Articles | Volume 25, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3713-2021
© 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-25-3713-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
01 Jul 2021
Research article |
| 01 Jul 2021
Drought onset and propagation into soil moisture and grassland vegetation responses during the 2012–2019 major drought in Southern California
Maria Magdalena Warter
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University,
Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
Michael Bliss Singer
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University,
Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
Water Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX,
United Kingdom
Earth Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara,
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3060, USA
Mark O. Cuthbert
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University,
Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
Water Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX,
United Kingdom
Connected Waters Initiative Research Centre (CWI), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Dar Roberts
Department of Geography, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
Kelly K. Caylor
Earth Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara,
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3060, USA
Department of Geography, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of
California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
Romy Sabathier
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University,
Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
John Stella
Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management, State
University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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Solomon H. Gebrechorkos, Jian Peng, Ellen Dyer, Diego G. Miralles, Sergio M. Vicente-Serrano, Chris Funk, Hylke E. Beck, Dagmawi T. Asfaw, Michael B. Singer, and Simon J. Dadson
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2023-276, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2023-276, 2023
Preprint under review for ESSD
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Drought is one of the most complex and major natural hazards and it has devastating impacts on the environment, economy, water resources, agriculture and society worldwide. High-resolution drought indices will help assess drought impacts at a global, regional and local scale thereby supporting the development of site-specific adaptation measures.
Manuel Felipe Rios Gaona, Katerina Michaelides, and Michael Bliss Singer
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2023-98, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2023-98, 2023
Preprint under review for GMD
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STORM v.2 (short for STOchastic Rainfall Model version 2.0) is an open-source, and user-friendly modeling framework for simulating rainfall fields over a basin. It also allows simulating the impact of plausible climate change either on the total seasonal rainfall or the storm’s maximum intensity.
Dagmawi Teklu Asfaw, Michael Bliss Singer, Rafael Rosolem, David MacLeod, Mark Cuthbert, Edisson Quichimbo Miguitama, Manuel F. Rios Gaona, and Katerina Michaelides
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 557–571, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-557-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-557-2023, 2023
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stoPET is a new stochastic potential evapotranspiration (PET) generator for the globe at hourly resolution. Many stochastic weather generators are used to generate stochastic rainfall time series; however, no such model exists for stochastically generating plausible PET time series. As such, stoPET represents a significant methodological advance. stoPET generate many realizations of PET to conduct climate studies related to the water balance, agriculture, water resources, and ecology.
Shiuan-An Chen, Katerina Michaelides, David A. Richards, and Michael Bliss Singer
Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 1055–1078, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-1055-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-1055-2022, 2022
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Drainage basin erosion rates influence landscape evolution through controlling land surface lowering and sediment flux, but gaps remain in understanding their large-scale patterns and drivers between timescales. We analysed global erosion rates and show that long-term erosion rates are controlled by rainfall, former glacial processes, and basin landform, whilst human activities enhance short-term erosion rates. The results highlight the complex interplay of controls on land surface processes.
William Rust, John P. Bloomfield, Mark Cuthbert, Ron Corstanje, and Ian Holman
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2449–2467, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2449-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2449-2022, 2022
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We highlight the importance of the North Atlantic Oscillation in controlling droughts in the UK. Specifically, multi-year cycles in the NAO are shown to influence the frequency of droughts and this influence changes considerably over time. We show that the influence of these varying controls is similar to the projected effects of climate change on water resources. We also show that these time-varying behaviours have important implications for water resource forecasts used for drought planning.
Tom Gleeson, Thorsten Wagener, Petra Döll, Samuel C. Zipper, Charles West, Yoshihide Wada, Richard Taylor, Bridget Scanlon, Rafael Rosolem, Shams Rahman, Nurudeen Oshinlaja, Reed Maxwell, Min-Hui Lo, Hyungjun Kim, Mary Hill, Andreas Hartmann, Graham Fogg, James S. Famiglietti, Agnès Ducharne, Inge de Graaf, Mark Cuthbert, Laura Condon, Etienne Bresciani, and Marc F. P. Bierkens
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 7545–7571, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-7545-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-7545-2021, 2021
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Groundwater is increasingly being included in large-scale (continental to global) land surface and hydrologic simulations. However, it is challenging to evaluate these simulations because groundwater is
hiddenunderground and thus hard to measure. We suggest using multiple complementary strategies to assess the performance of a model (
model evaluation).
E. Andrés Quichimbo, Michael Bliss Singer, Katerina Michaelides, Daniel E. J. Hobley, Rafael Rosolem, and Mark O. Cuthbert
Geosci. Model Dev., 14, 6893–6917, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-6893-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-6893-2021, 2021
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Understanding and quantifying water partitioning in dryland regions are of key importance to anticipate the future impacts of climate change in water resources and dryland ecosystems. Here, we have developed a simple hydrological model (DRYP) that incorporates the key processes of water partitioning in drylands. DRYP is a modular, versatile, and parsimonious model that can be used to anticipate and plan for climatic and anthropogenic changes to water fluxes and storage in dryland regions.
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
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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.
Noemi Vergopolan, Sitian Xiong, Lyndon Estes, Niko Wanders, Nathaniel W. Chaney, Eric F. Wood, Megan Konar, Kelly Caylor, Hylke E. Beck, Nicolas Gatti, Tom Evans, and Justin Sheffield
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1827–1847, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1827-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1827-2021, 2021
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Drought monitoring and yield prediction often rely on coarse-scale hydroclimate data or (infrequent) vegetation indexes that do not always indicate the conditions farmers face in the field. Consequently, decision-making based on these indices can often be disconnected from the farmer reality. Our study focuses on smallholder farming systems in data-sparse developing countries, and it shows how field-scale soil moisture can leverage and improve crop yield prediction and drought impact assessment.
Isaac Kipkemoi, Katerina Michaelides, Rafael Rosolem, and Michael Bliss Singer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-48, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-48, 2021
Manuscript not accepted for further review
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The work is a novel investigation of the role of temporal rainfall resolution and intensity in affecting the water balance of soil in a dryland environment. This research has implications for what rainfall data are used to assess the impact of climate and climate change on the regional water balance. This information is critical for anticipating the impact of a changing climate on dryland communities globally who need it to know when to plant their seeds or where livestock pasture is available.
Gabriel C. Rau, Mark O. Cuthbert, R. Ian Acworth, and Philipp Blum
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 6033–6046, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-6033-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-6033-2020, 2020
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This work provides an important generalisation of a previously developed method that quantifies subsurface barometric efficiency using the groundwater level response to Earth and atmospheric tides. The new approach additionally allows the quantification of hydraulic conductivity and specific storage. This enables improved and rapid assessment of subsurface processes and properties using standard pressure measurements.
Simon Opie, Richard G. Taylor, Chris M. Brierley, Mohammad Shamsudduha, and Mark O. Cuthbert
Earth Syst. Dynam., 11, 775–791, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-11-775-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-11-775-2020, 2020
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Knowledge of the relationship between climate and groundwater is limited and typically undermined by the scale, duration and accessibility of observations. Using monthly satellite measurements newly compiled over 14 years in the tropics and sub-tropics, we show that the imprint of precipitation history on groundwater, i.e. hydraulic memory, is longer in drylands than humid environments with important implications for the understanding and management of groundwater resources under climate change.
Tom Gleeson, Thorsten Wagener, Petra Döll, Samuel C. Zipper, Charles West, Yoshihide Wada, Richard Taylor, Bridget Scanlon, Rafael Rosolem, Shams Rahman, Nurudeen Oshinlaja, Reed Maxwell, Min-Hui Lo, Hyungjun Kim, Mary Hill, Andreas Hartmann, Graham Fogg, James S. Famiglietti, Agnès Ducharne, Inge de Graaf, Mark Cuthbert, Laura Condon, Etienne Bresciani, and Marc F. P. Bierkens
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2020-378, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2020-378, 2020
Revised manuscript not accepted
S. Niculescu, J. Xia, D. Roberts, and A. Billey
Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XLIII-B3-2020, 727–732, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B3-2020-727-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B3-2020-727-2020, 2020
William Rust, Ian Holman, John Bloomfield, Mark Cuthbert, and Ron Corstanje
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3233–3245, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3233-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3233-2019, 2019
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We show that major groundwater resources in the UK exhibit strong multi-year cycles, accounting for up to 40 % of total groundwater level variability. By comparing these cycles with recorded widespread groundwater droughts over the past 60 years, we provide evidence that climatic systems (such as the North Atlantic Oscillation) ultimately drive drought-risk periods in UK groundwater. The recursive nature of these drought-risk periods may lead to improved preparedness for future droughts.
Seshagiri Rao Kolusu, Mohammad Shamsudduha, Martin C. Todd, Richard G. Taylor, David Seddon, Japhet J. Kashaigili, Girma Y. Ebrahim, Mark O. Cuthbert, James P. R. Sorensen, Karen G. Villholth, Alan M. MacDonald, and Dave A. MacLeod
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1751–1762, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1751-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1751-2019, 2019
Michael Bliss Singer, Katerina Michaelides, and Daniel E. J. Hobley
Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 3713–3726, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-3713-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-3713-2018, 2018
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For various applications, a regional or local characterization of rainfall is required, particularly at the watershed scale, where there is spatial heterogeneity. Furthermore, simple models are needed that can simulate various scenarios of climate change including changes in seasonal wetness and rainstorm intensity. To this end, we have developed the STOchastic Rainstorm Model (STORM). We explain its developments and data requirements, and illustrate how it simulates rainstorms over a basin.
Guiomar Ruiz-Pérez, Julian Koch, Salvatore Manfreda, Kelly Caylor, and Félix Francés
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 6235–6251, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6235-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6235-2017, 2017
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Plants are shaping the landscape and controlling the hydrological cycle, particularly in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Remote sensing data appears as an appealing source of information for vegetation monitoring, in particular in areas with a limited amount of available field data. Here, we present an example of how remote sensing data can be exploited in a data-scarce basin. We propose a mathematical methodology that can be used as a springboard for future applications.
Andrew K. Thorpe, Christian Frankenberg, David R. Thompson, Riley M. Duren, Andrew D. Aubrey, Brian D. Bue, Robert O. Green, Konstantin Gerilowski, Thomas Krings, Jakob Borchardt, Eric A. Kort, Colm Sweeney, Stephen Conley, Dar A. Roberts, and Philip E. Dennison
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 3833–3850, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-3833-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-3833-2017, 2017
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At local scales emissions of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are highly uncertain. The AVIRIS-NG imaging spectrometer maps large regions and generates high-spatial-resolution CH4 and CO2 concentration maps from anthropogenic and natural sources. Examples include CH4 from a processing plant, tank, pipeline leak, seep, mine vent shafts, and CO2 from power plants. This demonstrates a greenhouse gas monitoring capability that targets the two dominant anthropogenic climate-forcing agents.
A. Brook, M. Polinova, D. Kopel, D. Malkinson, L. Wittenberg, D. Roberts, and N. Shtober-Zisu
Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XLII-1-W1, 135–141, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-1-W1-135-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-1-W1-135-2017, 2017
Related subject area
Subject: Ecohydrology | Techniques and Approaches: Modelling approaches
Advancing stream classification and hydrologic modeling of ungaged basins for environmental flow management in coastal southern California
Improving regional climate simulations based on a hybrid data assimilation and machine learning method
A comprehensive assessment of in situ and remote sensing soil moisture data assimilation in the APSIM model for improving agricultural forecasting across the US Midwest
Does non-stationarity induced by multiyear drought invalidate the paired-catchment method?
Is the reputation of Eucalyptus plantations for using more water than Pinus plantations justified?
Attributing trend in naturalized streamflow to temporally explicit vegetation change and climate variation in the Yellow River basin of China
Impacts of different types of El Niño events on water quality over the Corn Belt, United States
Leveraging sap flow data in a catchment-scale hybrid model to improve soil moisture and transpiration estimates
Coupled modelling of hydrological processes and grassland production in two contrasting climates
Does maximization of net carbon profit enable the prediction of vegetation behaviour in savanna sites along a precipitation gradient?
Modelling the artificial forest (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) root–soil water interactions in the Loess Plateau, China
A deep learning hybrid predictive modeling (HPM) approach for estimating evapotranspiration and ecosystem respiration
Vegetation greening weakened the capacity of water supply to China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project
Structural changes to forests during regeneration affect water flux partitioning, water ages and hydrological connectivity: Insights from tracer-aided ecohydrological modelling
How does water yield respond to mountain pine beetle infestation in a semiarid forest?
Daily soil temperature modeling improved by integrating observed snow cover and estimated soil moisture in the USA Great Plains
Plant hydraulic transport controls transpiration sensitivity to soil water stress
Quantifying the effects of urban green space on water partitioning and ages using an isotope-based ecohydrological model
Low and contrasting impacts of vegetation CO2 fertilization on global terrestrial runoff over 1982–2010: accounting for aboveground and belowground vegetation–CO2 effects
Global ecosystem-scale plant hydraulic traits retrieved using model–data fusion
Quantifying the effects of land use and model scale on water partitioning and water ages using tracer-aided ecohydrological models
Quantification of ecohydrological sensitivities and their influencing factors at the seasonal scale
Canopy temperature and heat stress are increased by compound high air temperature and water stress and reduced by irrigation – a modeling analysis
Evaluating a landscape-scale daily water balance model to support spatially continuous representation of flow intermittency throughout stream networks
Testing water fluxes and storage from two hydrology configurations within the ORCHIDEE land surface model across US semi-arid sites
Novel Keeling-plot-based methods to estimate the isotopic composition of ambient water vapor
Disentangling temporal and population variability in plant root water uptake from stable isotopic analysis: when rooting depth matters in labeling studies
Calibration of hydrological models for ecologically relevant streamflow predictions: a trade-off between fitting well to data and estimating consistent parameter sets?
Spatial variability of mean daily estimates of actual evaporation from remotely sensed imagery and surface reference data
Quantification of soil water balance components based on continuous soil moisture measurement and the Richards equation in an irrigated agricultural field of a desert oasis
Mapping the suitability of groundwater-dependent vegetation in a semi-arid Mediterranean area
Modeling boreal forest evapotranspiration and water balance at stand and catchment scales: a spatial approach
The 18O ecohydrology of a grassland ecosystem – predictions and observations
A comprehensive sensitivity and uncertainty analysis for discharge and nitrate-nitrogen loads involving multiple discrete model inputs under future changing conditions
Dynamic responses of DOC and DIC transport to different flow regimes in a subtropical small mountainous river
Evaluation of ORCHIDEE-MICT-simulated soil moisture over China and impacts of different atmospheric forcing data
Testing an optimality-based model of rooting zone water storage capacity in temperate forests
A regional-scale ecological risk framework for environmental flow evaluations
Climate-driven disturbances in the San Juan River sub-basin of the Colorado River
Dominant effect of increasing forest biomass on evapotranspiration: interpretations of movement in Budyko space
Modeling the potential impacts of climate change on the water table level of selected forested wetlands in the southeastern United States
Calibration of a parsimonious distributed ecohydrological daily model in a data-scarce basin by exclusively using the spatio-temporal variation of NDVI
Importance of considering riparian vegetation requirements for the long-term efficiency of environmental flows in aquatic microhabitats
Waning habitats due to climate change: the effects of changes in streamflow and temperature at the rear edge of the distribution of a cold-water fish
Cosmic-ray neutron transport at a forest field site: the sensitivity to various environmental conditions with focus on biomass and canopy interception
Estimation of surface energy fluxes in the Arctic tundra using the remote sensing thermal-based Two-Source Energy Balance model
Environmental controls on seasonal ecosystem evapotranspiration/potential evapotranspiration ratio as determined by the global eddy flux measurements
Attributing regional trends of evapotranspiration and gross primary productivity with remote sensing: a case study in the North China Plain
A Budyko framework for estimating how spatial heterogeneity and lateral moisture redistribution affect average evapotranspiration rates as seen from the atmosphere
Regionalization of monthly rainfall erosivity patterns in Switzerland
Stephen K. Adams, Brian P. Bledsoe, and Eric D. Stein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3021–3039, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3021-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3021-2023, 2023
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Managing streams for environmental flows involves prioritizing healthy stream ecosystems while distributing water resources. Classifying streams of similar types is a useful step in developing environmental flows. Environmental flows are often developed on data-poor streams that must be modeled. This paper has developed a new method of classification that prioritizes model accuracy. The new method advances environmental streamflow management and modeling of data-poor watersheds.
Xinlei He, Yanping Li, Shaomin Liu, Tongren Xu, Fei Chen, Zhenhua Li, Zhe Zhang, Rui Liu, Lisheng Song, Ziwei Xu, Zhixing Peng, and Chen Zheng
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1583–1606, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1583-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1583-2023, 2023
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This study highlights the role of integrating vegetation and multi-source soil moisture observations in regional climate models via a hybrid data assimilation and machine learning method. In particular, we show that this approach can improve land surface fluxes, near-surface atmospheric conditions, and land–atmosphere interactions by implementing detailed land characterization information in basins with complex underlying surfaces.
Marissa Kivi, Noemi Vergopolan, and Hamze Dokoohaki
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1173–1199, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1173-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1173-2023, 2023
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This study attempts to provide a framework for direct integration of soil moisture observations collected from soil sensors and satellite imagery into process-based crop models for improving the representation of agricultural systems. The performance of this framework was evaluated across 19 sites times years for crop yield, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), soil moisture, tile flow drainage, and nitrate leaching.
Yunfan Zhang, Lei Cheng, Lu Zhang, Shujing Qin, Liu Liu, Pan Liu, and Yanghe Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6379–6397, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6379-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6379-2022, 2022
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Multiyear drought has been demonstrated to cause non-stationary rainfall–runoff relationship. But whether changes can invalidate the most fundamental method (i.e., paired-catchment method (PCM)) for separating vegetation change impacts is still unknown. Using paired-catchment data with 10-year drought, PCM is shown to still be reliable even in catchments with non-stationarity. A new framework is further proposed to separate impacts of two non-stationary drivers, using paired-catchment data.
Don A. White, Shiqi Ren, Daniel S. Mendham, Francisco Balocchi-Contreras, Richard P. Silberstein, Dean Meason, Andrés Iroumé, and Pablo Ramirez de Arellano
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5357–5371, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5357-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5357-2022, 2022
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Of all the planting options for wood production and carbon storage, Eucalyptus species provoke the greatest concern about their effect on water resources. We compared Eucalyptus and Pinus species (the two most widely planted genera) by fitting a simple model to the published estimates of their annual water use. There was no significant difference between the two genera. This has important implications for the global debate around Eucalyptus and is an option for carbon forests.
Zhihui Wang, Qiuhong Tang, Daoxi Wang, Peiqing Xiao, Runliang Xia, Pengcheng Sun, and Feng Feng
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5291–5314, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5291-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5291-2022, 2022
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Variable infiltration capacity simulation considering dynamic vegetation types and structural parameters is able to better capture the effect of temporally explicit vegetation change and climate variation in hydrological regimes. Vegetation greening including interannual LAI and intra-annual LAI temporal pattern change induced by large-scale ecological restoration and non-vegetation underlying surface change played dominant roles in the natural streamflow reduction of the Yellow River basin.
Pan Chen, Wenhong Li, and Keqi He
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4875–4892, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4875-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4875-2022, 2022
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The study assessed changes in total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) loads in response to eastern Pacific (EP) and central Pacific (CP) El Niño events over the Corn Belt, USA, using the SWAT model. Results showed that EP (CP) El Niño events improved (exacerbated) water quality in the region. Furthermore, EP El Niño had a much broader and longer impact on water quality at the outlets, but CP El Niño could lead to similar increases in TN/TP loads as EP El Niño at the specific watersheds.
Ralf Loritz, Maoya Bassiouni, Anke Hildebrandt, Sibylle K. Hassler, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4757–4771, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4757-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4757-2022, 2022
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In this study, we combine a deep-learning approach that predicts sap flow with a hydrological model to improve soil moisture and transpiration estimates at the catchment scale. Our results highlight that hybrid-model approaches, combining machine learning with physically based models, are a promising way to improve our ability to make hydrological predictions.
Nicholas Jarvis, Jannis Groh, Elisabet Lewan, Katharina H. E. Meurer, Walter Durka, Cornelia Baessler, Thomas Pütz, Elvin Rufullayev, and Harry Vereecken
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2277–2299, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2277-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2277-2022, 2022
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We apply an eco-hydrological model to data on soil water balance and grassland growth obtained at two sites with contrasting climates. Our results show that the grassland in the drier climate had adapted by developing deeper roots, which maintained water supply to the plants in the face of severe drought. Our study emphasizes the importance of considering such plastic responses of plant traits to environmental stress in the modelling of soil water balance and plant growth under climate change.
Remko C. Nijzink, Jason Beringer, Lindsay B. Hutley, and Stanislaus J. Schymanski
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 525–550, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-525-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-525-2022, 2022
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Most models that simulate water and carbon exchanges with the atmosphere rely on information about vegetation, but optimality models predict vegetation properties based on general principles. Here, we use the Vegetation Optimality Model (VOM) to predict vegetation behaviour at five savanna sites. The VOM overpredicted vegetation cover and carbon uptake during the wet seasons but also performed similarly to conventional models, showing that vegetation optimality is a promising approach.
Hongyu Li, Yi Luo, Lin Sun, Xiangdong Li, Changkun Ma, Xiaolei Wang, Ting Jiang, and Haoyang Zhu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 17–34, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-17-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-17-2022, 2022
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Drying soil layers (DSLs) have been extensively reported in artificial forestland in the Loess Plateau, China, which has limited water resources and deep loess. To address this issue relating to plant root–soil water interactions, this study developed a root growth model that simulates both the dynamic rooting depth and fine-root distribution. Evaluation vs. field data proved a positive performance. Long-term simulation reproduced the evolution process of the DSLs and revealed their mechanisms.
Jiancong Chen, Baptiste Dafflon, Anh Phuong Tran, Nicola Falco, and Susan S. Hubbard
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 6041–6066, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6041-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6041-2021, 2021
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The novel hybrid predictive modeling (HPM) approach uses a long short-term memory recurrent neural network to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) and ecosystem respiration (Reco) with only meteorological and remote-sensing inputs. We developed four use cases to demonstrate the applicability of HPM. The results indicate HPM is capable of providing ET and Reco estimations in challenging mountainous systems and enhances our understanding of watershed dynamics at sparsely monitored watersheds.
Jiehao Zhang, Yulong Zhang, Ge Sun, Conghe Song, Matthew P. Dannenberg, Jiangfeng Li, Ning Liu, Kerong Zhang, Quanfa Zhang, and Lu Hao
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5623–5640, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5623-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5623-2021, 2021
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To quantify how vegetation greening impacts the capacity of water supply, we built a hybrid model and conducted a case study using the upper Han River basin (UHRB) that serves as the water source area to the world’s largest water diversion project. Vegetation greening in the UHRB during 2001–2018 induced annual water yield (WY) greatly decreased. Vegetation greening also increased the possibility of drought and reduced a quarter of WY on average during drought periods.
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
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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.
Jianning Ren, Jennifer C. Adam, Jeffrey A. Hicke, Erin J. Hanan, Christina L. Tague, Mingliang Liu, Crystal A. Kolden, and John T. Abatzoglou
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4681–4699, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4681-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4681-2021, 2021
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Mountain pine beetle outbreaks have caused widespread tree mortality. While some research shows that water yield increases after trees are killed, many others document no change or a decrease. The climatic and environmental mechanisms driving hydrologic response to tree mortality are not well understood. We demonstrated that the direction of hydrologic response is a function of multiple factors, so previous studies do not necessarily conflict with each other; they represent different conditions.
Haidong Zhao, Gretchen F. Sassenrath, Mary Beth Kirkham, Nenghan Wan, and Xiaomao Lin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4357–4372, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4357-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4357-2021, 2021
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This study was done to develop an improved soil temperature model for the USA Great Plains by using common weather station variables as inputs. After incorporating knowledge of estimated soil moisture and observed daily snow depth, the improved model showed a near 50 % gain in performance compared to the original model. We conclude that our improved model can better estimate soil temperature at the surface soil layer where most hydrological and biological processes occur.
Brandon P. Sloan, Sally E. Thompson, and Xue Feng
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4259–4274, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4259-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4259-2021, 2021
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Plants affect the global water and carbon cycles by modifying their water use and carbon intake in response to soil moisture. Global climate models represent this response with either simple empirical models or complex physical models. We reveal that the latter improves predictions in plants with large flow resistance; however, adding dependence on atmospheric moisture demand to the former matches performance of the latter, leading to a new tool for improving carbon and water cycle predictions.
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
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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.
Yuting Yang, Tim R. McVicar, Dawen Yang, Yongqiang Zhang, Shilong Piao, Shushi Peng, and Hylke E. Beck
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3411–3427, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3411-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3411-2021, 2021
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This study developed an analytical ecohydrological model that considers three aspects of vegetation response to eCO2 (i.e., stomatal response, LAI response, and rooting depth response) to detect the impact of eCO2 on continental runoff over the past 3 decades globally. Our findings suggest a minor role of eCO2 on the global runoff changes, yet highlight the negative runoff–eCO2 response in semiarid and arid regions which may further threaten the limited water resource there.
Yanlan Liu, Nataniel M. Holtzman, and Alexandra G. Konings
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2399–2417, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2399-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2399-2021, 2021
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The flow of water through plants varies with species-specific traits. To determine how they vary across the world, we mapped the traits that best allowed a model to match microwave satellite data. We also defined average values across a few clusters of trait behavior. These form a tractable solution for use in large-scale models. Transpiration estimates using these clusters were more accurate than if using plant functional types. We expect our maps to improve transpiration forecasts.
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
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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.
Yiping Hou, Mingfang Zhang, Xiaohua Wei, Shirong Liu, Qiang Li, Tijiu Cai, Wenfei Liu, Runqi Zhao, and Xiangzhuo Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1447–1466, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1447-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1447-2021, 2021
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Ecohydrological sensitivity, defined as the response intensity of streamflow to vegetation change, indicates the hydrological sensitivity to vegetation change. The study revealed seasonal ecohydrological sensitivities were highly variable, depending on climate condition and watershed attributes. Dry season ecohydrological sensitivity was mostly determined by topography, soil and vegetation, while wet season ecohydrological sensitivity was mainly controlled by soil, landscape and vegetation.
Xiangyu Luan and Giulia Vico
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1411–1423, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1411-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1411-2021, 2021
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Crop yield is reduced by heat and water stress, particularly when they co-occur. We quantify the joint effects of (unpredictable) air temperature and soil water availability on crop heat stress via a mechanistic model. Larger but more infrequent precipitation increased crop canopy temperatures. Keeping crops well watered via irrigation could reduce canopy temperature but not enough to always exclude heat damage. Thus, irrigation is only a partial solution to adapt to warmer and drier climates.
Songyan Yu, Hong Xuan Do, Albert I. J. M. van Dijk, Nick R. Bond, Peirong Lin, and Mark J. Kennard
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 5279–5295, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5279-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5279-2020, 2020
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There is a growing interest globally in the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of intermittently flowing streams and rivers. We developed an approach to quantify catchment-wide flow intermittency over long time frames. Modelled patterns of flow intermittency in eastern Australia revealed highly dynamic behaviour in space and time. The developed approach is transferable to other parts of the world and can inform hydro-ecological understanding and management of intermittent streams.
Natasha MacBean, Russell L. Scott, Joel A. Biederman, Catherine Ottlé, Nicolas Vuichard, Agnès Ducharne, Thomas Kolb, Sabina Dore, Marcy Litvak, and David J. P. Moore
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 5203–5230, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5203-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5203-2020, 2020
Yusen Yuan, Taisheng Du, Honglang Wang, and Lixin Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4491–4501, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4491-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4491-2020, 2020
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The isotopic composition of ambient water vapor is an important source of atmospheric water vapor and has not been able to be estimated to date using the Keeling plot approach. Here we proposed two new methods to estimate the isotopic composition of ambient water vapor: one using the intersection point method and another relying on the intermediate value theorem.
Valentin Couvreur, Youri Rothfuss, Félicien Meunier, Thierry Bariac, Philippe Biron, Jean-Louis Durand, Patricia Richard, and Mathieu Javaux
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3057–3075, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3057-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3057-2020, 2020
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Isotopic labeling of soil water is a broadly used tool for tracing the origin of water extracted by plants and computing root water uptake (RWU) profiles with multisource mixing models. In this study, we show how a method such as this may misconstrue time series of xylem water isotopic composition as the temporal dynamics of RWU by simulating data collected during a tall fescue rhizotron experiment with an isotope-enabled physical soil–root model accounting for variability in root traits.
Thibault Hallouin, Michael Bruen, and Fiachra E. O'Loughlin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1031–1054, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1031-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1031-2020, 2020
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A hydrological model was used to compare different parameterisation strategies in view of predicting ecologically relevant streamflow indices in 33 Irish catchments. Compared for 14 different periods, a strategy fitting simulated and observed streamflow indices yielded better performance than fitting simulated and observed streamflow, but it also yielded a less consistent ensemble of parameter sets, suggesting that these indices may not be hydrologically relevant for model parameterisation.
Robert N. Armstrong, John W. Pomeroy, and Lawrence W. Martz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4891–4907, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4891-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4891-2019, 2019
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Digital and thermal images taken near midday were used to scale daily point observations of key factors driving actual-evaporation estimates across a complex Canadian Prairie landscape. Point estimates of actual evaporation agreed well with observed values via eddy covariance. Impacts of spatial variations on areal estimates were minor, and no covariance was found between model parameters driving the energy term. The methods can be applied further to improve land surface parameterisations.
Zhongkai Li, Hu Liu, Wenzhi Zhao, Qiyue Yang, Rong Yang, and Jintao Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4685–4706, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4685-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4685-2019, 2019
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A database of soil moisture measurements from the middle Heihe River basin of China was used to test the potential of a soil moisture database in estimating the soil water balance components (SWBCs). We determined SWBCs using a method that combined the soil water balance method and the inverse Richards equation. This work confirmed that relatively reasonable estimations of the SWBCs in coarse-textured sandy soils can be derived using soil moisture measurements.
Inês Gomes Marques, João Nascimento, Rita M. Cardoso, Filipe Miguéns, Maria Teresa Condesso de Melo, Pedro M. M. Soares, Célia M. Gouveia, and Cathy Kurz Besson
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3525–3552, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3525-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3525-2019, 2019
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Mediterranean cork woodlands are very particular agroforestry systems present in a confined area of the Mediterranean Basin. They are of great importance due to their high socioeconomic value; however, a decrease in water availability has put this system in danger. In this paper we build a model that explains this system's tree-species distribution in southern Portugal from environmental variables. This could help predict their future distribution under changing climatic conditions.
Samuli Launiainen, Mingfu Guan, Aura Salmivaara, and Antti-Jussi Kieloaho
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3457–3480, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3457-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3457-2019, 2019
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Boreal forest evapotranspiration and water cycle is modeled at stand and catchment scale using physiological and physical principles, open GIS data and daily weather data. The approach can predict daily evapotranspiration well across Nordic coniferous-dominated stands and successfully reproduces daily streamflow and annual evapotranspiration across boreal headwater catchments in Finland. The model is modular and simple and designed for practical applications over large areas using open data.
Regina T. Hirl, Hans Schnyder, Ulrike Ostler, Rudi Schäufele, Inga Schleip, Sylvia H. Vetter, Karl Auerswald, Juan C. Baca Cabrera, Lisa Wingate, Margaret M. Barbour, and Jérôme Ogée
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2581–2600, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2581-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2581-2019, 2019
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We evaluated the system-scale understanding of the propagation of the oxygen isotope signal (δ18O) of rain through soil and xylem to leaf water in a temperate drought-prone grassland. Biweekly δ18O observations of the water pools made during seven growing seasons were accurately reproduced by the 18O-enabled process-based model MuSICA. While water uptake occurred from shallow soil depths throughout dry and wet periods, leaf water 18O enrichment responded to both soil and atmospheric moisture.
Christoph Schürz, Brigitta Hollosi, Christoph Matulla, Alexander Pressl, Thomas Ertl, Karsten Schulz, and Bano Mehdi
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1211–1244, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1211-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1211-2019, 2019
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For two Austrian catchments we simulated discharge and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) considering future changes of climate, land use, and point source emissions together with the impact of different setups and parametrizations of the implemented eco-hydrological model. In a comprehensive analysis we identified the dominant sources of uncertainty for the simulation of discharge and NO3-N and further examined how specific properties of the model inputs control the future simulation results.
Yu-Ting Shih, Pei-Hao Chen, Li-Chin Lee, Chien-Sen Liao, Shih-Hao Jien, Fuh-Kwo Shiah, Tsung-Yu Lee, Thomas Hein, Franz Zehetner, Chung-Te Chang, and Jr-Chuan Huang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 6579–6590, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6579-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6579-2018, 2018
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DOC and DIC export in Taiwan shows that the annual DOC and DIC fluxes were 2.7–4.8 and 48.4–54.3 ton C km2 yr1, respectively, which were approximately 2 and 20 times higher than the global means of 1.4 and 2.6 ton C km2 yr1, respectively.
Zun Yin, Catherine Ottlé, Philippe Ciais, Matthieu Guimberteau, Xuhui Wang, Dan Zhu, Fabienne Maignan, Shushi Peng, Shilong Piao, Jan Polcher, Feng Zhou, Hyungjun Kim, and other China-Trend-Stream project members
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5463–5484, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5463-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5463-2018, 2018
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Simulations in China were performed in ORCHIDEE driven by different forcing datasets: GSWP3, PGF, CRU-NCEP, and WFDEI. Simulated soil moisture was compared to several datasets to evaluate the ability of ORCHIDEE in reproducing soil moisture dynamics. Results showed that ORCHIDEE soil moisture coincided well with other datasets in wet areas and in non-irrigated areas. It suggested that the ORCHIDEE-MICT was suitable for further hydrological studies in China.
Matthias J. R. Speich, Heike Lischke, and Massimiliano Zappa
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 4097–4124, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4097-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4097-2018, 2018
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To simulate the water balance of, e.g., a forest plot, it is important to estimate the maximum volume of water available to plants. This depends on soil properties and the average depth of roots. Rooting depth has proven challenging to estimate. Here, we applied a model assuming that plants dimension their roots to optimize their carbon budget. We compared its results with values obtained by calibrating a dynamic water balance model. In most cases, there is good agreement between both methods.
Gordon C. O'Brien, Chris Dickens, Eleanor Hines, Victor Wepener, Retha Stassen, Leo Quayle, Kelly Fouchy, James MacKenzie, P. Mark Graham, and Wayne G. Landis
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 957–975, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-957-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-957-2018, 2018
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In global water resource allocation, robust tools are required to establish environmental flows. In addition, tools should characterize past, present and future consequences of altered flows and non-flow variables to social and ecological management objectives. PROBFLO is a risk assessment method designed to meet best practice principles for regional-scale holistic E-flow assessments. The approach has been developed in Africa and applied across the continent.
Katrina E. Bennett, Theodore J. Bohn, Kurt Solander, Nathan G. McDowell, Chonggang Xu, Enrique Vivoni, and Richard S. Middleton
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 709–725, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-709-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-709-2018, 2018
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We applied the Variable Infiltration Capacity hydrologic model to examine scenarios of change under climate and landscape disturbances in the San Juan River basin, a major sub-watershed of the Colorado River basin. Climate change coupled with landscape disturbance leads to reduced streamflow in the San Juan River basin. Disturbances are expected to be widespread in this region. Therefore, accounting for these changes within the context of climate change is imperative for water resource planning.
Fernando Jaramillo, Neil Cory, Berit Arheimer, Hjalmar Laudon, Ype van der Velde, Thomas B. Hasper, Claudia Teutschbein, and Johan Uddling
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 567–580, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-567-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-567-2018, 2018
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Which is the dominant effect on evapotranspiration in northern forests, an increase by recent forests expansion or a decrease by the water use response due to increasing CO2 concentrations? We determined the dominant effect during the period 1961–2012 in 65 Swedish basins. We used the Budyko framework to study the hydroclimatic movements in Budyko space. Our findings suggest that forest expansion is the dominant driver of long-term and large-scale evapotranspiration changes.
Jie Zhu, Ge Sun, Wenhong Li, Yu Zhang, Guofang Miao, Asko Noormets, Steve G. McNulty, John S. King, Mukesh Kumar, and Xuan Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 6289–6305, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6289-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6289-2017, 2017
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Forested wetlands provide myriad ecosystem services threatened by climate change. This study develops empirical hydrologic models by synthesizing hydrometeorological data across the southeastern US. We used global climate projections to model hydrological changes for five wetlands. We found all wetlands are predicted to become drier by the end of this century. This study suggests that climate change may substantially affect wetland biogeochemical cycles and other functions in the future.
Guiomar Ruiz-Pérez, Julian Koch, Salvatore Manfreda, Kelly Caylor, and Félix Francés
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 6235–6251, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6235-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6235-2017, 2017
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Plants are shaping the landscape and controlling the hydrological cycle, particularly in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Remote sensing data appears as an appealing source of information for vegetation monitoring, in particular in areas with a limited amount of available field data. Here, we present an example of how remote sensing data can be exploited in a data-scarce basin. We propose a mathematical methodology that can be used as a springboard for future applications.
Rui Rivaes, Isabel Boavida, José M. Santos, António N. Pinheiro, and Teresa Ferreira
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 5763–5780, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5763-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5763-2017, 2017
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We analyzed the influence of considering riparian requirements for the long-term efficiency of environmental flows. After a decade, environmental flows disregarding riparian requirements promoted riparian degradation and consequently the change in the hydraulic characteristics of the river channel and the modification of the available habitat area for fish species. Environmental flows regarding riparian vegetation requirements were able to sustain the fish habitat close to the natural condition.
José María Santiago, Rafael Muñoz-Mas, Joaquín Solana-Gutiérrez, Diego García de Jalón, Carlos Alonso, Francisco Martínez-Capel, Javier Pórtoles, Robert Monjo, and Jaime Ribalaygua
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4073–4101, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4073-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4073-2017, 2017
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High-time-resolution models for streamflow and stream temperature are used in this study to predict future brown trout habitat loss. Flow reductions falling down to 51 % of current values and water temperature increases growing up to 4 ºC are predicted. Streamflow and temperature will act synergistically affecting fish. We found that the thermal response of rivers is influenced by basin geology and, consequently, geology will be also an influent factor in the cold-water fish distribution shift.
Mie Andreasen, Karsten H. Jensen, Darin Desilets, Marek Zreda, Heye R. Bogena, and Majken C. Looms
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1875–1894, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1875-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1875-2017, 2017
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The cosmic-ray method holds a potential for quantifying canopy interception and biomass. We use measurements and modeling of thermal and epithermal neutron intensity in a forest to examine this potential. Canopy interception is a variable important to forest hydrology, yet difficult to monitor remotely. Forest growth impacts the carbon-cycle and can be used to mitigate climate changes by carbon sequestration in biomass. An efficient method to monitor tree growth is therefore of high relevance.
Jordi Cristóbal, Anupma Prakash, Martha C. Anderson, William P. Kustas, Eugénie S. Euskirchen, and Douglas L. Kane
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1339–1358, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1339-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1339-2017, 2017
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Quantifying trends in surface energy fluxes is crucial for forecasting ecological responses in Arctic regions.
An extensive evaluation using a thermal-based remote sensing model and ground measurements was performed in Alaska's Arctic tundra for 5 years. Results showed an accurate temporal trend of surface energy fluxes in concert with vegetation dynamics. This work builds toward a regional implementation over Arctic ecosystems to assess response of surface energy fluxes to climate change.
Chunwei Liu, Ge Sun, Steven G. McNulty, Asko Noormets, and Yuan Fang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 311–322, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-311-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-311-2017, 2017
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The paper aimed at deriving Kc (AET/PET) for multiple vegetation types and understanding its environmental controls by analyzing the accumulated global eddy flux (FLUXNET) data. We established multiple linear equations for different land covers and seasons to model the dynamics of Kc as function of LAI, site latitude, and precipitation. Our study extended the applications of the traditional Kc method for estimating crop water use to estimating AET rates for natural ecosystems.
Xingguo Mo, Xuejuan Chen, Shi Hu, Suxia Liu, and Jun Xia
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 295–310, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-295-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-295-2017, 2017
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Attributing changes in ET and GPP is crucial to impact and adaptation assessment of climate change over the NCP. Simulations with the VIP ecohydrological model illustrated relative contributions of climatic change, CO2 fertilization, and management to ET and GPP. Global radiation was the cause of GPP decline in summer, while air warming intensified the water cycle and advanced plant productivity in spring. Agronomical improvement was the main driver of crop productivity enhancement.
Elham Rouholahnejad Freund and James W. Kirchner
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 217–233, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-217-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-217-2017, 2017
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Our analysis shows that averaging over sub-grid heterogeneity in precipitation and potential evapotranspiration (ET), as typical earth system models do, overestimates the average of the spatially variable ET. We also show when aridity index increases with altitude, lateral redistribution would transfer water from more humid uplands to more arid lowlands, resulting in a net increase in ET. Therefore, the Earth system models that neglect lateral transfer underestimate ET in those regions.
Simon Schmidt, Christine Alewell, Panos Panagos, and Katrin Meusburger
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 4359–4373, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4359-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4359-2016, 2016
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We present novel research on the seasonal dynamics of the impact of rainfall (R-factor) on the mobilization of topsoil as soil erosion by water for Switzerland. A modeling approach was chosen that enables the dynamical mapping of the R-factor. Based on the maps and modeling results, we could investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of that factor, which is high for Switzerland. With these results, agronomists can introduce selective erosion control measures.
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Short summary
Intensified drying of soil and grassland vegetation is raising the impact of fire severity and extent in Southern California. While browned grassland is a common sight during the dry season, this study has shown that there is a pronounced shift in the timing of senescence, due to changing climate conditions favoring milder winter temperatures and increased precipitation variability. Vegetation may be limited in its ability to adapt to these shifts, as drought periods become more frequent.
Intensified drying of soil and grassland vegetation is raising the impact of fire severity and...
