hélène Roux
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3665, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3665, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding and modeling flash flood-prone areas remains challenging due to limited data and scale-relevant hydrological theory. While machine learning shows promise, its integration with process-based models is difficult. We present an approach incorporating machine learning into a high-resolution hydrological model to correct internal fluxes and transfer parameters between watersheds. Results show improved accuracy, advancing development of learnable and interpretable process-based models.
Junfu Gong, Xingwen Liu, Cheng Yao, Zhijia Li, Albrecht H. Weerts, Qiaoling Li, Satish Bastola, Yingchun Huang, and Junzeng Xu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 335–360, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-335-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-335-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our study introduces a new method to improve flood forecasting by combining soil moisture and streamflow data using an advanced data assimilation technique. By integrating field and reanalysis soil moisture data and assimilating this with streamflow measurements, we aim to enhance the accuracy of flood predictions. This approach reduces the accumulation of past errors in the initial conditions at the start of the forecast, helping to better prepare for and respond to floods.
Jordy Salmon-Monviola, Ophélie Fovet, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 127–158, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-127-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-127-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
To increase the predictive power of hydrological models, it is necessary to improve their consistency, i.e. their physical realism, which is measured by the ability of the model to reproduce observed system dynamics. Using a model to represent the dynamics of water and nitrate and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in an agricultural catchment, we showed that using solute-concentration data for calibration is useful to improve the hydrological consistency of the model.
Benjamin Guillaume, Adrien Michez, and Aurore Degré
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3978, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3978, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Nature-based solutions (NbS) can mitigate floods and agricultural droughts by enhancing soil health and restoring hydrological cycles. This study highlights that leveraging soil diversity is key to optimizing NbS performance.
Haley A. Canham, Belize Lane, Colin B. Phillips, and Brendan P. Murphy
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 27–43, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-27-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-27-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The influence of watershed disturbances has proved challenging to disentangle from natural streamflow variability. This study evaluates the influence of time-varying hydrologic controls on rainfall–runoff in undisturbed and wildfire-disturbed watersheds using a novel time-series event separation method. Across watersheds, water year type and season influenced rainfall–runoff patterns. Accounting for these controls enabled clearer isolation of wildfire effects.
Fabian Merk, Timo Schaffhauser, Faizan Anwar, Ye Tuo, Jean-Martial Cohard, and Markus Disse
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5511–5539, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5511-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5511-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Evapotranspiration (ET) is computed from the vegetation (plant transpiration) and soil (soil evaporation). In western Africa, plant transpiration correlates with vegetation growth. Vegetation is often represented using the leaf area index (LAI). In this study, we evaluate the importance of the LAI for ET calculation. We take a close look at this interaction and highlight its relevance. Our work contributes to the understanding of terrestrial water cycle processes .
Eshrat Fatima, Rohini Kumar, Sabine Attinger, Maren Kaluza, Oldrich Rakovec, Corinna Rebmann, Rafael Rosolem, Sascha E. Oswald, Luis Samaniego, Steffen Zacharias, and Martin Schrön
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5419–5441, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5419-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5419-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study establishes a framework to incorporate cosmic-ray neutron measurements into the mesoscale Hydrological Model (mHM). We evaluate different approaches to estimate neutron counts within the mHM using the Desilets equation, with uniformly and non-uniformly weighted average soil moisture, and the physically based code COSMIC. The data improved not only soil moisture simulations but also the parameterisation of evapotranspiration in the model.
Laia Estrada, Xavier Garcia, Joan Saló-Grau, Rafael Marcé, Antoni Munné, and Vicenç Acuña
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5353–5373, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5353-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5353-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrological modelling is a powerful tool to support decision-making. We assessed spatio-temporal patterns and trends of streamflow for 2001–2022 with a hydrological model, integrating stakeholder expert knowledge on management operations. The results provide insight into how climate change and anthropogenic pressures affect water resources availability in regions vulnerable to water scarcity, thus raising the need for sustainable management practices and integrated hydrological modelling.
Patricio Yeste, Matilde García-Valdecasas Ojeda, Sonia R. Gámiz-Fortis, Yolanda Castro-Díez, Axel Bronstert, and María Jesús Esteban-Parra
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5331–5352, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5331-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5331-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Integrating streamflow and evaporation data can help improve the physical realism of hydrologic models. We investigate the capabilities of the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) to reproduce both hydrologic variables for 189 headwater located in Spain. Results from sensitivity analyses indicate that adding two vegetation parameters is enough to improve the representation of evaporation and that the performance of VIC exceeded that of the largest modelling effort currently available in Spain.
Daniel T. Myers, David Jones, Diana Oviedo-Vargas, John Paul Schmit, Darren L. Ficklin, and Xuesong Zhang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5295–5310, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5295-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5295-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We studied how streamflow and water quality models respond to land cover data collected by satellites during the growing season versus the non-growing season. The land cover data showed more trees during the growing season and more built areas during the non-growing season. We next found that the use of non-growing season data resulted in a higher modeled nutrient export to streams. Knowledge of these sensitivities would be particularly important when models inform water resource management.
Hatice Türk, Christine Stumpp, Markus Hrachowitz, Karsten Schulz, Peter Strauss, Günter Blöschl, and Michael Stockinger
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-359, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-359, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
Using advances in transit time estimation and tracer data, we tested if fast-flow transit times are controlled solely by soil moisture or are also controlled by precipitation intensity. We used soil moisture-dependent and precipitation intensity-conditional transfer functions. We showed that significant portion of event water bypasses the soil matrix through fast flow paths (overland flow, tile drains, preferential flow paths) in dry soil conditions for both low and high-intensity precipitation.
Kevin R. Shook, Paul H. Whitfield, Christopher Spence, and John W. Pomeroy
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5173–5192, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5173-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5173-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Recent studies suggest that the velocities of water running off landscapes in the Canadian Prairies may be much smaller than generally assumed. Analyses of historical flows for 23 basins in central Alberta show that many of the rivers responded more slowly and that the flows are much slower than would be estimated from equations developed elsewhere. The effects of slow flow velocities on the development of hydrological models of the region are discussed, as are the possible causes.
Alberto Bassi, Marvin Höge, Antonietta Mira, Fabrizio Fenicia, and Carlo Albert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4971–4988, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4971-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4971-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The goal is to remove the impact of meteorological drivers in order to uncover the unique landscape fingerprints of a catchment from streamflow data. Our results reveal an optimal two-feature summary for most catchments, with a third feature associated with aridity and intermittent flow that is needed for challenging cases. Baseflow index, aridity, and soil or vegetation attributes strongly correlate with learnt features, indicating their importance for streamflow prediction.
Pablo Fernando Dornes and Rocío Noelia Comas
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-338, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-338, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
The Desaguadero-Salado-Chadiluevú-Curacó (DSCC) River is a semiarid river which is severely dammed in its tributaries which collect the snowmelt runoff. This runoff feeds mostly gravitational irrigation systems of very low efficiency. As a result, the DSCC River does not have natural runoff. The proposed Hydrological Regime Index (HRI) is able to discriminate and quantify regime alterations under permanent and non-permanent flow conditions and with low and high impoundment conditions.
Sylvain Payraudeau, Pablo Alvarez-Zaldivar, Paul van Dijk, and Gwenaël Imfeld
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2840, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2840, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our study focuses on the rising concern of pesticides damaging aquatic ecosystems, which puts drinking water, the environment, and human health at risk. We provided more accurate estimates of how pesticides break down and spread in small water systems, helping to improve pesticide management practices. By using unique chemical markers in our analysis, we enhanced the accuracy of our predictions, offering important insights for better protection of water sources and natural ecosystems.
Guillaume Thirel, Léonard Santos, Olivier Delaigue, and Charles Perrin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4837–4860, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4837-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4837-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We discuss how mathematical transformations impact calibrated hydrological model simulations. We assess how 11 transformations behave over the complete range of streamflows. Extreme transformations lead to models that are specialized for extreme streamflows but show poor performance outside the range of targeted streamflows and are less robust. We show that no a priori assumption about transformations can be taken as warranted.
Vishal Thakur, Yannis Markonis, Rohini Kumar, Johanna Ruth Thomson, Mijael Rodrigo Vargas Godoy, Martin Hanel, and Oldrich Rakovec
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-341, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-341, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding the changes in water movement in earth is crucial for everyone. To quantify this water movement there are several techniques. We examined how different methods of estimating evaporation impact predictions of various types of water movement across Europe. We found that, while these methods generally agree on whether changes are increasing or decreasing, they differ in magnitude. This means selecting the right evaporation method is crucial for accurate predictions of water movement.
Robert Hull, Elena Leonarduzzi, Luis De La Fuente, Hoang Viet Tran, Andrew Bennett, Peter Melchior, Reed M. Maxwell, and Laura E. Condon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4685–4713, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4685-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4685-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Large-scale hydrologic simulators are a needed tool to explore complex watershed processes and how they may evolve with a changing climate. However, calibrating them can be difficult because they are costly to run and have many unknown parameters. We implement a state-of-the-art approach to model calibration using neural networks with a set of experiments based on streamflow in the upper Colorado River basin.
Nan Wu, Ke Zhang, Amir Naghibi, Hossein Hashemi, Zhongrui Ning, Qinuo Zhang, Xuejun Yi, Haijun Wang, Wei Liu, Wei Gao, and Jerker Jarsjö
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-324, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-324, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
The hydrology of cold regions in the human population is poorly understood due to complex motion and limited data, hindering streamflow analysis. Using existing models, we compared runoff from an extended model with snowmelt and frozen ground, validating its reliability and integration. This study focuses on the effects of snowmelt and frozen ground on runoff, affecting precipitation type, surface-groundwater partitioning, and evapotranspiration.
Jari-Pekka Nousu, Kersti Leppä, Hannu Marttila, Pertti Ala-aho, Giulia Mazzotti, Terhikki Manninen, Mika Korkiakoski, Mika Aurela, Annalea Lohila, and Samuli Launiainen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4643–4666, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4643-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4643-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We used hydrological models, field measurements, and satellite-based data to study the soil moisture dynamics in a subarctic catchment. The role of groundwater was studied with different ways to model the groundwater dynamics and via comparisons to the observational data. The choice of groundwater model was shown to have a strong impact, and representation of lateral flow was important to capture wet soil conditions. Our results provide insights for ecohydrological studies in boreal regions.
Nienke Tempel, Laurène Bouaziz, Riccardo Taormina, Ellis van Noppen, Jasper Stam, Eric Sprokkereef, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4577–4597, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4577-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4577-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study explores the impact of climatic variability on root zone water storage capacities and, thus, on hydrological predictions. Analysing data from 286 areas in Europe and the US, we found that, despite some variations in root zone storage capacity due to changing climatic conditions over multiple decades, these changes are generally minor and have a limited effect on water storage and river flow predictions.
Bu Li, Ting Sun, Fuqiang Tian, Mahmut Tudaji, Li Qin, and Guangheng Ni
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4521–4538, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4521-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4521-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This paper developed hybrid semi-distributed hydrological models by employing a process-based model as the backbone and utilizing deep learning to parameterize and replace internal modules. The main contribution is to provide a high-performance tool enriched with explicit hydrological knowledge for hydrological prediction and to improve understanding about the hydrological sensitivities to climate change in large alpine basins.
Francesco Zignol, William Lidberg, Caroline Greiser, Johannes Larson, Raúl Hoffrén, and Anneli M. Ågren
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2909, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2909, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We investigated the factors influencing soil moisture variations across a boreal forest catchment in northern Sweden, where data is usually scarce. We found that soil moisture is shaped by topographical features, vegetation and soil characteristics, and weather conditions. The insights presented in this study will help improve models that predict soil moisture over space and time, which is crucial for forest management and nature conservation in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Maria Elenius, Charlotta Pers, Sara Schützer, and Berit Arheimer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-271, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-271, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
Simulations of peatland rewetting in Sweden under various conditions of climate, local hydrology and rewetting practices showed insubstantial changes in landscape flow extremes due to mixing with runoff from various landcover. The impact on local hydrological extremes are governed by groundwater levels prior to rewetting and reduced tree cover, hence wetland allocation and management practices are crucial if the purpose is to reduce flow extremes in peatland streams.
Dan Elhanati, Nadine Goeppert, and Brian Berkowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4239–4249, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4239-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4239-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
A continuous time random walk framework was developed to allow modeling of a karst aquifer discharge response to measured rainfall. The application of the numerical model yielded robust fits between modeled and measured discharge values, especially for the distinctive long tails found during recession times. The findings shed light on the interplay of slow and fast flow in the karst system and establish the application of the model for simulating flow and transport in such systems.
Frederik Kratzert, Martin Gauch, Daniel Klotz, and Grey Nearing
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4187–4201, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4187-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4187-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Recently, a special type of neural-network architecture became increasingly popular in hydrology literature. However, in most applications, this model was applied as a one-to-one replacement for hydrology models without adapting or rethinking the experimental setup. In this opinion paper, we show how this is almost always a bad decision and how using these kinds of models requires the use of large-sample hydrology data sets.
Cited articles
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, 2017a.
Ala-aho, P., Soulsby, C., Wang, H., and Tetzlaff, D.: Integrated
surface-subsurface model to investigate the role of groundwater in headwater
catchment runoff generation: A minimalist approach to parameterisation, J.
Hydrol., 547, 664–677, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.02.023, 2017b.
Bakalowicz, M.: Karst groundwater: A challenge for new resources, Hydrogeol.
J., 13, 148–160, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-004-0402-9, 2005.
Berghuijs, W. R. and Kirchner, J. W.: The relationship between contrasting
ages of groundwater and streamflow, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, 8925–8935,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074962, 2017.
Beven, K.: Prophecy, reality and uncertainty in distributed hydrological
modelling, Adv. Water Resour., 16, 41–51,
https://doi.org/10.1016/0309-1708(93)90028-E, 1993.
Beven, K.: A manifesto for the equifinality thesis, J. Hydrol.,
320, 18–36, 2006.
Birkel, C. and Soulsby, C.: Advancing tracer-aided rainfall-runoff
modelling: A review of progress, problems and unrealised potential, Hydrol.
Process., 29, 5227–5240, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10594, 2015.
Birkel, C., Tetzlaff, D., Dunn, S. M., and Soulsby, C.: Towards a simple
dynamic process conceptualization in rainfall-runoff models using
multi-criteria calibration and tracers in temperate, upland catchments,
Hydrol. Process., 24, 260–275, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7478, 2010.
Birkel, C., Tetzlaff, D., Dunn, S. M., and Soulsby, C.: Using time domain and
geographic source tracers to conceptualize streamflow generation processes
in lumped rainfall-runoff models, Water Resour. Res., 47, W02515,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2010WR009547, 2011.
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.
Bonneau, J., Fletcher, T. D., Costelloe, J. F., and Burns, M. J.: Stormwater
infiltration and the “urban karst” – A review, J. Hydrol., 552, 141–150,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.06.043, 2017.
Charlier, J. B., Bertrand, C., and Mudry, J.: Conceptual hydrogeological
model of flow and transport of dissolved organic carbon in a small Jura
karst system, J. Hydrol., 460–461, 52–64,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.06.043, 2012.
Chen, X., Zhang, Z. C., Soulsby, C., Cheng, Q. B., Binley, A., Jiang, R., and
Tao, M.: Characterizing the heterogeneity of karst critical zone and its
hydrological function: an integrated approach, Hydrol. Process., 32, 1–15, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13232, 2018.
Coplen, T. B., Neiman, P. J., White, A. B., Landwehr, J. M., Ralph, F. M.,
and Dettinger, M. D.: Extreme changes in stable hydrogen isotopes and
precipitation characteristics in a landfalling Pacific storm, Geophys. Res.
Lett., 35, L21808, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL035481, 2008.
Delbart, C., Valdes, D., Barbecot, F., Tognelli, A., Richon, P., and
Couchoux, L.: Temporal variability of karst aquifer response time
established by the sliding-windows cross-correlation method, J. Hydrol.,
511, 580–588, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.02.008, 2014.
Dewaide, L., Bonniver, I., Rochez, G., and Hallet, V.: Solute transport in
heterogeneous karst systems: Dimensioning and estimation of the transport
parameters via multi-sampling tracer-tests modelling using the OTIS
(One-dimensional Transport with Inflow and Storage) program, J. Hydrol.,
534, 567–578, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.01.049, 2016.
Field, M. S. and Pinsky, P. F.: A two-region nonequilibrium model for solute
transport in solution conduits in karstic aquifers, J. Contam. Hydrol.,
44, 329–351, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-7722(00)00099-1, 2000.
Fleury, P., Plagnes, V., and Bakalowicz, M.: Modelling of the functioning of
karst aquifers with a reservoir model: Application to Fontaine de Vaucluse
(South of France), J. Hydrol., 345, 38–49,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.07.014, 2007.
Ford, D. and Williams, P.: Karst Hydrogeology and Geomorphology, John Wiley & Sons Ltd,
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118684986, 2013.
Freer, J., Beven, K., and Ambroise, B.: Bayesian estimation of uncertainty in
runoff prediction and the value of data: An application of the GLUE
approach, Water Resour. Res., 32, 2161–2173, https://doi.org/10.1029/96WR03723,
1996.
Goldscheider, N. and Drew, D.: Methods in Karst Hydrogeology: IAH:
International Contributions to Hydrogeology, 26, Crc Press, 2007.
Goldscheider, N., Meiman, J., Pronk, M., and Smart, C.: Tracer tests in karst
hydrogeology and speleology, Int. J. Speleol., 37, 27–40,
https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.37.1.3, 2008.
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, 2015.
Hartmann, A., Wagener, T., Rimmer, A., Lange, J., Brielmann, H., and Weiler,
M.: Testing the realism of model structures to identify karst system
processes using water quality and quantity signatures, Water Resour. Res.,
49, 3345–3358, https://doi.org/10.1002/wrcr.20229, 2013.
Hartmann, A., Goldscheider, N., Wagener, T., Lange, J., and Weiler, M.: Karst
water resources in a changing world: Review of hydrological modeling
approaches, Rev. Geophys., 52, 218–242, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013RG000443, 2014.
Hartmann, A., Barberá, J. A., and Andreo, B.: On the value of water
quality data and informative flow states in karst modelling, Hydrol. Earth
Syst. Sci., 21, 5971–5985, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5971-2017, 2017.
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.
Jasechko, S., Kirchner, J. W., Welker, J. M., and McDonnell, J. J.:
Substantial proportion of global streamflow less than three months old, Nat.
Geosci., 9, 126–129, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2636, 2016.
Jasechko, S., Perrone, D., Befus, K. M., Bayani Cardenas, M., Ferguson, G.,
Gleeson, T., Luijendijk, E., McDonnell, J. J., Taylor, R. G., Wada, Y., and
Kirchner, J. W.: Global aquifers dominated by fossil groundwaters but wells
vulnerable to modern contamination, Nat. Geosci., 10, 425–429,
https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2943, 2017.
Jencso, K. G., McGlynn, B. L., Gooseff, M. N., Bencala, K. E., and Wondzell,
S. M.: Hillslope hydrologic connectivity controls riparian groundwater
turnover: Implications of catchment structure for riparian buffering and
stream water sources, Water Resour. Res., 46, W10524, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009WR008818, 2010.
Jukic, D. and Denić-Jukić, V.: Groundwater balance estimation in
karst by using a conceptual rainfall – runoff model, J. Hydrol., 373,
302–315, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.04.035, 2009.
Kirchner, J. W.: A double paradox in catchment hydrology and geochemistry,
Hydrol. Process., 17, 871–874, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5108, 2003.
Kirchner, J. W., Feng, X., Neal, C., and Robson, A. J.: The fine structure of
water-quality dynamics: The (high-frequency) wave of the future, Hydrol.
Process., 18, 1353–1359, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5537, 2004.
Kling, H., Fuchs, M., and Paulin, M.: Runoff conditions in the upper Danube
basin under an ensemble of climate change scenarios, J. Hydrol., 424–425,
264–277, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.01.011, 2012.
Kogovsek, J. and Petric, M.: Solute transport processes in a karst vadose
zone characterized by long-term tracer tests (the cave system of Postojnska
Jama, Slovenia), J. Hydrol., 519, 1205–1213,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.08.047, 2014.
Kübeck, C., Maloszewski, P. J., and Benischke, R.: Determination of the
conduit structure in a karst aquifer based on tracer data-Lurbach system,
Austria, Hydrol. Process., 27, 225–235, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9221, 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., 11, 3045–3069,
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-3045-2018, 2018.
Labat, D. and Mangin, A.: Transfer function approach for artificial tracer
test interpretation in karstic systems, J. Hydrol., 529, 866–871,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.09.011, 2015.
Ladouche, B., Marechal, J. C., and Dorfliger, N.: Semi-distributed lumped
model of a karst system under active management, J. Hydrol., 509, 215–230,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.11.017, 2014.
Landwehr, J. and Coplen, T.: Line-conditioned excess: a new method for
characterizing stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios in hydrologic
systems, in: Aquatic Forum 2004: International conference on isotopes in
environmental studies, 132–134,
2004.
Landwehr, J. M., Coplen, T. B., and Stewart, D. W.: Spatial, seasonal, and
source variability in the stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of
tap waters throughout the USA, Hydrol. Process., 28, 5382–5422,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10004, 2014.
Legout, A., Legout, C., Nys, C., and Dambrine, E.: Preferential flow and slow
convective chloride transport through the soil of a forested landscape
(Fougères, France), Geoderma, 151, 179–190,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2009.04.002, 2009.
Lexartza-Artza, I. and Wainwright, J.: Hydrological connectivity: Linking
concepts with practical implications, Catena, 79, 146–152,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2009.07.001, 2009.
McCutcheon, R. J., McNamara, J. P., Kohn, M. J., and Evans, S. L.: An
evaluation of the ecohydrological separation hypothesis in a semiarid
catchment, Hydrol. Process., 31, 783–799, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11052, 2017.
McDonnell, J. J. and Beven, K.: Debates – The future of hydrological
sciences: A (common) path forward? A call to action aimed at understanding
velocities, celerities and residence time distributions of the headwater
hydrograph, Water Resour. Res., 50, 5342–5350, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013WR015141,
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.
Morales, T., Uriarte, J. A., Olazar, M., Antigüedad, I., and Angulo, B.:
Solute transport modelling in karst conduits with slow zones during different
hydrologic conditions, J. Hydrol., 390, 182–189,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.06.041, 2010.
Mudarra, M., Andreo, B., Marín, A. I., Vadillo, I., and Barberá, J.
A.: Combined use of natural and artificial tracers to determine the
hydrogeological functioning of a karst aquifer: the Villanueva del Rosario
system (Andalusia, southern Spain), Hydrogeol. J., 22, 1027–1039,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1117-1, 2014.
Mueller, M. H., Weingartner, R., and Alewell, C.: Importance of vegetation,
topography and flow paths for water transit times of base flow in alpine
headwater catchments, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1661–1679,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1661-2013, 2013.
Peng, T. and Wang, S.: Effects of land use, land cover and rainfall regimes
on the surface runoff and soil loss on karst slopes in southwest China,
Catena, 90, 53–62, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2011.11.001, 2012.
Perrin, C., Michel, C., and Andréassian, V.: Does a large number of
parameters enhance model performance? Comparative assessment of common
catchment model structures on 429 catchments, J. Hydrol., 242, 275–301,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(00)00393-0, 2001.
Rathay, S. Y., Allen, D. M., and Kirste, D.: Response of a fractured bedrock
aquifer to recharge from heavy rainfall events, J. Hydrol., 561, 1048–1062,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.07.042, 2017.
Reaney, S. M., Bracken, L. J., and Kirkby, M. J.: The importance of surface
controls on overland flow connectivity in semi-arid environments: Results
from a numerical experimental approach, Hydrol. Process., 28, 2116–2128, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9769, 2014.
Rimmer, A. and Hartmann, A.: Simplified Conceptual Structures and Analytical
Solutions for Groundwater Discharge Using Reservoir Equations, Water Resour.
Manag. Model., 2, 217–238, https://doi.org/10.5772/34803, 2012.
Rimmer, A. and Salingar, Y.: Modelling precipitation-streamflow processes in
karst basin: The case of the Jordan River sources, Israel, J. Hydrol., 331,
524–542, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.06.003, 2006.
Schaefli, B. and Gupta, H. V.: Do Nash values have value?, Hydrol. Process.,
21, 2075–2080, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6825, 2007.
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.
Soulsby, C., Birkel, C., and Tetzlaff, D.: Assessing urbanization impacts on
catchment transit times, Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, 442–448,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2013GL058716, 2014.
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.
Sprenger, M., Leistert, H., Gimbel, K., and Weiler, M.: Illuminating
hydrological processes at the soil-vegetation-atmosphere interface with water
stable isotopes, Rev. Geophys., 54, 674–704, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015RG000515, 2016.
Stets, E. G., Winter, T. C., Rosenberry, D. O., and Striegl, R. G.:
Quantification of surface water and groundwater flows to open – and
closed-basin lakes in a headwaters watershed using a descriptive oxygen
stable isotope model, Water Resour. Res., 46, W03515, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009WR007793, 2010.
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.
Tritz, S., Guinot, V., and Jourde, H.: Modelling the behaviour of a karst
system catchment using non-linear hysteretic conceptual model, J. Hydrol.,
397, 250–262, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.12.001, 2011.
van Schaik, N. L. M. B., Schnabel, S., and Jetten, V. G.: The influence of
preferential flow on hillslope hydrology in a semi-arid watershed (in the
Spanish Dehesas), Hydrol. Process., 22, 3844–3855, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6998,
2008.
White, W. B.: A brief history of karst hydrogeology: contributions of the
NSS, J. Cave Karst Stud., 69, 13–26, 2007.
Worthington, S. R. H.: Diagnostic hydrogeologic characteristics of a karst
aquifer (Kentucky, USA), Hydrogeol. J., 17, 1665–1678,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-009-0489-0, 2009.
Worthington, S. R. H., Jeannin, P.-Y., Alexander, E. C., Davies, G. J., and
Schindel, G. M.: Contrasting definitions for the term “karst aquifer”,
Hydrogeol. J., 25, 1237–1240, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-017-1628-7, 2017.
Xie, Y., Cook, P. G., Simmons, C. T., Partington, D., Crosbie, R., and
Batelaan, O.: Uncertainty of groundwater recharge estimated from a water and
energy balance model, J. Hydrol., 561, 1081–1093, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.08.010, 2017.
Zhang, Z., Chen, X., Ghadouani, A., and Shi, P.: Modelling hydrological
processes influenced by soil, rock and vegetation in a small karst basin of
southwest China, Hydrol. Process., 25, 2456–2470, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8022,
2011.
Zhang, Z., Chen, X., Chen, X., and Shi, P.: Quantifying time lag of
epikarst-spring hydrograph response to rainfall using correlation and
spectral analyses, Hydrogeol. J., 21, 1619–1631,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1041-9, 2013.
Zhang, Z., Chen, X., and Soulsby C.: Catchment-scale conceptual modelling of
water and solute transport in the dual flow system of the karst critical
zone, Hydrol. Process., 31, 3421–3436, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11268, 2017.
Zhang, Z. B., Peng, X., Zhou, H., Lin, H., and Sun, H.: Characterizing
preferential flow in cracked paddy soils using computed tomography and
breakthrough curve, Soil Till. Res., 146, 53–65, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2014.05.016,
2015.
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.
We developed a new tracer-aided hydrological model for karst catchments. This model captured the...
