Articles | Volume 25, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-237-2021
© Author(s) 2021. 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-25-237-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
15 Jan 2021
Research article |
| 15 Jan 2021
Hillslope and groundwater contributions to streamflow in a Rocky Mountain watershed underlain by glacial till and fractured sedimentary bedrock
Sheena A. Spencer
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
T6G 2G7, Canada
Axel E. Anderson
Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
T6G 2G7, Canada
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, T5K 1E4, Canada
Uldis Silins
Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
T6G 2G7, Canada
Adrian L. Collins
Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke,
Okehampton, EX20 2SB, United Kingdom
Related authors
No articles found.
Sergey Chalov, Valentin Golosov, Adrian Collins, and Mike Stone
Proc. IAHS, 381, 1–1, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-381-1-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-381-1-2019, 2019
Steven J. Granger, Juan A. Qunicke, Paul Harris, Adrian L. Collins, and Martin S. Blackwell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-684, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-684, 2018
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
This manuscript looks at the measurement of water quality parameters through the collection of physical samples which are then analysed in an analytical laboratory compared to data generated by equipment placed in the environment. The advantage with this is that large volumes of data are collected at relatively low cost, however the instruments are not subject to the same scientific rigour as in the laboratory. A comparison of the two allows an assessment to be made of the two approaches.
Mary C. Ockenden, Wlodek Tych, Keith J. Beven, Adrian L. Collins, Robert Evans, Peter D. Falloon, Kirsty J. Forber, Kevin M. Hiscock, Michael J. Hollaway, Ron Kahana, Christopher J. A. Macleod, Martha L. Villamizar, Catherine Wearing, Paul J. A. Withers, Jian G. Zhou, Clare McW. H. Benskin, Sean Burke, Richard J. Cooper, Jim E. Freer, and Philip M. Haygarth
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 6425–6444, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6425-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6425-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes simple models of phosphorus load which are identified for three catchments in the UK. The models use new hourly observations of phosphorus load, which capture the dynamics of phosphorus transfer in small catchments that are often missed by models with a longer time step. Unlike more complex, process-based models, very few parameters are required, leading to low parameter uncertainty. Interpretation of the dominant phosphorus transfer modes is made based solely on the data.
Catherine M. Heppell, Andrew Binley, Mark Trimmer, Tegan Darch, Ashley Jones, Ed Malone, Adrian L. Collins, Penny J. Johnes, Jim E. Freer, and Charlotte E. M. Lloyd
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4785–4802, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4785-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4785-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The role that hydrology plays in controlling the interplay between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen in rivers of lowland, agricultural landscapes is poorly understood, yet important to assess given the potential changes to production and delivery of DOC and nitrate arising from climate change. We measured DOC and nitrate concentrations in river water of the lowland river Hampshire Avon (Wiltshire, southern UK), revealing significant seasonal variations in DOC : nitrate transport.
Ian D. L. Foster, John Boardman, Adrian L. Collins, Ruth Copeland-Phillips, Nikolaus J. Kuhn, Tim M. Mighall, Simon Pulley, and Kate M. Rowntree
Proc. IAHS, 375, 29–34, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-375-29-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-375-29-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The paper explores existing data bases relating to erosion and sediment transport in South Africa. It identifies a number of problems with using these and stresses the need to supplement existing data with a novel approach based on the use of sediments accumulating in small farm dams. These could provide directly comparable data by identifying a common time line in all dams using a radioactive fallout isotope called Caesium-137 that was first liberated into the global atmosphere in the 1950s.
Related subject area
Subject: Catchment hydrology | Techniques and Approaches: Theory development
A hydrological framework for persistent pools along non-perennial rivers
Evidence-based requirements for perceptualising intercatchment groundwater flow in hydrological models
Droughts can reduce the nitrogen retention capacity of catchments
Explaining changes in rainfall–runoff relationships during and after Australia's Millennium Drought: a community perspective
Three hypotheses on changing river flood hazards
A multivariate-driven approach for disentangling the reduction in near-natural Iberian water resources post-1980
Hydrology and riparian forests drive carbon and nitrogen supply and DOC : NO3− stoichiometry along a headwater Mediterranean stream
Event controls on intermittent streamflow in a temperate climate
Inclusion of flood diversion canal operation in the H08 hydrological model with a case study from the Chao Phraya River basin: model development and validation
Flood generation: process patterns from the raindrop to the ocean
Use of streamflow indices to identify the catchment drivers of hydrographs
Theoretical and empirical evidence against the Budyko catchment trajectory conjecture
Spatial distribution of groundwater recharge, based on regionalised soil moisture models in Wadi Natuf karst aquifers, Palestine
Barriers to mainstream adoption of catchment-wide natural flood management: a transdisciplinary problem-framing study of delivery practice
Low hydrological connectivity after summer drought inhibits DOC export in a forested headwater catchment
Rainbow color map distorts and misleads research in hydrology – guidance for better visualizations and science communication
Attribution of growing season evapotranspiration variability considering snowmelt and vegetation changes in the arid alpine basins
Event and seasonal hydrologic connectivity patterns in an agricultural headwater catchment
Exploring the role of hydrological pathways in modulating multi-annual climate teleconnection periodicities from UK rainfall to streamflow
Technical note: “Bit by bit”: a practical and general approach for evaluating model computational complexity vs. model performance
A framework for seasonal variations of hydrological model parameters: impact on model results and response to dynamic catchment characteristics
Hydrology and beyond: the scientific work of August Colding revisited
The influence of a prolonged meteorological drought on catchment water storage capacity: a hydrological-model perspective
Hydrological and runoff formation processes based on isotope tracing during ablation period in the source regions of Yangtze River
Importance of snowmelt contribution to seasonal runoff and summer low flows in Czechia
Concentration–discharge relationships vary among hydrological events, reflecting differences in event characteristics
Recession analysis revisited: impacts of climate on parameter estimation
Understanding the effects of climate warming on streamflow and active groundwater storage in an alpine catchment: the upper Lhasa River
Technical note: An improved discharge sensitivity metric for young water fractions
Hydrological signatures describing the translation of climate seasonality into streamflow seasonality
Spatial and temporal variation in river corridor exchange across a 5th-order mountain stream network
Historic hydrological droughts 1891–2015: systematic characterisation for a diverse set of catchments across the UK
A topographic index explaining hydrological similarity by accounting for the joint controls of runoff formation
Trajectories of nitrate input and output in three nested catchments along a land use gradient
Contrasting rainfall-runoff characteristics of floods in desert and Mediterranean basins
Anthropogenic and catchment characteristic signatures in the water quality of Swiss rivers: a quantitative assessment
Using paired catchments to quantify the human influence on hydrological droughts
HESS Opinions: Socio-economic and ecological trade-offs of flood management – benefits of a transdisciplinary approach
A parsimonious transport model of emerging contaminants at the river network scale
Emergent stationarity in Yellow River sediment transport and the underlying shift of dominance: from streamflow to vegetation
A new probability density function for spatial distribution of soil water storage capacity leads to the SCS curve number method
How does initial soil moisture influence the hydrological response? A case study from southern France
Studying catchment storm response using event- and pre-event-water volumes as fractions of precipitation rather than discharge
Anatomy of simultaneous flood peaks at a lowland confluence
Including effects of watershed heterogeneity in the curve number method using variable initial abstraction
Seasonal shifts in export of DOC and nutrients from burned and unburned peatland-rich catchments, Northwest Territories, Canada
Sensitivity of young water fractions to hydro-climatic forcing and landscape properties across 22 Swiss catchments
Effects of climatic seasonality on the isotopic composition of evaporating soil waters
From engineering hydrology to Earth system science: milestones in the transformation of hydrologic science
Human influences on streamflow drought characteristics in England and Wales
Sarah A. Bourke, Margaret Shanafield, Paul Hedley, Sarah Chapman, and Shawan Dogramaci
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 809–836, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-809-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-809-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Here we present a hydrological framework for understanding the mechanisms supporting the persistence of water in pools along non-perennial rivers. Pools may collect water after rainfall events, be supported by water stored within the river channel sediments, or receive inflows from regional groundwater. These hydraulic mechanisms can be identified using a range of diagnostic tools (critiqued herein). We then apply this framework in north-west Australia to demonstrate its value.
Louisa D. Oldham, Jim Freer, Gemma Coxon, Nicholas Howden, John P. Bloomfield, and Christopher Jackson
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 761–781, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-761-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-761-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Water can move between river catchments via the subsurface, termed intercatchment groundwater flow (IGF). We show how a perceptual model of IGF can be developed with relatively simple geological interpretation and data requirements. We find that IGF dynamics vary in space, correlated to the dominant underlying geology. We recommend that IGF
loss functionsmay be used in conceptual rainfall–runoff models but should be supported by perceptualisation of IGF processes and connectivities.
Carolin Winter, Tam V. Nguyen, Andreas Musolff, Stefanie R. Lutz, Michael Rode, Rohini Kumar, and Jan H. Fleckenstein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 303–318, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-303-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-303-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The increasing frequency of severe and prolonged droughts threatens our freshwater resources. While we understand drought impacts on water quantity, its effects on water quality remain largely unknown. Here, we studied the impact of the unprecedented 2018–2019 drought in Central Europe on nitrate export in a heterogeneous mesoscale catchment in Germany. We show that severe drought can reduce a catchment's capacity to retain nitrogen, intensifying the internal pollution and export of nitrate.
Keirnan Fowler, Murray Peel, Margarita Saft, Tim J. Peterson, Andrew Western, Lawrence Band, Cuan Petheram, Sandra Dharmadi, Kim Seong Tan, Lu Zhang, Patrick Lane, Anthony Kiem, Lucy Marshall, Anne Griebel, Belinda E. Medlyn, Dongryeol Ryu, Giancarlo Bonotto, Conrad Wasko, Anna Ukkola, Clare Stephens, Andrew Frost, Hansini Gardiya Weligamage, Patricia Saco, Hongxing Zheng, Francis Chiew, Edoardo Daly, Glen Walker, R. Willem Vervoort, Justin Hughes, Luca Trotter, Brad Neal, Ian Cartwright, and Rory Nathan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6073–6120, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6073-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6073-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Recently, we have seen multi-year droughts tending to cause shifts in the relationship between rainfall and streamflow. In shifted catchments that have not recovered, an average rainfall year produces less streamflow today than it did pre-drought. We take a multi-disciplinary approach to understand why these shifts occur, focusing on Australia's over-10-year Millennium Drought. We evaluate multiple hypotheses against evidence, with particular focus on the key role of groundwater processes.
Günter Blöschl
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5015–5033, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5015-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5015-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
There is serious concern that river floods are increasing. Starting from explanations discussed in public, the article addresses three hypotheses: land-use change, hydraulic structures, and climate change increase floods. This review finds that all three changes have the potential to not only increase floods, but also to reduce them. It is crucial to consider all three factors of change in flood risk management and communicate them to the general public in a nuanced way.
Amar Halifa-Marín, Miguel A. Torres-Vázquez, Enrique Pravia-Sarabia, Marc Lemus-Canovas, Pedro Jiménez-Guerrero, and Juan Pedro Montávez
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4251–4263, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4251-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4251-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Near-natural Iberian water resources have suddenly decreased since the 1980s. These declines have been promoted by the weakening (enhancement) of wintertime precipitation (the NAOi) in the most humid areas, whereas afforestation and drought intensification have played a crucial role in semi-arid areas. Future water management would benefit from greater knowledge of North Atlantic climate variability and reforestation/afforestation processes in semi-arid catchments.
José L. J. Ledesma, Anna Lupon, Eugènia Martí, and Susana Bernal
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4209–4232, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4209-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4209-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We studied a small stream located in a Mediterranean forest. Our goal was to understand how stream flow and the presence of riparian forests, which grow in flat banks near the stream, influence the availability of food for aquatic microorganisms. High flows were associated with higher amounts of food because rainfall episodes transfer it from the surrounding sources, particularly riparian forests, to the stream. Understanding how ecosystems work is essential to better manage natural resources.
Nils Hinrich Kaplan, Theresa Blume, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2671–2696, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2671-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2671-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study is analyses how characteristics of precipitation events and soil moisture and temperature dynamics during these events can be used to model the associated streamflow responses in intermittent streams. The models are used to identify differences between the dominant controls of streamflow intermittency in three distinct geologies of the Attert catchment, Luxembourg. Overall, soil moisture was found to be the most important control of intermittent streamflow in all geologies.
Saritha Padiyedath Gopalan, Adisorn Champathong, Thada Sukhapunnaphan, Shinichiro Nakamura, and Naota Hanasaki
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2541–2560, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2541-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2541-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The modelling of diversion canals using hydrological models is important because they play crucial roles in water management. Therefore, we developed a simplified canal diversion scheme and implemented it into the H08 global hydrological model. The developed diversion scheme was validated in the Chao Phraya River basin, Thailand. Region-specific validation results revealed that the H08 model with the diversion scheme could effectively simulate the observed flood diversion pattern in the basin.
Günter Blöschl
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2469–2480, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2469-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2469-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Sound understanding of how floods come about allows for the development of more reliable flood management tools that assist in mitigating their negative impacts. This article reviews river flood generation processes and flow paths across space scales, starting from water movement in the soil pores and moving up to hillslopes, catchments, regions and entire continents. To assist model development, there is a need to learn from observed patterns of flood generation processes at all spatial scales.
Jeenu Mathai and Pradeep P. Mujumdar
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2019–2033, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2019-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2019-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
With availability of large samples of data in catchments, it is necessary to develop indices that describe the streamflow processes. This paper describes new indices applicable for the rising and falling limbs of streamflow hydrographs. The indices provide insights into the drivers of the hydrographs. The novelty of the work is on differentiating hydrographs by their time irreversibility property and offering an alternative way to recognize primary drivers of streamflow hydrographs.
Nathan G. F. Reaver, David A. Kaplan, Harald Klammler, and James W. Jawitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1507–1525, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1507-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1507-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The Budyko curve emerges globally from the behavior of multiple catchments. Single-parameter Budyko equations extrapolate the curve concept to individual catchments, interpreting curves and parameters as representing climatic and biophysical impacts on water availability, respectively. We tested these two key components theoretically and empirically, finding that catchments are not required to follow Budyko curves and usually do not, implying the parametric framework lacks predictive ability.
Clemens Messerschmid and Amjad Aliewi
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1043–1061, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1043-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1043-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Temporal distribution of groundwater recharge has been widely studied; yet, much less attention has been paid to its spatial distribution. Based on a previous study of field-measured and modelled formation-specific recharge in the Mediterranean, this paper differentiates annual recharge coefficients in a novel approach and basin classification framework for physical features such as lithology, soil and LU/LC characteristics, applicable also in other previously ungauged basins around the world.
Thea Wingfield, Neil Macdonald, Kimberley Peters, and Jack Spees
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 6239–6259, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6239-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6239-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Human activities are causing greater and more frequent floods. Natural flood management (NFM) uses processes of the water cycle to slow the flow of rainwater, bringing together land and water management. Despite NFM's environmental and social benefits, it is yet to be widely adopted. Two environmental practitioner groups collaborated to produce a picture of the barriers to delivery, showing that there is a perceived lack of support from government and the public for NFM.
Katharina Blaurock, Burkhard Beudert, Benjamin S. Gilfedder, Jan H. Fleckenstein, Stefan Peiffer, and Luisa Hopp
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5133–5151, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5133-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5133-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is an important part of the global carbon cycle with regards to carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions and drinking water treatment. In this study, we compared DOC export of a small, forested catchment during precipitation events after dry and wet preconditions. We found that the DOC export from areas that are usually important for DOC export was inhibited after long drought periods.
Michael Stoelzle and Lina Stein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4549–4565, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4549-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4549-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We found with a scientific paper survey (~ 1000 papers) that 45 % of the papers used rainbow color maps or red–green visualizations. Those rainbow visualizations, although attracting the media's attention, will not be accessible for up to 10 % of people due to color vision deficiency. The rainbow color map distorts and misleads scientific communication. The study gives guidance on how to avoid, improve and trust color and how the flaws of the rainbow color map should be communicated in science.
Tingting Ning, Zhi Li, Qi Feng, Zongxing Li, and Yanyan Qin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3455–3469, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3455-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3455-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Previous studies decomposed ET variance in precipitation, potential ET, and total water storage changes based on Budyko equations. However, the effects of snowmelt and vegetation changes have not been incorporated in snow-dependent basins. We thus extended this method in arid alpine basins of northwest China and found that ET variance is primarily controlled by rainfall, followed by coupled rainfall and vegetation. The out-of-phase seasonality between rainfall and snowmelt weaken ET variance.
Lovrenc Pavlin, Borbála Széles, Peter Strauss, Alfred Paul Blaschke, and Günter Blöschl
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2327–2352, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2327-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2327-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We compared the dynamics of streamflow, groundwater and soil moisture to investigate how different parts of an agricultural catchment in Lower Austria are connected. Groundwater is best connected around the stream and worse uphill, where groundwater is deeper. Soil moisture connectivity increases with increasing catchment wetness but is not influenced by spatial position in the catchment. Groundwater is more connected to the stream on the seasonal scale compared to the event scale.
William Rust, Mark Cuthbert, John Bloomfield, Ron Corstanje, Nicholas Howden, and Ian Holman
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2223–2237, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2223-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2223-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper, we find evidence for the cyclical behaviour (on a 7-year basis) in UK streamflow records that match the main cycle of the North Atlantic Oscillation. Furthermore, we find that the strength of these 7-year cycles in streamflow is dependent on proportional contributions from groundwater and the response times of the underlying groundwater systems. This may allow for improvements to water management practices through better understanding of long-term streamflow behaviour.
Elnaz Azmi, Uwe Ehret, Steven V. Weijs, Benjamin L. Ruddell, and Rui A. P. Perdigão
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1103–1115, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1103-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1103-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Computer models should be as simple as possible but not simpler. Simplicity refers to the length of the model and the effort it takes the model to generate its output. Here we present a practical technique for measuring the latter by the number of memory visits during model execution by
Strace, a troubleshooting and monitoring program. The advantage of this approach is that it can be applied to any computer-based model, which facilitates model intercomparison.
Tian Lan, Kairong Lin, Chong-Yu Xu, Zhiyong Liu, and Huayang Cai
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 5859–5874, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5859-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5859-2020, 2020
Dan Rosbjerg
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4575–4585, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4575-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4575-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
August Colding contributed the first law of thermodynamics, evaporation from water and grass, steady free surfaces in conduits, the cross-sectional velocity distribution in conduits, a complete theory for the Gulf Stream, air speed in cyclones, the piezometric surface in confined aquifers, the unconfined elliptic water table in soil between drain pipes, and the wind-induced set-up in the sea during storms.
Zhengke Pan, Pan Liu, Chong-Yu Xu, Lei Cheng, Jing Tian, Shujie Cheng, and Kang Xie
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4369–4387, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4369-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4369-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This study aims to identify the response of catchment water storage capacity (CWSC) to meteorological drought by examining the changes of hydrological-model parameters after drought events. This study improves our understanding of possible changes in the CWSC induced by a prolonged meteorological drought, which will help improve our ability to simulate the hydrological system under climate change.
Zong-Jie Li, Zong-Xing Li, Ling-Ling Song, Juan Gui, Jian Xue, Bai Juan Zhang, and Wen De Gao
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4169–4187, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4169-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4169-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This study mainly explores the hydraulic relations, recharge–drainage relations and their transformation paths, and the processes of each water body. It determines the composition of runoff, quantifies the contribution of each runoff component to different types of tributaries, and analyzes the hydrological effects of the temporal and spatial variation in runoff components. More importantly, we discuss the hydrological significance of permafrost and hydrological processes.
Michal Jenicek and Ondrej Ledvinka
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3475–3491, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3475-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3475-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Changes in snow affect the runoff seasonality, including summer low flows. Here we analyse this effect in 59 mountain catchments in Czechia. We show that snow is more effective in generating runoff compared to rain. Snow-poor years generated lower groundwater recharge than snow-rich years, which resulted in higher deficit volumes in summer. The lower recharge and runoff in the case of a snowfall-to-rain transition due to air temperature increase might be critical for water supply in the future.
Julia L. A. Knapp, Jana von Freyberg, Bjørn Studer, Leonie Kiewiet, and James W. Kirchner
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2561–2576, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2561-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2561-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Changes of stream water chemistry in response to discharge changes provide important insights into the storage and release of water from the catchment. Here we investigate the variability in concentration–discharge relationships among different solutes and hydrologic events and relate it to catchment conditions and dominant water sources.
Elizabeth R. Jachens, David E. Rupp, Clément Roques, and John S. Selker
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1159–1170, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1159-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1159-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Recession analysis uses the receding streamflow following precipitation events to estimate watershed-average properties. Two methods for recession analysis use recession events individually or all events collectively. Using synthetic case studies, this paper shows that analyzing recessions collectively produces flawed interpretations. Moving forward, recession analysis using individual recessions should be used to describe the average and variability of watershed behavior.
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.
Francesc Gallart, Jana von Freyberg, María Valiente, James W. Kirchner, Pilar Llorens, and Jérôme Latron
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1101–1107, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1101-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1101-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
How catchments store and release rain or melting water is still not well known. Now, it is broadly accepted that most of the water in streams is older than several months, and a relevant part may be many years old. But the age of water depends on the stream regime, being usually younger during high flows. This paper tries to provide tools for better analysing how the age of waters varies with flow in a catchment and for comparing the behaviour of catchments diverging in climate, size and regime.
Sebastian J. Gnann, Nicholas J. K. Howden, and Ross A. Woods
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 561–580, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-561-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-561-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
In many places, seasonal variability in precipitation and evapotranspiration (climate) leads to seasonal variability in river flow (streamflow). In this work, we explore how climate seasonality is transformed into streamflow seasonality and what controls this transformation (e.g. climate aridity and geology). The results might be used in grouping catchments, predicting the seasonal streamflow regime in ungauged catchments, and building hydrological simulation models.
Adam S. Ward, Steven M. Wondzell, Noah M. Schmadel, Skuyler Herzog, Jay P. Zarnetske, Viktor Baranov, Phillip J. Blaen, Nicolai Brekenfeld, Rosalie Chu, Romain Derelle, Jennifer Drummond, Jan H. Fleckenstein, Vanessa Garayburu-Caruso, Emily Graham, David Hannah, Ciaran J. Harman, Jase Hixson, Julia L. A. Knapp, Stefan Krause, Marie J. Kurz, Jörg Lewandowski, Angang Li, Eugènia Martí, Melinda Miller, Alexander M. Milner, Kerry Neil, Luisa Orsini, Aaron I. Packman, Stephen Plont, Lupita Renteria, Kevin Roche, Todd Royer, Catalina Segura, James Stegen, Jason Toyoda, Jacqueline Wells, and Nathan I. Wisnoski
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 5199–5225, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-5199-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-5199-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The movement of water and solutes between streams and their shallow, connected subsurface is important to many ecosystem functions. These exchanges are widely expected to vary with stream flow across space and time, but these assumptions are seldom tested across basin scales. We completed more than 60 experiments across a 5th-order river basin to document these changes, finding patterns in space but not time. We conclude space-for-time and time-for-space substitutions are not good assumptions.
Lucy J. Barker, Jamie Hannaford, Simon Parry, Katie A. Smith, Maliko Tanguy, and Christel Prudhomme
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4583–4602, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4583-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4583-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
It is important to understand historic droughts in order to plan and prepare for possible future events. In this study we use the standardised streamflow index for 1891–2015 to systematically identify, characterise and rank hydrological drought events for 108 near-natural UK catchments. Results show when and where the most severe events occurred and describe events of the early 20th century, providing catchment-scale detail important for both science and planning applications of the future.
Ralf Loritz, Axel Kleidon, Conrad Jackisch, Martijn Westhoff, Uwe Ehret, Hoshin Gupta, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3807–3821, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3807-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3807-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we develop a topographic index explaining hydrological similarity within a energy-centered framework, with the observation that the majority of potential energy is dissipated when rainfall becomes runoff.
Sophie Ehrhardt, Rohini Kumar, Jan H. Fleckenstein, Sabine Attinger, and Andreas Musolff
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3503–3524, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3503-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3503-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This study shows quantitative and temporal offsets between nitrogen input and riverine output, using time series of three nested catchments in central Germany. The riverine concentrations show lagged reactions to the input, but at the same time exhibit strong inter-annual changes in the relationship between riverine discharge and concentration. The study found a strong retention of nitrogen that is dominantly assigned to a hydrological N legacy, which will affect future stream concentrations.
Davide Zoccatelli, Francesco Marra, Moshe Armon, Yair Rinat, James A. Smith, and Efrat Morin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2665–2678, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2665-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2665-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a comparison of flood properties over multiple Mediterranean and desert catchments. While in Mediterranean areas floods are related to rainfall amount, in deserts we observed a strong connection with the characteristics of the more intense part of storms. Because of the different mechanisms involved, despite having significantly shorter and more localized storms, deserts are able to produce floods with a magnitude comparable to Mediterranean areas.
Martina Botter, Paolo Burlando, and Simone Fatichi
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1885–1904, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1885-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1885-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The study focuses on the solute export from rivers with the purpose of discerning the impacts of anthropic activities and catchment characteristics on water quality. The results revealed a more detectable impact of the anthropic activities than of the catchment characteristics. The solute export follows different dynamics depending on catchment characteristics and mainly on solute-specific properties. The export modality is consistent across different catchments only for a minority of solutes.
Anne F. Van Loon, Sally Rangecroft, Gemma Coxon, José Agustín Breña Naranjo, Floris Van Ogtrop, and Henny A. J. Van Lanen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1725–1739, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1725-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1725-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We explore the use of the classic
paired-catchmentapproach to quantify human influence on hydrological droughts. In this approach two similar catchments are compared and differences are attributed to the human activity present in one. In two case studies in UK and Australia, we found that groundwater abstraction aggravated streamflow drought by > 200 % and water transfer alleviated droughts with 25–80 %. Understanding the human influence on droughts can support water management decisions.
Karl Auerswald, Peter Moyle, Simon Paul Seibert, and Juergen Geist
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1035–1044, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1035-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1035-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The demand for flood protection often results in the construction of more and bigger levees along rivers. We highlight that such technical solutions often result in undesired socio-economic and ecological consequences such as increased downstream flooding risk, changes of groundwater levels, and a loss of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. We propose a transdisciplinary approach of integrated flood management and green infrastructure instead of reliance on technical protection measures.
Elena Diamantini, Stefano Mallucci, and Alberto Bellin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 573–593, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-573-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-573-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The description of pharmaceutical fate and transport introduced into a watershed is a challenging topic, especially because of the possible adverse effects on human health. In addition, an accurate estimation of solute sources and routes is still missing. This study uses a new promising modeling approach to predict pharmaceutical concentrations in rivers. Results show an interesting relationship between solute concentrations in waters and touristic fluxes.
Sheng Ye, Qihua Ran, Xudong Fu, Chunhong Hu, Guangqian Wang, Gary Parker, Xiuxiu Chen, and Siwei Zhang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 549–556, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-549-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-549-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Our study shows that there is declining coupling between sediment concentration and discharge from daily to annual scales for gauges across the Yellow River basin (YRB). Not only the coupling, but also the magnitude of sediment response to discharge variation decreases with long-term mean discharge. This emergent stationarity can be related to sediment retardation by vegetation, suggesting the shift of dominance from water to vegetation as mean annual discharge increases.
Dingbao Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 6567–6578, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6567-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6567-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
A novel distribution function is proposed for describing the spatial distribution of soil water storage capacity, and then the classical and empirical hydrologic model (the SCS curve number method) is derived as when the initial soil water storage is zero. This distribution function unifies the SCS curve number method and probability-distributed models such as the VIC and Xinanjiang models. The unified model provides a better way for modeling surface runoff.
Magdalena Uber, Jean-Pierre Vandervaere, Isabella Zin, Isabelle Braud, Maik Heistermann, Cédric Legoût, Gilles Molinié, and Guillaume Nord
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 6127–6146, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6127-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6127-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate how rivers in a flash-flood-prone region in southern France respond to rainfall depending on initial soil moisture. Therefore, high-resolution data of rainfall, river discharge and soil moisture were used. We find that during dry initial conditions, the rivers hardly respond even for heavy rain events, but for wet initial conditions, the response remains unpredictable: for some rain events almost all rainfall is transformed to discharge, whereas this is not the case for others.
Jana von Freyberg, Bjørn Studer, Michael Rinderer, and James W. Kirchner
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5847–5865, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5847-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5847-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We show event- and pre-event-water volumes as fractions of precipitation, rather than discharge, to provide an alternative and more insightful approach to study catchment hydrological processes. For this, we analyze 24 storm events using high-frequency measurements of stable water isotopes in stream water and precipitation at a pre-Alpine catchment. Antecedent wetness and storm characteristics are dominant controls on event-water discharge and pre-event-water mobilization from storage.
Tjitske J. Geertsema, Adriaan J. Teuling, Remko Uijlenhoet, Paul J. J. F. Torfs, and Antonius J. F. Hoitink
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5599–5613, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5599-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5599-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigate the processes and effects of simultaneous flood peaks at a lowland confluence. The flood peaks are analyzed with the relatively new dynamic time warping method, which offers a robust means of tracing flood waves in discharge time series at confluences. The time lag between discharge peaks in the main river and its lowland tributaries is small compared to the wave duration; therefore the exact timing of discharge peaks may be little relevant to flood risk.
Vijay P. Santikari and Lawrence C. Murdoch
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 4725–4743, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4725-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4725-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The curve number (CN) method is the most widely used approach for estimating runoff from rainfall. Despite its popularity, there is a conceptual flaw where CN varies with rainfall although it is assumed to be constant. In this paper, we describe theoretical analyses that show how this behavior is due to watershed heterogeneity, and we then provide simple modifications to the method to improve its runoff predictions. The findings will benefit hydrologists and watershed models that use CN method.
Katheryn Burd, Suzanne E. Tank, Nicole Dion, William L. Quinton, Christopher Spence, Andrew J. Tanentzap, and David Olefeldt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 4455–4472, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4455-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4455-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we investigated whether climate change and wildfires are likely to alter water quality of streams in western boreal Canada, a region that contains large permafrost-affected peatlands. We monitored stream discharge and water quality from early snowmelt to fall in two streams, one of which drained a recently burned landscape. Wildfire increased the stream delivery of phosphorous and possibly increased the release of old natural organic matter previously stored in permafrost soils.
Jana von Freyberg, Scott T. Allen, Stefan Seeger, Markus Weiler, and James W. Kirchner
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3841–3861, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3841-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3841-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We explored how the fraction of streamflow younger than ca. 3 months (Fyw) varies with landscape characteristics and climatic forcing, using an extensive isotope data set from 22 Swiss catchments. Overall, Fyw tends to be larger when catchments are wet and discharge is correspondingly higher, indicating an increase in the proportional contribution of faster flow paths at higher flows. We quantify this
discharge sensitivityof Fyw and relate it to the dominant streamflow-generating mechanisms.
Paolo Benettin, Till H. M. Volkmann, Jana von Freyberg, Jay Frentress, Daniele Penna, Todd E. Dawson, and James W. Kirchner
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2881–2890, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2881-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2881-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Evaporation causes the isotopic composition of soil water to become different from that of the original precipitation source. If multiple samples originating from the same source are available, they can be used to reconstruct the original source composition. However, soil water is influenced by seasonal variability in both precipitation sources and evaporation patterns. We show that this variability, if not accounted for, can lead to biased estimates of the precipitation source water.
Murugesu Sivapalan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1665–1693, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1665-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1665-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The paper presents major milestones in the transformation of hydrologic science over the last 50 years from engineering hydrology to Earth system science. This transformation has involved a transition from a focus on time (empirical) to space (Newtonian mechanics), and to time (Darwinian co-evolution). Hydrology is now well positioned to again return to a focus on space or space–time and a move towards regional process hydrology.
Erik Tijdeman, Jamie Hannaford, and Kerstin Stahl
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1051–1064, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1051-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1051-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, a screening approach was applied on a set of streamflow records for which various human influences are indicated to identify streamflow records that have drought characteristics that deviate from those expected under pristine conditions. Prolonged streamflow drought duration, a weaker correlation between streamflow and precipitation, and changes in streamflow drought occurrence over time were related to human influences such as groundwater abstractions or reservoir operations.
Cited articles
AGS – Alberta Geologic Survey: Bedrock geology of Alberta (GIS data),
available at: https://ags.aer.ca/publication/dig-2004-0033 (last access: February 2014), 2004.
Ali, G. A., Roy, A. G., Turmel, A.-C., and Courchesne, F.: Source-to-stream
connectivity through end-member mixing analysis, J. Hydrol., 392, 119–135,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.07.049, 2010.
Andres, D., Van Der Vinne, G., and Sterenberg, G.: Hydrologic, hydrogeologic, thermal, sediment and channel regimes of the Tri-Creeks experimental Basin, Rep. No. SWE-87/01, Vol. 1, Alberta Research Council, Edmonton, AB, 418 pp., 1987.
Barthold, F. K., Tyralla, C., Schneider, K., Vaché, K. B., Frede, H. G.,
and Breuer, L.: How many tracers do we need for end member mixing analysis (EMMA)? a sensitivity analysis, Water Resour. Res., 47, 1–14,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR010604, 2011.
Bearup, L. A., Maxwell, R. M., Clow, D. W., and McCray, J. E.: Hydrological
effects of forest transpiration loss in bark beetle-impacted watersheds, Nat. Clim. Change, 4, 481–486, https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2198, 2014.
Blumstock, M., Tetzlaff, D., Malcolm, I. A., Neutzmann, G., and Soulsby, C.:
Baseflow dynamics: Multi-tracer surveys to assess variable groundwater
contributions to montane streams under low flows, J. Hydrol., 527, 1021–1033, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.05.019, 2015.
Boon, S.: Snow accumulation following forest disturbance, Ecohydrology, 5, 279–285, https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.212, 2012.
Brown, A. E., Zhang, L., McMahon, T. A., Western, A. W., and Vertessy, R. A.: A review of paired catchment studies for determining changes in water yield resulting from alterations in vegetation, J. Hydrol., 310, 28–61, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.12.010, 2005.
Burles, K. and Boon, S.: Snowmelt energy balance in a burned forest plot,
Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada, Hydrol. Process., 25, 3012–3029,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8067, 2011.
Burns, D. A., Murdoch, P. S., Lawrence, G. B., and Michel, R. L.: Effect of
groundwater springs on
Christophersen, N. and Hooper, R. P.: Multivariate analysis of stream water
chemical data: the use of principal components analysis for the end-member
mixing problem, Water Resour. Res., 28, 99–107, https://doi.org/10.1029/91WR02518, 1992.
Clow, D. W., Schrott, L., Webb, R., Campbell, D. H., Torizzo, A., and Dornblaser, M.: Ground water occurrence and contributions to streamflow in
an alpine catchment, Colorado front range, Groundwater, 41, 937–950, 2003.
Collins, A. L., Pulley, S., Foster, I. D. L., Gellis, A., Porto, P., and
Horowitz, A. J.: Sediment source fingerprinting as an aid to catchment management: A review of the current state of knowledge and a methodological
decision-tree for end-users, J. Environ. Manage., 194, 86–108,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.09.075, 2017.
Correa, A., Breuer, L., Crespo, P., Célleri, R, Feyen, J., Birkel, C.,
Silva, C., and Windhorst, D.: Spatially distributed hydro-chemical data with
temporally high-resolution is needed to adequately assess the hydrological
functioning of headwater catchments, Sci. Total Environ., 651, 1613–1626,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.189, 2019.
Covino, T. P. and McGlynn, B. L.: Stream gains and losses across a mountain-to-valley transition: impacts on watershed hydrology and stream water chemistry, Water Resour. Res., 43, W10431, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006WR005544,
2007.
Cowie, R. M., Knowles, J. F., Dailey, K. R., Williams, M. W., Mills, T. J., and Molotch, N. P.: Sources of streamflow along a headwater catchment
elevational gradient, J. Hydrol., 549, 163–178, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.03.044, 2017.
Creed, I. F. and Band L. E.: Export of nitrogen from catchments with a temperate forest: evidence for a unifying mechanism regulated by variable
source area dynamics, Water Resour. Res., 34, 3105–3120, 1998.
Dahlke, H. E., Easton, Z. M., Lyon, S. W., Walter, M. T., Destouni, G., and
Steenhuis, T. S.: Dissecting the variable source area concept – subsurface
flow pathways and water mixing processes in a hillslope, J. Hydrol., 420,
125–141, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.11.052, 2012.
Dixon, D., Boon, S., and Silins, U.: Watershed-scale controls on snow accumulation in a small montane watershed, southwestern Alberta, Canada, Hydrol. Process., 28, 1294–1306, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9667, 2014.
Evans, J. E., Prepas, E. E., Devito, K. J., and Kotak B. G.: Phosphorus dynamics in shallow subsurface waters in an uncut and cut subcatchment of a
lake on the Boreal Plain, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 57, 60–72, 2000.
Floriancic, M. G., van Meerveld, I., Smoorenburg, M., Margreth, M., Naef, F., Kirchner, J. W., and Molnar, P.: Spatio-temporal variability in contributions to low flows in the high Alpine Poschiavino catchment, Hydrol. Process., 32, 3938–3953, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13302, 2018.
Freeze, R. A. and Cherry J. A. (Eds.): Groundwater, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, USA, 1979.
Freeze, R. A. and Witherspoon P. A.: Theoretical analysis of regional groundwater flow 2. Effect of water-table configuration and subsurface permeability variation., Water Resour. Res., 3, 623–634, 1967.
Goodbrand, A. and Anderson, A.: Hydrologic resilience of a Canadian Foothills watershed to forest harvest, in: EGU General Assembly, 17–22 April 2016, Vienna, Austria, EGU2016-10932, 2016.
Grabs, T., Bishop, K., Laudon, H., Lyon, S. W., and Seibert, J.: Riparian zone hydrology and soil water total organic carbon (TOC): implications for
spatial variability and upscaling of lateral riparian TOC exports,
Biogeosciences, 9, 3901–3916, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-9-3901-2012, 2012.
Harder, P., Pomeroy, J. W., and Westbrook, C. J.: Hydrological resilience of a Canadian Rockies headwaters basin subject to changing climate, extreme weather, and forest management, Hydrol. Process., 29, 3905–3924,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10596, 2015.
Hjerdt, K. N., McDonnell, J. J., Seibert, J., and Rodhe, A.: A new topographic index to quantify downslope controls on local drainage, Water
Resour. Res., 40, W05602, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004WR003130, 2004.
Hoeg, S., Uhlenbrook, S., and Leibundgut, C.: Hydrograph separation in a
mountainous catchment – combining hydrochemical and isotopic tracers, Hydrol. Process., 14, 1199–1216, 2000.
Hood, J. L. and Hayashi, M.: Characterization of snowmelt flux and groundwater storage in an alpine headwater basin, J. Hydrol., 521, 482–497, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.12.041, 2015.
Hooper, R. P.: Diagnostic tools for mixing models of stream water chemistry,
Water Resour. Res., 39, 1055, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002WR001528, 2003.
Inamdar, S.: The use of geochemical mixing models to derive runoff sources
and hydrologic flow paths, in: Forest hydrology and biogeochemistry: synthesis of past research and future directions, edited by: Levia, D. F.,
Carlyle-Moses, D., and Tanaka, T., Springer, New York, USA, 163–183,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1363-5, 2011.
Inamdar, S., Dhillon, G., Singh, S., Dutta, S., Levia, D., Scott, D., Mitchell, M., Van Stan, J., and McHale, P.: Temporal variation in end-member
chemistry and its influence on runoff mixing patterns in a forested,
Piedmont catchment, Water Resour. Res., 49, 1828–1844, https://doi.org/10.1002/wrcr.20158, 2013.
James, A. L. and Roulet, N. T.: Investigating the applicability of end-member mixing analysis (EMMA) across scale: a study of eight small, nested catchments in a temperate forested watershed, Water Resour. Res., 42, 1–17, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005WR004419, 2006.
Jencso, K. G., McGlynn, B. L., Gooseff, M. N., Wondzell, S. M., Bencala, K.
E., and Marshall, L.A.: Hydrologic connectivity between landscapes and streams: Transferring reach-and plot-scale understanding to the catchment scale, Water Resour. Res., 45, W04428, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008WR007225, 2009.
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.
Johannessen, M. and Henriksen, A.: Chemistry of snow meltwater: changes in
concentration during melting, Water Resour. Res., 14, 615–619, 1978.
Kienzle, S. W.: A new temperature based method to separate rain and snow, Hydrol. Process., 22, 5067–5085, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7131, 2008.
Langston, G., Bentley, L. R., Hayashi, M., McClymont, A., and Pidlisecky, A.: Internal structure and hydrological functions of an alpine proglacial moraine, Hydrol. Process., 25, 2967–2982, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8144, 2011.
Liu, F., Williams, M. W., and Caine, N.: Source waters and flow paths in an
alpine catchment, Colorado Front Range, United States, Water Resour. Res., 40, W09401, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004WR003076, 2004.
McClymont, A. F., Hayashi, M., Bentley, L. R., Muir, D., and Ernst, E.: Groundwater flow and storage within an alpine meadow-talus complex, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 859–872, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-859-2010, 2010.
McGlynn, B. L. and Seibert, J.: Distributed assessment of contributing area
and riparian buffering along stream networks, Water Resour. Res., 39, 1082, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002WR001521, 2003.
McGlynn, B. L., McDonnell, J. J., Shanley, J. B., and Kendall, C.: Riparian
zone flowpath dynamics during snowmelt in a small headwater catchment, J.
Hydrol., 222, 75–92, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(99)00102-X, 1999.
McGlynn, B. L., McDonnell, J. J., and Brammer, D. D.: A review of the evolving perceptual model of hillslope flowpaths at the Maimai catchments, New Zealand, J. Hydrol., 257, 1–26, 2002.
McNamara, J. P., Chandler, D., Seyfried, M., and Achet, S.: Soil moisture
states, lateral flow, and streamflow generation in a semi-arid, snowmelt-driven catchment, Hydrol. Process., 19, 4023–4038,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5869, 2005.
Nippgen, F., McGlynn, B. L., and Emanuel, R. E.: The spatial and temporal
evolution of contributing areas, Water Resour. Res., 51, 4551–4573, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014WR016719, 2015.
Orlova, J. and Branfireun, B. A.: Surface water and groundwater contributions to streamflow in the James Bay Lowland, Canada, Arct. Antarct. Alp. Res., 46, 236–250, https://doi.org/10.1657/1938-4246-46.1.236, 2014.
Pfister, L., Martínez-Carreras, N., Hissler, C., Klaus, J., Carrer, G. E., Stewart, M. K., and McDonnell, J. J.: Bedrock geology controls on catchment storage, mixing, and release: a comparative analysis of 16 nested
catchments, Hydrol. Process., 31, 1828–1845, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11134, 2017.
Pugh E. and Small, E.: The impact of pine beetle infestation on snow accumulation and melt in the headwaters of the Colorado River, Ecohydrology,
5, 467–477, https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.239, 2012.
Pulley, S. and Collins, A. L.: Tracing catchment fine sediment sources using the new SIFT (SedIment Fingerprinting Tool) open source software, Sci. Total Environ., 635, 838–858, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.126, 2018.
Pulley, S., Foster, I., and Antunes, P.: The uncertainties associated with
sediment fingerprinting suspended and recently deposited fluvial sediment in
the Nene river basin, Geomorphology, 228, 303–319,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2014.09.016, 2015.
Rademacher, L. K., Clark, J. F., Clow, D. W., and Hudson, G. B.: Old groundwater influence on stream hydrochemistry and catchment response times
in a small Sierra Nevada catchment: Sagehen Creek, California, Water Resour.
Res., 41, 1–10, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003WR002805, 2005.
R Core Team: R: A language and environment for statistical computing, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, available at:
http://www.R-project.org/ (last access: March 2020), 2014.
Remenda, V. H. and van der Kamp, G.: Contamination from sand-bentonite seal
in monitoring wells installed in aquitards, Groundwater, 35, 39–46, 1997.
Rinderer, M., van Meerveld, H. J., and Seibert, J.: Topographic controls on
shallow groundwater levels in a steep, prealpine catchment: when are the TWI
assumptions valid?, Water Resour. Res., 50, 6067–6080, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013WR015009, 2014.
Scott, D. F.: The hydrological effects of fire in South African mountain
catchments, J. Hydrol., 150, 409–432, https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(93)90119-T, 1993.
Shaman, J., Stieglitz, M., and Burns, D.: Are big basins just the sum of small catchments?, Hydrol. Process., 18, 3195–3206, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5739,
2004.
Shanley, J. B., Sebestyen, S. D., McDonnell, J. J., McGlynn, B. L., and
Dunne, T.: Water's Way at Sleepers River watershed–revisiting flow generation in a post-glacial landscape, Vermont USA, Hydrol. Process., 29, 3447–3459, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10377, 2015.
Silins, U., Stone, M., Emelko, M. B., and Bladon, K. D.: Sediment production
following severe wildfire and post-fire salvage logging in the Rocky Mountain headwaters of the Oldman River Basin, Alberta, Catena, 79, 189–197, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2009.04.001, 2009.
Silins, U., Anderson, A., Bladon, K. D., Emelko, M. B., Stone, M., Spencer, S. A., Williams, C. H. S., Wagner, M. J., Martens, A. M., and Hawthorn, K.:
Southern Rockies Watershed Project, Forest. Chron., 92, 39–42, https://doi.org/10.5558/tfc2016-012, 2016.
Spencer, S. A., Silins, U., and Anderson, A. E.: Precipitation-runoff and
storage dynamics in watersheds underlain by till and permeable bedrock in
Alberta's Rocky Mountains, Water Resour. Res., 55, 10690–10706,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019WR025313, 2019.
Stednick, J. D.: Monitoring the effects of timber harvest on annual water yield, J. Hydrol., 176, 79–95, https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(95)02780-7, 1996.
Sueker, J. K., Ryan, J. N., Kendall, C., and Jarrett, R. D.: Determination
of hydrologic pathways during snowmelt for alpine/subalpine basins, Rocky
Mountain National Park, Colorado, Water Resour. Res., 36, 63–75, 2000.
Taniguchi, M.: Evaluation of vertical groundwater fluxes and thermal properties of aquifers based on transient temperature-depth profiles, Water
Res., 29, 2021–2026, 1993.
Tromp-van Meerveld, H. J. and McDonnell, J. J.: Threshold relations in subsurface stormflow: 2. The fill and spill hypothesis, Water Resour. Res.,
42, W02411, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004WR003800, 2006.
Uchida, T., McDonnell, J. J., and Asano, Y.: Functional intercomparison of
hillslopes and small catchments by examining water source, flowpath and mean
residence time, J. Hydrol., 327, 627–642, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.02.037, 2006.
Varhola, A., Coops, N. C., Weiler, M., and Moore, R. D.: Forest canopy effects on snow accumulation and ablation: an integrative review of empirical
results, J. Hydrol., 392, 219–233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.08.009, 2010.
Venables, W. N. and Ripley, B. D.: Modern applied statistics with S, 4th Edn., Springer, New York, USA, ISBN 0-387-95457-0, 2002.
Waterline Resources Inc.: Crowsnest River watershed aquifer mapping and groundwater management planning study: TWPS 006 to 009, RGES 01 to 06 W5 Alberta, Report # 2170-12-001, for Oldman Watershed Council, 2013.
Weihs, C., Ligges, U., Luebke, K., and Raabe, N.: klaR analyzing German business cycles, in: Data analysis and decision support, edited by: Baier,
D., Decker, R., and Schmidt-Thieme, L., Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany, 335–343, 2005.
Williams, C., Silins, U., Bladon, K. D., Martens, A. M., Wagner, M. J., and
Anderson, A.: Rainfall-runoff dynamics following wildfire in mountainous
headwater catchments, Alberta, Canada, in: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 14–18 December 2015, San Francisco, USA, H34B-06, 2015.
Williams, C. H. S., Silins, U., Spencer, S. A., Wagner, M. J., Stone, M., and Emelko, M. B.: Net precipitation in burned and unburned subalpine forest stands after wildfire in the northern Rocky Mountains, Int. J. Wildland Fire., 28, 750–760, https://doi.org/10.1071/WF18181, 2019.
Williams, M. W., Seibold, C., and Chowanski, K.: Storage and release of solutes from a subalpine seasonal snowpack: soil and stream water response,
Niwot Ridge, Colorado, Biogeochemistry, 95, 77–94, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-009-9288-x, 2009.
Winkler, R., Spittlehouse, D., and Boon, S.: Streamflow response to clear-cut logging on British Columbia's Okanagan Plateau, Ecohydrology, 10, 1–15, https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1836, 2017.
Short summary
We used unique chemical signatures of precipitation, hillslope soil water, and groundwater sources of streamflow to explore seasonal variation in runoff generation in a snow-dominated mountain watershed underlain by glacial till and permeable bedrock. Reacted hillslope water reached the stream first at the onset of snowmelt, followed by a dilution effect by snowmelt from May to June. Groundwater and riparian water were important sources later in the summer. Till created complex subsurface flow.
We used unique chemical signatures of precipitation, hillslope soil water, and groundwater...
