Articles | Volume 25, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-401-2021
© 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-25-401-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
27 Jan 2021
Research article |
| 27 Jan 2021
| 27 Jan 2021
A comparison of catchment travel times and storage deduced from deuterium and tritium tracers using StorAge Selection functions
Nicolas Björn Rodriguez
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Catchment and Eco-hydrology Research Group, Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Belvaux, Luxembourg
Institute of Water Resources and River Basin Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Laurent Pfister
Catchment and Eco-hydrology Research Group, Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Belvaux, Luxembourg
Erwin Zehe
Institute of Water Resources and River Basin Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Julian Klaus
Catchment and Eco-hydrology Research Group, Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Belvaux, Luxembourg
Related authors
No articles found.
Dan Elhanati, Erwin Zehe, Ishai Dror, and Brian Berkowitz
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3365, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3365, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
Short summary
Short summary
Measurements of water isotopes are often used to estimate water transit time distributions and aquifer storage thickness in catchments. However, laboratory-scale measurements show that water isotopes exhibit transport behavior identical to that of inert chemical tracers rather than of pure water. The measured mean tracer and apparent mean water velocities are not necessarily equal; recognition of this inequality is critical when estimating catchment properties such as aquifer storage thickness.
Mortimer L. Bacher, Julian Klaus, Adam S. Ward, Jasmine Krause, Catalina Segura, and Clarissa Glaser
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1625, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1625, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Slug tracer experiments are biased toward faster flow paths, underscoring the need for tracers that reveal temporally longer timescales. We explore integrating solute tracers with naturally occurring radon to quantify flow paths of different timescales at the reach scale. Joint calibration of a transient storage model with both tracers better constrains model parameters, highlighting that this approach is critical for improving solute transport estimates in future studies.
Karl Nicolaus van Zweel, Laurent Gourdol, Jean François Iffly, Loïc Léonard, François Barnich, Laurent Pfister, Erwin Zehe, and Christophe Hissler
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 2217–2229, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-2217-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-2217-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our study monitored groundwater in a Luxembourg forest over a year to understand water and chemical changes. We found seasonal variations in water chemistry, influenced by rainfall and soil interactions. These data help predict environmental responses and manage water resources better. By measuring key parameters like pH and dissolved oxygen, our research provides valuable insights into groundwater behaviour and serves as a resource for future environmental studies.
Judith Nijzink, Ralf Loritz, Laurent Gourdol, Davide Zoccatelli, Jean François Iffly, and Laurent Pfister
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2024-482, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2024-482, 2025
Preprint under review for ESSD
Short summary
Short summary
The CAMELS-LUX dataset (Catchment Attributes and MEteorology for Large-sample Studies – LUXembourg) contains hydrologic, meteorologic and thunderstorm formation relevant atmospheric time series of 56 Luxembourgish catchments (2004–2021). These catchments are characterized by a large physiographic variety on a relatively small scale in a homogeneous climate. The dataset can be applied for (regional) hydrological analyses.
Guilhem Türk, Christoph J. Gey, Bernd R. Schöne, Marius G. Floriancic, James W. Kirchner, Loic Leonard, Laurent Gourdol, Richard Keim, and Laurent Pfister
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1530, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1530, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
How landscape features affect water storage and release in catchments remains poorly understood. Here we used water stable isotopes in 12 streams to assess the fraction of precipitation reaching streamflow in less than 2 weeks. More recent precipitation was found when streamflow was high and the fraction was linked to the geology (i.e. high when impermeable, low when permeable). Such information is key for better anticipating streamflow responses to a changing climate.
Svenja Hoffmeister, Sibylle Kathrin Hassler, Friederike Lang, Rebekka Maier, Betserai Isaac Nyoka, and Erwin Zehe
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1719, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1719, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Biogeosciences (BG).
Short summary
Short summary
Combining trees and crops in agroforestry systems can potentially be a sustainable option for agriculture facing climate change impacts. We used methods from soil science and hydrology to assess the effect of adding gliricidia trees to maize fields, on carbon content, soil properties and water availability. Our results show a clear increase in carbon contents and effects on physical soil characteristics and water uptake and retention as a consequence of the agroforestry treatment.
Evgeny Shavelzon, Erwin Zehe, and Yaniv Edery
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.22541/essoar.173687429.91307309/v1, https://doi.org/10.22541/essoar.173687429.91307309/v1, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We analyze how chemical reactions and fluid movement interact in porous materials, focusing on how water paths form in underground environments. Using a thermodynamic approach, we track energy dissipation and entropy changes to understand this process. Over time, water channels become more defined, reducing chemical mixing and energy loss. Eventually, the system stabilizes, with flow concentrated in efficient pathways, minimizing further reactions and energy use.
Tim Busker, Daniela Rodriguez Castro, Sergiy Vorogushyn, Jaap Kwadijk, Davide Zoccatelli, Rafaella Loureiro, Heather J. Murdock, Laurent Pfister, Benjamin Dewals, Kymo Slager, Annegret H. Thieken, Jan Verkade, Patrick Willems, and Jeroen C. J. H. Aerts
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-828, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-828, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (NHESS).
Short summary
Short summary
In July 2021, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, and Belgium were hit by an extreme flood event with over 200 fatalities. Our study provides, for the first time, critical insights into the operational flood early-warning systems in this entire region. Based on 13 expert interviews, we conclude that the systems strongly improved in all countries. Interviewees stressed the need for operational impact-based forecasts, but emphasized that its operational implementation is challenging.
Guilhem Türk, Christoph Johannes Gey, Bernd Reinhard Schöne, and Laurent Pfister
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4169, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4169, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Past stream flow dynamics can be assessed using the stable isotopes of oxygen (O16/O18) in streams and precipitation from various proxy sources. Here, we show how they are retrieved in precipitation for ~150 years using temperature records and an atmospheric circulation classification scheme. Our robust and assumption-lean approach compares to model performances in the literature, demonstrating atmospheric controls of the temperature influence on precipitation O16/O18 compositions.
Huibin Gao, Laurent Pfister, and James W. Kirchner
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-613, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-613, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Some streams respond to rainfall with flow that peaks twice: a sharp first peak followed by a broad second peak. We analyzed data from a catchment in Luxembourg to better understand the processes behind this phenomenon. Our results show that the first peak is mostly driven directly by rainfall, and the second peak is mostly driven by rain that infiltrates to groundwater. We also show that the relative importance of these two processes depends on how wet the landscape is before the rain falls.
Samuele Ceolin, Stanislaus J. Schymanski, Dagmar van Dusschoten, Robert Koller, and Julian Klaus
Biogeosciences, 22, 691–703, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-691-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-691-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We investigated if and how roots of maize plants respond to multiple abrupt changes in soil moisture. We measured root lengths using a magnetic resonance imaging technique and calculated changes in growth rates after applying water pulses. The root growth rates increased in wetted soil layers within 48 hours and decreased in non-wetted layers, indicating fast adaptation of the root systems to moisture changes. Our findings could improve irrigation management and vegetation models.
Paolo Nasta, Günter Blöschl, Heye R. Bogena, Steffen Zacharias, Roland Baatz, Gabriëlle De Lannoy, Karsten H. Jensen, Salvatore Manfreda, Laurent Pfister, Ana M. Tarquis, Ilja van Meerveld, Marc Voltz, Yijian Zeng, William Kustas, Xin Li, Harry Vereecken, and Nunzio Romano
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 465–483, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-465-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-465-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The Unsolved Problems in Hydrology (UPH) initiative has emphasized the need to establish networks of multi-decadal hydrological observatories to tackle catchment-scale challenges on a global scale. This opinion paper provocatively discusses two endmembers of possible future hydrological observatory (HO) networks for a given hypothesized community budget: a comprehensive set of moderately instrumented observatories or, alternatively, a small number of highly instrumented supersites.
Ashish Manoj J, Ralf Loritz, Hoshin Gupta, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-375, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-375, 2024
Revised manuscript under review for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
Traditional hydrological models typically operate in a forward mode, simulating streamflow and other catchment fluxes based on precipitation input. In this study, we explored the possibility of reversing this process—inferring precipitation from streamflow data—to improve flood event modelling. We then used the generated precipitation series to run hydrological models, resulting in more accurate estimates of streamflow and soil moisture.
Svenja Hoffmeister, Rafael Bohn Reckziegel, Ben du Toit, Sibylle K. Hassler, Florian Kestel, Rebekka Maier, Jonathan P. Sheppard, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 3963–3982, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3963-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3963-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We studied a tree–crop ecosystem consisting of a blackberry field and an alder windbreak. In the water-scarce region, irrigation provides sufficient water for plant growth. The windbreak lowers the irrigation amount by reducing wind speed and therefore water transport into the atmosphere. These ecosystems could provide sustainable use of water-scarce landscapes, and we studied the complex interactions by observing several aspects (e.g. soil, nutrients, carbon assimilation, water).
Laurent Gourdol, Michael K. Stewart, Uwe Morgenstern, and Laurent Pfister
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 3519–3547, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3519-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3519-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Determining water transit times in aquifers is key to a better understanding of groundwater resources and their sustainable management. For our research, we used high-accuracy tritium data from 35 springs draining the Luxembourg Sandstone aquifer. We assessed the mean transit times of groundwater and found that water moves on average more than 10 times more slowly vertically in the vadose zone of the aquifer (~12 m yr-1) than horizontally in its saturated zone (~170 m yr-1).
Ginevra Fabiani, Julian Klaus, and Daniele Penna
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 2683–2703, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2683-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2683-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
There is a limited understanding of the role that topography and climate play in tree water use. Through a cross-site comparison in Luxembourg and Italy, we investigated beech water use along slopes in different climates. Our findings indicate that in landscapes characterized by stronger hydraulic and climatic gradients there is greater spatial variation in tree physiological responses. This highlights how differing growing conditions across landscapes can lead to contrasting tree performances.
Samuel Schroers, Ulrike Scherer, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2535–2557, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2535-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2535-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The hydrological cycle shapes our landscape. With an accelerating change of the world's climate and hydrological dynamics, concepts of evolution of natural systems become more important. In this study, we elaborated a thermodynamic framework for runoff and sediment transport and show from model results as well as from measurements during extreme events that the developed concept is useful for understanding the evolution of the system's mass, energy, and entropy fluxes.
Judith Meyer, Malte Neuper, Luca Mathias, Erwin Zehe, and Laurent Pfister
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6163–6183, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6163-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6163-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We identified and analysed the major atmospheric components of rain-intense thunderstorms that can eventually lead to flash floods: high atmospheric moisture, sufficient latent instability, and weak thunderstorm cell motion. Between 1981 and 2020, atmospheric conditions became likelier to support strong thunderstorms. However, the occurrence of extreme rainfall events as well as their rainfall intensity remained mostly unchanged.
Enrico Bonanno, Günter Blöschl, and Julian Klaus
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6003–6028, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6003-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6003-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
There is an unclear understanding of which processes regulate the transport of water, solutes, and pollutants in streams. This is crucial since these processes control water quality in river networks. Compared to other approaches, we obtained clearer insights into the processes controlling solute transport in the investigated reach. This work highlights the risks of using uncertain results for interpreting the processes controlling water movement in streams.
Audrey Douinot, Jean François Iffly, Cyrille Tailliez, Claude Meisch, and Laurent Pfister
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5185–5206, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5185-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5185-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The objective of the paper is to highlight the seasonal and singular shift of the transfer time distributions of two catchments (≅10 km2).
Based on 2 years of rainfall and discharge observations, we compare variations in the properties of TTDs with the physiographic characteristics of catchment areas and the eco-hydrological cycle. The paper eventually aims to deduce several factors conducive to particularly rapid and concentrated water transfers, which leads to flash floods.
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
Alessandro Montemagno, Christophe Hissler, Victor Bense, Adriaan J. Teuling, Johanna Ziebel, and Laurent Pfister
Biogeosciences, 19, 3111–3129, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3111-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3111-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We investigated the biogeochemical processes that dominate the release and retention of elements (nutrients and potentially toxic elements) during litter degradation. Our results show that toxic elements are retained in the litter, while nutrients are released in solution during the first stages of degradation. This seems linked to the capability of trees to distribute the elements between degradation-resistant and non-degradation-resistant compounds of leaves according to their chemical nature.
Samuel Schroers, Olivier Eiff, Axel Kleidon, Ulrike Scherer, Jan Wienhöfer, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3125–3150, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3125-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3125-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In hydrology the formation of landform patterns is of special interest as changing forcings of the natural systems, such as climate or land use, will change these structures. In our study we developed a thermodynamic framework for surface runoff on hillslopes and highlight the differences of energy conversion patterns on two related spatial and temporal scales. The results indicate that surface runoff on hillslopes approaches a maximum power state.
Alexander Sternagel, Ralf Loritz, Brian Berkowitz, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1615–1629, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1615-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1615-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present a (physically based) Lagrangian approach to simulate diffusive mixing processes on the pore scale beyond perfectly mixed conditions. Results show the feasibility of the approach for reproducing measured mixing times and concentrations of isotopes over pore sizes and that typical shapes of breakthrough curves (normally associated with non-uniform transport in heterogeneous soils) may also occur as a result of imperfect subscale mixing in a macroscopically homogeneous soil matrix.
Erwin Zehe, Ralf Loritz, Yaniv Edery, and Brian Berkowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5337–5353, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5337-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5337-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study uses the concepts of entropy and work to quantify and explain the emergence of preferential flow and transport in heterogeneous saturated porous media. We found that the downstream concentration of solutes in preferential pathways implies a downstream declining entropy in the transverse distribution of solute transport pathways. Preferential flow patterns with lower entropies emerged within media of higher heterogeneity – a stronger self-organization despite a higher randomness.
Laurent Gourdol, Rémi Clément, Jérôme Juilleret, Laurent Pfister, and Christophe Hissler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1785–1812, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1785-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1785-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a remarkable tool for characterizing the regolith, but its use over large areas remains cumbersome due to the requirement of small electrode spacing (ES). In this study we document the issues of using oversized ESs and propose a new approach to overcome this limitation. We demonstrate that our protocol significantly improves the accuracy of ERT profiles using large ES and offers a cost-effective means for carrying out large-scale surveys.
Jan Bondy, Jan Wienhöfer, Laurent Pfister, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-174, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-174, 2021
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
The Budyko curve is a widely-used and simple framework to predict the mean water balance of river catchments. While many catchments are in close accordance with the Budyko curve, others show more or less significant deviations. Our study aims at better understanding the role of soil storage characteristics in the mean water balance and offsets from the Budyko curve. Soil storage proved to be a very sensitive property and potentially explains significant deviations from the curve.
Alexander Sternagel, Ralf Loritz, Julian Klaus, Brian Berkowitz, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1483–1508, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1483-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1483-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The key innovation of the study is a method to simulate reactive solute transport in the vadose zone within a Lagrangian framework. We extend the LAST-Model with a method to account for non-linear sorption and first-order degradation processes during unsaturated transport of reactive substances in the matrix and macropores. Model evaluations using bromide and pesticide data from irrigation experiments under different flow conditions on various timescales show the feasibility of the method.
Samuel Schroers, Olivier Eiff, Axel Kleidon, Jan Wienhöfer, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-79, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-79, 2021
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we ask the basic question why surface runoff forms drainage networks and confluences at all and how structural macro form and micro topography is a result of thermodynamic laws. We find that on a macro level hillslopes should tend from negative exponential towards exponential forms and that on a micro level the formation of rills goes hand in hand with drainage network formation of river basins. We hypothesize that we can learn more about erosion processes if we extend this theory.
Ralf Loritz, Markus Hrachowitz, Malte Neuper, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 147–167, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-147-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-147-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the role and value of distributed rainfall in the runoff generation of a mesoscale catchment. We compare the performance of different hydrological models at different periods and show that a distributed model driven by distributed rainfall yields improved performances only during certain periods. We then step beyond this finding and develop a spatially adaptive model that is capable of dynamically adjusting its spatial model structure in time.
Conrad Jackisch, Samuel Knoblauch, Theresa Blume, Erwin Zehe, and Sibylle K. Hassler
Biogeosciences, 17, 5787–5808, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-5787-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-5787-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We developed software to calculate the root water uptake (RWU) of beech tree roots from soil moisture dynamics. We present our approach and compare RWU to measured sap flow in the tree stem. The study relates to two sites that are similar in topography and weather but with contrasting soils. While sap flow is very similar between the two sites, the RWU is different. This suggests that soil characteristics have substantial influence. Our easy-to-implement RWU estimate may help further studies.
Jasper Foets, Carlos E. Wetzel, Núria Martínez-Carreras, Adriaan J. Teuling, Jean-François Iffly, and Laurent Pfister
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4709–4725, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4709-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4709-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Diatoms (microscopic algae) are regarded as useful tracers in catchment hydrology. However, diatom analysis is labour-intensive; therefore, only a limited number of samples can be analysed. To reduce this number, we explored the potential for a time-integrated mass-flux sampler to provide a representative sample of the diatom assemblage for a whole storm run-off event. Our results indicate that the Phillips sampler did indeed sample representative communities during two of the three events.
Uwe Ehret, Rik van Pruijssen, Marina Bortoli, Ralf Loritz, Elnaz Azmi, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4389–4411, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4389-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4389-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper we propose adaptive clustering as a new method for reducing the computational efforts of distributed modelling. It consists of identifying similar-acting model elements during the runtime, clustering them, running the model for just a few representatives per cluster, and mapping their results to the remaining model elements in the cluster. With the example of a hydrological model, we show that this saves considerable computation time, while largely maintaining the output quality.
Mirko Mälicke, Sibylle K. Hassler, Theresa Blume, Markus Weiler, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2633–2653, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2633-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2633-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We could show that distributed soil moisture time series bear a considerable amount of information about dynamic changes in soil moisture. We developed a new method to describe spatial patterns and analyze their persistency. By combining uncertainty propagation with information theory, we were able to calculate the information content of spatial similarity with respect to measurement uncertainty. This does help to understand when and why the soil is drying in an organized manner.
Brian Berkowitz and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1831–1858, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1831-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1831-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We present a
blueprintfor a unified modelling framework to quantify chemical transport in both surface water and groundwater systems. There has been extensive debate over recent decades, particularly in the surface water literature, about how to explain and account for long travel times of chemical species that are distinct from water flow (rainfall-runoff) travel times. We suggest a powerful modelling framework known to be robust and effective from the field of groundwater hydrology.
Barbara Glaser, Marta Antonelli, Luisa Hopp, and Julian Klaus
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1393–1413, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1393-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1393-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The inundation of flood-prone areas can have crucial impacts on runoff generation and water quality. We investigate the variation of flooding in space and time along a small stream with long-term observations and numerical simulations. We demonstrate that the main reason for the flooding is the exfiltration of groundwater into local topographic depressions. However, only interplay with further influencing factors can explain all of the variability of the observed flooding patterns and dynamics.
Bernd R. Schöne, Aliona E. Meret, Sven M. Baier, Jens Fiebig, Jan Esper, Jeffrey McDonnell, and Laurent Pfister
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 673–696, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-673-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-673-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We present the first annually resolved stable isotope record (1819–1998) from shells of Swedish river mussels. Data reflect hydrological processes in the catchment and changes in the isotope value of local precipitation. The latter is related to the origin of moisture from which precipitation formed (North Atlantic or the Arctic) and governed by large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns. Results help to better understand climate dynamics and constrain ecological changes in river ecosystems.
Alexander Sternagel, Ralf Loritz, Wolfgang Wilcke, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4249–4267, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4249-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4249-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We present our hydrological LAST-Model to simulate preferential soil water flow and tracer transport in macroporous soils. It relies on a Lagrangian perspective of the movement of discrete water particles carrying tracer masses through the subsoil and is hence an alternative approach to common models. Sensitivity analyses reveal the physical validity of the model concept and evaluation tests show that LAST can depict well observed tracer mass profiles with fingerprints of preferential flow.
Axel Kleidon, Erwin Zehe, and Ralf Loritz
Earth Syst. Dynam. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-2019-52, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-2019-52, 2019
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
Many fluxes in Earth systems are not homogeneously distributed across space, but occur highly concentrated in structures, such as turbulent eddies, river networks, vascular networks of plants, or human-made infrastructures. Yet, the highly-organized nature of these fluxes is typically only described at a rudimentary level, if at all. We propose that it requires a novel approach to describe these structures that focuses on the work done to build and maintain these structures, and the feedbacks.
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.
Erwin Zehe, Ralf Loritz, Conrad Jackisch, Martijn Westhoff, Axel Kleidon, Theresa Blume, Sibylle K. Hassler, and Hubert H. Savenije
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 971–987, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-971-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-971-2019, 2019
Martijn Westhoff, Axel Kleidon, Stan Schymanski, Benjamin Dewals, Femke Nijsse, Maik Renner, Henk Dijkstra, Hisashi Ozawa, Hubert Savenije, Han Dolman, Antoon Meesters, and Erwin Zehe
Earth Syst. Dynam. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-2019-6, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-2019-6, 2019
Publication in ESD not foreseen
Short summary
Short summary
Even models relying on physical laws have parameters that need to be measured or estimated. Thermodynamic optimality principles potentially offer a way to reduce the number of estimated parameters by stating that a system evolves to an optimum state. These principles have been applied successfully within the Earth system, but it is often unclear what to optimize and how. In this review paper we identify commonalities between different successful applications as well as some doubtful applications.
Nevil Quinn, Günter Blöschl, András Bárdossy, Attilio Castellarin, Martyn Clark, Christophe Cudennec, Demetris Koutsoyiannis, Upmanu Lall, Lubomir Lichner, Juraj Parajka, Christa D. Peters-Lidard, Graham Sander, Hubert Savenije, Keith Smettem, Harry Vereecken, Alberto Viglione, Patrick Willems, Andy Wood, Ross Woods, Chong-Yu Xu, and Erwin Zehe
Proc. IAHS, 380, 3–8, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-380-3-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-380-3-2018, 2018
Laurent Gourdol, Rémi Clément, Jérôme Juilleret, Laurent Pfister, and Christophe Hissler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-519, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-519, 2018
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) is a remarkable tool for characterizing the geometry and properties of the regolith. However, its use for large horizontal surveys remains cumbersome to characterize shallow subsurface structures due to the requirement of small electrode spacing increments. Here we propose a new approach to overcome this limitation. We demonstrate that our protocol significantly improves the accuracy of ERT profiles when using large electrode spacing increments.
Barbara Glaser, Marta Antonelli, Marco Chini, Laurent Pfister, and Julian Klaus
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5987–6003, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5987-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5987-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We demonstrate how thermal infrared images can be used for mapping the appearance and disappearance of water at the surface. The use of thermal infrared images allows for mapping this appearance and disappearance for various temporal and spatial resolutions, and the images can be understood intuitively. We explain the necessary steps in detail, from image acquisition to final processing, by relying on image examples and experience from an 18-month mapping campaign.
Nevil Quinn, Günter Blöschl, András Bárdossy, Attilio Castellarin, Martyn Clark, Christophe Cudennec, Demetris Koutsoyiannis, Upmanu Lall, Lubomir Lichner, Juraj Parajka, Christa D. Peters-Lidard, Graham Sander, Hubert Savenije, Keith Smettem, Harry Vereecken, Alberto Viglione, Patrick Willems, Andy Wood, Ross Woods, Chong-Yu Xu, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5735–5739, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5735-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5735-2018, 2018
Daniele Penna, Luisa Hopp, Francesca Scandellari, Scott T. Allen, Paolo Benettin, Matthias Beyer, Josie Geris, Julian Klaus, John D. Marshall, Luitgard Schwendenmann, Till H. M. Volkmann, Jana von Freyberg, Anam Amin, Natalie Ceperley, Michael Engel, Jay Frentress, Yamuna Giambastiani, Jeff J. McDonnell, Giulia Zuecco, Pilar Llorens, Rolf T. W. Siegwolf, Todd E. Dawson, and James W. Kirchner
Biogeosciences, 15, 6399–6415, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-6399-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-6399-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding how water flows through ecosystems is needed to provide society and policymakers with the scientific background to manage water resources sustainably. Stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in water are a powerful tool for tracking water fluxes, although the heterogeneity of natural systems and practical methodological issues still limit their full application. Here, we examine the challenges in this research field and highlight new perspectives based on interdisciplinary research.
Mirko Mälicke, Sibylle K. Hassler, Markus Weiler, Theresa Blume, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-396, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-396, 2018
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we use time dependent variograms to identify periods of organized soil moisture during drying. We could identify emerging spatial patterns which imply periods of terrestrial control on soil moisture organization. The coupling of time dependent variograms with density based clustering is a new approach to detect similarity in spatial patterns. The presented method is useful to describe states of organization and improve kriging workflows by extending their prerequisites.
Ralf Loritz, Hoshin Gupta, Conrad Jackisch, Martijn Westhoff, Axel Kleidon, Uwe Ehret, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3663–3684, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3663-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3663-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we explore the role of spatially distributed information on hydrological modeling. For that, we develop and test an approach which draws upon information theory and thermodynamic reasoning. We show that the proposed set of methods provide a powerful framework for understanding and diagnosing how and when process organization and functional similarity of hydrological systems emerge in time and, hence, when which landscape characteristic is important in a model application.
Conrad Jackisch and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3639–3662, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3639-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3639-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We present a Lagrangian model for non-uniform soil water dynamics. It handles 2-D diffusion (based on a spatial random walk and implicit pore space redistribution) and 1-D advection in representative macropores (as film flow with dynamic interaction with the soil matrix). The interplay between the domains is calculated based on an energy-balance approach which does not require any additional parameterisation. Model tests give insight into the evolution of the non-uniform infiltration patterns.
Michael P. Schwab, Julian Klaus, Laurent Pfister, and Markus Weiler
Biogeosciences, 15, 2177–2188, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-2177-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-2177-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We studied the diel fluctuations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in a small stream in Luxembourg. We identified an increased proportion of DOC from terrestrial sources as responsible for the peaks in DOC in the afternoon. Warmer water temperatures in the riparian zone in the afternoon increased the amount of water flowing towards the stream. Consequently, an increased amount of DOC-rich water from the riparian zone was entering the stream.
Simon Höllering, Jan Wienhöfer, Jürgen Ihringer, Luis Samaniego, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 203–220, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-203-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-203-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrological fingerprints are introduced as response targets for sensitivity analysis and combined with a conventional approach using streamflow data for a temporally resolved sensitivity analysis. The joint benefit of both approaches is presented for several headwater catchments. The approach allows discerning a clarified pattern for parameter influences pinpointed to diverse response characteristics and detecting even slight regional differences.
Michael P. Schwab, Julian Klaus, Laurent Pfister, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-416, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-416, 2017
Revised manuscript not accepted
Lisa Angermann, Conrad Jackisch, Niklas Allroggen, Matthias Sprenger, Erwin Zehe, Jens Tronicke, Markus Weiler, and Theresa Blume
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3727–3748, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3727-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3727-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the temporal dynamics and response velocities of lateral preferential flow at the hillslope. The results are compared to catchment response behavior to infer the large-scale implications of the observed processes. A large portion of mobile water flows through preferential flow paths in the structured soils, causing an immediate discharge response. The study presents a methodological approach to cover the spatial and temporal domain of these highly heterogeneous processes.
Conrad Jackisch, Lisa Angermann, Niklas Allroggen, Matthias Sprenger, Theresa Blume, Jens Tronicke, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3749–3775, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3749-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3749-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Rapid subsurface flow in structured soils facilitates fast vertical and lateral redistribution of event water. We present its in situ exploration through local measurements and irrigation experiments. Special emphasis is given to a coherent combination of hydrological and geophysical methods. The study highlights that form and function operate as conjugated pairs. Dynamic imaging through time-lapse GPR was key to observing both and to identifying hydrologically relevant structures.
Simon Paul Seibert, Conrad Jackisch, Uwe Ehret, Laurent Pfister, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 2817–2841, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2817-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2817-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Runoff production mechanisms and their corresponding physiographic controls continue to pose major research challenges in catchment hydrology. We propose innovative data-driven diagnostic signatures for overcoming the prevailing status quo in inter-comparison studies. Specifically, we present dimensionless double mass curves which allow us to infer information on runoff generation at the seasonal and annual timescales. The method is based on commonly available data.
Ralf Loritz, Sibylle K. Hassler, Conrad Jackisch, Niklas Allroggen, Loes van Schaik, Jan Wienhöfer, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1225–1249, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1225-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1225-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we examine whether we can step beyond the qualitative character of perceptual models by using them as a blueprint for setting up representative hillslope models. Thereby we test the hypothesis of whether a single hillslope can represent the functioning of an entire lower mesoscale catchment in a spatially aggregated way.
Simon Paul Seibert, Uwe Ehret, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3745–3763, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3745-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3745-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
While the assessment of "vertical" (magnitude) errors of streamflow simulations is standard practice, "horizontal" (timing) errors are rarely considered. To assess their role, we propose a method to quantify both errors simultaneously which closely resembles visual hydrograph comparison. Our results reveal differences in time–magnitude error statistics for different flow conditions. The proposed method thus offers novel perspectives for model diagnostics and evaluation.
Erwin Zehe and Conrad Jackisch
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3511–3526, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3511-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3511-2016, 2016
Simon Höllering, Jürgen Ihringer, Luis Samaniego, and Erwin Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2016-249, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2016-249, 2016
Preprint withdrawn
M. Westhoff, E. Zehe, P. Archambeau, and B. Dewals
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 479–486, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-479-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-479-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We derived mathematical formulations of relations between relative wetness and gradients driving run-off and evaporation for a one-box model such that, when conductances are optimized with the maximum power principle, the model leads exactly to a point on the Budyko curve.
With dry spells and dynamics in actual evaporation added, the model compared well with catchment observations without calibrating any parameter.
The maximum-power principle may thus be used to derive the Budyko curve.
N. Martínez-Carreras, C. E. Wetzel, J. Frentress, L. Ector, J. J. McDonnell, L. Hoffmann, and L. Pfister
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3133–3151, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3133-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3133-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
We tested the hypothesis that different diatom species assemblages inhabit specific moisture domains of the catchment and, consequently, the presence of certain species assemblages in the stream during runoff events offers the potential for recording whether there was hydrological connectivity between these domains or not. In the Weierbach catchment, the transport of aerial diatoms during events suggested a rapid connectivity between the soil surface and the stream.
U. Scherer and E. Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-12-3527-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-12-3527-2015, 2015
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents the development, parameterization and verification of a process-based soil erosion model for the catchment scale, which balances necessary complexity with greatest possible simplicity. We used the hydrologic model CATFLOW as a platform and further developed it to CATFLOW-SED by integrating approaches to simulate soil erosion. The model was validated on a hierarchy of scales which is characteristic for the governing processes.
J. Klaus, J. J. McDonnell, C. R. Jackson, E. Du, and N. A. Griffiths
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 125–135, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-125-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-125-2015, 2015
E. Zehe, U. Ehret, L. Pfister, T. Blume, B. Schröder, M. Westhoff, C. Jackisch, S. J. Schymanski, M. Weiler, K. Schulz, N. Allroggen, J. Tronicke, L. van Schaik, P. Dietrich, U. Scherer, J. Eccard, V. Wulfmeyer, and A. Kleidon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 4635–4655, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4635-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4635-2014, 2014
U. Ehret, H. V. Gupta, M. Sivapalan, S. V. Weijs, S. J. Schymanski, G. Blöschl, A. N. Gelfan, C. Harman, A. Kleidon, T. A. Bogaard, D. Wang, T. Wagener, U. Scherer, E. Zehe, M. F. P. Bierkens, G. Di Baldassarre, J. Parajka, L. P. H. van Beek, A. van Griensven, M. C. Westhoff, and H. C. Winsemius
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 649–671, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-649-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-649-2014, 2014
J. Wienhöfer and E. Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 121–138, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-121-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-121-2014, 2014
M. Liu, A. Bárdossy, and E. Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4685–4699, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4685-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4685-2013, 2013
E. Zehe, U. Ehret, T. Blume, A. Kleidon, U. Scherer, and M. Westhoff
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4297–4322, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4297-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4297-2013, 2013
M. C. Westhoff and E. Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 3141–3157, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3141-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3141-2013, 2013
A. M. J. Coenders-Gerrits, L. Hopp, H. H. G. Savenije, and L. Pfister
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1749–1763, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1749-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1749-2013, 2013
A. Kleidon, E. Zehe, U. Ehret, and U. Scherer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 225–251, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-225-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-225-2013, 2013
J. Wienhöfer, K. Germer, F. Lindenmaier, A. Färber, and E. Zehe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 13, 1145–1161, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-13-1145-2009, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-13-1145-2009, 2009
Related subject area
Subject: Catchment hydrology | Techniques and Approaches: Modelling approaches
Adaptation of root zone storage capacity to climate change and its effects on future streamflow in Alpine catchments: towards non-stationary model parameters
Finding process-behavioural parameterisations of a hydrological model using a multi-step process-based calibration and evaluation scheme
Merits and limits of SWAT-GL: application in contrasting glaciated catchments
Hydrological regime index for non-perennial rivers
Assessing the adequacy of traditional hydrological models for climate change impact studies: a case for long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks
Assessing the value of high-resolution data and parameter transferability across temporal scales in hydrological modeling: a case study in northern China
Technical note: How many models do we need to simulate hydrologic processes across large geographical domains?
CONCN: a high-resolution, integrated surface water–groundwater ParFlow modeling platform of continental China
Evaluating the effects of topography and land use change on hydrological signatures: a comparative study of two adjacent watersheds
Technical note: What does the Standardized Streamflow Index actually reflect? Insights and implications for hydrological drought analysis
Long short-term memory networks for enhancing real-time flood forecasts: a case study for an underperforming hydrologic model
Assessing the value of high-resolution rainfall and streamflow data for hydrological modeling: an analysis based on 63 catchments in southeast China
Catchments do not strictly follow Budyko curves over multiple decades, but deviations are minor and predictable
Scale dependency in modeling nivo-glacial hydrological systems: the case of the Arolla basin, Switzerland
Extended-range forecasting of stream water temperature with deep-learning models
Technical note: An approach for handling multiple temporal frequencies with different input dimensions using a single LSTM cell
Enhanced Baseflow Separation in Rural Catchments: Event-Specific Calibration of Recursive Digital Filters with Tracer-Derived Data
Projections of streamflow intermittence under climate change in European drying river networks
Economic valuation of subsurface water contributions to watershed ecosystem services using a fully integrated groundwater–surface-water model
Analyzing the generalization capabilities of a hybrid hydrological model for extrapolation to extreme events
CH-RUN: a deep-learning-based spatially contiguous runoff reconstruction for Switzerland
Runoff component quantification and future streamflow projection in a large mountainous basin based on a multidata-constrained cryospheric–hydrological model
Exploring the potential processes controlling changes in precipitation–runoff relationships in non-stationary environments
Spatially Resolved Rainfall Streamflow Modeling in Central Europe
A diversity-centric strategy for the selection of spatio-temporal training data for LSTM-based streamflow forecasting
Simulating the Tone River eastward diversion project in Japan carried out 4 centuries ago
Lack of robustness of hydrological models: a large-sample diagnosis and an attempt to identify hydrological and climatic drivers
Achieving water budget closure through physical hydrological process modelling: insights from a large-sample study
Heavy-tailed flood peak distributions: what is the effect of the spatial variability of rainfall and runoff generation?
A Distributed Hybrid Physics-AI Framework for Learning Corrections of Internal Hydrological Fluxes and Enhancing High-Resolution Regionalized Flood Modeling
Combining uncertainty quantification and entropy-inspired concepts into a single objective function for rainfall-runoff model calibration
State updating of the Xin'anjiang model: joint assimilating streamflow and multi-source soil moisture data via the asynchronous ensemble Kalman filter with enhanced error models
Improving the hydrological consistency of a process-based solute-transport model by simultaneous calibration of streamflow and stream concentrations
Understanding the relationship between streamflow forecast skill and value across the western US
Leveraging soil diversity to mitigate hydrological extremes with nature-based solutions in productive catchments
Leveraging a time-series event separation method to disentangle time-varying hydrologic controls on streamflow – application to wildfire-affected catchments
The significance of the leaf area index for evapotranspiration estimation in SWAT-T for characteristic land cover types of West Africa
Improved representation of soil moisture processes through incorporation of cosmic-ray neutron count measurements in a large-scale hydrologic model
Spatio-temporal patterns and trends of streamflow in water-scarce Mediterranean basins
A large-sample modelling approach towards integrating streamflow and evaporation data for the Spanish catchments
Seasonal variation in land cover estimates reveals sensitivities and opportunities for environmental models
Soil moisture and precipitation intensity control the transit time distribution of quick flow in a flashy headwater catchment
Estimating response times, flow velocities, and roughness coefficients of Canadian Prairie basins
Learning landscape features from streamflow with autoencoders
The influence of lateral flow on land surface fluxes in southeast Australia varies with model resolution
Constraining pesticide degradation in conceptual distributed catchment models with compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA)
On the use of streamflow transformations for hydrological model calibration
Unveiling the Impact of Potential Evapotranspiration Method Selection on Trends in Hydrological Cycle Components Across Europe
Simulation-based inference for parameter estimation of complex watershed simulators
Comparative Hydrological Modeling of Snow-Cover and Frozen Ground Impacts Under Topographically Complex Conditions
Magali Ponds, Sarah Hanus, Harry Zekollari, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, Gerrit Schoups, Roland Kaitna, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 3545–3568, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3545-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3545-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This research examines how future climate changes impact root zone storage, a key hydrological model parameter. Root zone storage – the soil water accessible to plants – adapts to climate but is often kept constant in models. We estimated climate-adapted storage in six Austrian Alps catchments. While storage increased, streamflow projections showed minimal change, which suggests that dynamic root zone representation is less critical in humid regions but warrants further study in arid areas.
Moritz M. Heuer, Hadysa Mohajerani, and Markus C. Casper
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 3503–3525, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3503-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3503-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a process-behavioural calibration approach for water balance models. The different calibration steps aim at calibrating different hydrological processes: evapotranspiration, the runoff partitioning into surface runoff, interflow, and groundwater recharge, as well as the groundwater behaviour. This allows for selection of a model parameterisation that correctly predicts the discharge at the catchment outlet and simultaneously correctly depicts the underlying hydrological processes.
Timo Schaffhauser, Florentin Hofmeister, Gabriele Chiogna, Fabian Merk, Ye Tuo, Julian Machnitzke, Lucas Alcamo, Jingshui Huang, and Markus Disse
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 3227–3256, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3227-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3227-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The glacier-expanded SWAT (Soil Water Assessment Tool) version, SWAT-GL, was tested in four different catchments, highlighting the capabilities of the glacier routine. It was evaluated based on the representation of glacier mass balance, snow cover and glacier hypsometry. The glacier changes over a long timescale could be adequately represented, leading to promising potential future applications in glaciated and high mountain environments and significantly outperforming standard SWAT models.
Pablo Fernando Dornes and Rocío Noelia Comas
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2901–2923, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2901-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2901-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The Desaguadero–Salado–Chadiluevú–Curacó (DSCC) River is a semiarid river which is heavily dammed at its tributaries which collect the snowmelt runoff. This runoff feeds mostly gravitational irrigation systems of very low efficiency. As a result, the DSCC River does not have natural runoff. The proposed hydrological regime index (HRI) is able to discriminate and quantify regime alterations under permanent and non-permanent flow conditions and with low- and high-impoundment conditions.
Jean-Luc Martel, François Brissette, Richard Arsenault, Richard Turcotte, Mariana Castañeda-Gonzalez, William Armstrong, Edouard Mailhot, Jasmine Pelletier-Dumont, Gabriel Rondeau-Genesse, and Louis-Philippe Caron
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2811–2836, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2811-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2811-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study compares long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks with traditional hydrological models to predict future streamflow under climate change. Using data from 148 catchments, it finds that LSTM models, which learn from extensive data sequences, perform differently and often better than traditional hydrological models. The continental LSTM model, which includes data from diverse climate zones, is particularly effective for understanding climate impacts on water resources.
Mahmut Tudaji, Yi Nan, and Fuqiang Tian
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2633–2654, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2633-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2633-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We assessed the value of high-resolution data and parameter transferability across temporal scales based on seven catchments in northern China. We found that higher-resolution data do not always improve model performance, questioning the need for such data. Model parameters are transferable across different data resolutions but not across computational time steps. It is recommended to utilize a smaller computational time step when building hydrological models even without high-resolution data.
Wouter J. M. Knoben, Ashwin Raman, Gaby J. Gründemann, Mukesh Kumar, Alain Pietroniro, Chaopeng Shen, Yalan Song, Cyril Thébault, Katie van Werkhoven, Andrew W. Wood, and Martyn P. Clark
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2361–2375, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2361-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2361-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrologic models are needed to provide simulations of water availability, floods, and droughts. The accuracy of these simulations is often quantified with so-called performance scores. A common thought is that different models are more or less applicable to different landscapes, depending on how the model works. We show that performance scores are not helpful in distinguishing between different models and thus cannot easily be used to select an appropriate model for a specific place.
Chen Yang, Zitong Jia, Wenjie Xu, Zhongwang Wei, Xiaolang Zhang, Yiguang Zou, Jeffrey McDonnell, Laura Condon, Yongjiu Dai, and Reed Maxwell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2201–2218, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2201-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2201-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We developed the first high-resolution, integrated surface water–groundwater hydrologic model of the entirety of continental China using ParFlow. The model shows good performance in terms of streamflow and water table depth when compared to global data products and observations. It is essential for water resources management and decision-making in China within a consistent framework in the changing world. It also has significant implications for similar modeling in other places in the world.
Haifan Liu, Haochen Yan, and Mingfu Guan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2109–2132, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2109-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2109-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Land changes and landscape features critically impact water systems. Studying two watersheds in China’s Greater Bay Area, we found slope strongly influences water processes in mountainous areas. However, this relationship is weak in the lower regions of steeper watersheds. Urbanization leads to an increase in annual surface runoff, while flatter watersheds exhibit a buffering capacity against this effect. However, this buffering capacity diminishes with increasing annual rainfall intensity.
Fabián Lema, Pablo A. Mendoza, Nicolás A. Vásquez, Naoki Mizukami, Mauricio Zambrano-Bigiarini, and Ximena Vargas
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1981–2002, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1981-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1981-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrological droughts affect ecosystems and socioeconomic activities worldwide. Despite the fact that they are commonly described with the Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI), there is limited understanding of what they truly reflect in terms of water cycle processes. Here, we used state-of-the-art hydrological models in Andean basins to examine drivers of SSI fluctuations. The results highlight the importance of careful selection of indices and timescales for accurate drought characterization and monitoring.
Sebastian Gegenleithner, Manuel Pirker, Clemens Dorfmann, Roman Kern, and Josef Schneider
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1939–1962, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1939-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1939-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Accurate early-warning systems are crucial for reducing the damage caused by flooding events. In this study, we explored the potential of long short-term memory networks for enhancing the forecast accuracy of hydrologic models employed in operational flood forecasting. The presented approach elevated the investigated hydrologic model’s forecast accuracy for further ahead predictions and at flood event runoff.
Mahmut Tudaji, Yi Nan, and Fuqiang Tian
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1919–1937, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1919-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1919-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Common intuition holds that higher input data resolution leads to better results. To assess the benefits of high-resolution data, we conduct simulation experiments using data with various temporal resolutions across multiple catchments and find that higher-resolution data do not always improve model performance, challenging the necessity of pursuing such data. In catchments with small areas or significant flow variability, high-resolution data is more valuable.
Muhammad Ibrahim, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Ruud van der Ent, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1703–1723, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1703-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1703-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The quantification of precipitation into evaporation and runoff is vital for water resources management. The Budyko framework, based on aridity and evaporative indices of a catchment, can be an ideal tool for that. However, recent research highlights deviations of catchments from the expected evaporative index, casting doubt on its reliability. This study quantifies deviations of 2387 catchments, finding them minor and predictable. Integrating these into predictions upholds the framework's efficacy.
Anne-Laure Argentin, Pascal Horton, Bettina Schaefli, Jamal Shokory, Felix Pitscheider, Leona Repnik, Mattia Gianini, Simone Bizzi, Stuart N. Lane, and Francesco Comiti
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1725–1748, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1725-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1725-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In this article, we show that by taking the optimal parameters calibrated with a semi-lumped model for the discharge at a catchment's outlet, we can accurately simulate runoff at various points within the study area, including three nested and three neighboring catchments. In addition, we demonstrate that employing more intricate melt models, which better represent physical processes, enhances the transfer of parameters in the simulation, until we observe overparameterization.
Ryan S. Padrón, Massimiliano Zappa, Luzi Bernhard, and Konrad Bogner
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1685–1702, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1685-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1685-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We generate operational forecasts of daily maximum stream water temperature for 32 consecutive days at 54 stations in Switzerland with our best-performing data-driven model. The average forecast error is 0.38 °C for 1 d ahead and increases to 0.90 °C for 32 d ahead given the uncertainty in the meteorological variables influencing water temperature. Here we compare the skill of several models, how well they can forecast at new and ungauged stations, and the importance of different model inputs.
Eduardo Acuña Espinoza, Frederik Kratzert, Daniel Klotz, Martin Gauch, Manuel Álvarez Chaves, Ralf Loritz, and Uwe Ehret
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1749–1758, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1749-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1749-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Long short-term memory (LSTM) networks have demonstrated state-of-the-art performance for rainfall-runoff hydrological modelling. However, most studies focus on predictions at a daily scale, limiting the benefits of sub-daily (e.g. hourly) predictions in applications like flood forecasting. In this study, we introduce a new architecture, multi-frequency LSTM (MF-LSTM), designed to use inputs of various temporal frequencies to produce sub-daily (e.g. hourly) predictions at a moderate computational cost.
Fernanda Helfer, Felipe Bernardi, Claudia Alessandra Peixoto de Barros, Daniel Gustavo Allasia, Jean Paolo Gomes Minella, Rutinéia Tassi, and Néverton Scariot
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-244, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-244, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We explored how water flows in small rural streams to improve tools for better managing water resources. Using a new method, we adjusted existing models to consider the size of rainfall events, showing that water movement patterns change depending on the rain’s intensity. This approach makes predictions more accurate and helps scientists and managers understand water availability and protect ecosystems.
Louise Mimeau, Annika Künne, Alexandre Devers, Flora Branger, Sven Kralisch, Claire Lauvernet, Jean-Philippe Vidal, Núria Bonada, Zoltán Csabai, Heikki Mykrä, Petr Pařil, Luka Polović, and Thibault Datry
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1615–1636, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1615-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1615-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our study projects how climate change will affect the drying of river segments and stream networks in Europe, using advanced modelling techniques to assess changes in six river networks across diverse ecoregions. We found that drying events will become more frequent and intense and will start earlier or last longer, potentially turning some river sections from perennial to intermittent. The results are valuable for river ecologists for evaluating the ecological health of river ecosystem.
Tariq Aziz, Steven K. Frey, David R. Lapen, Susan Preston, Hazen A. J. Russell, Omar Khader, Andre R. Erler, and Edward A. Sudicky
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1549–1568, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1549-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1549-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study determines the value of subsurface water for ecosystem services' supply in an agricultural watershed in Ontario, Canada. Using a fully integrated water model and an economic valuation approach, the research highlights subsurface water's critical role in maintaining watershed ecosystem services. The study informs on the sustainable use of subsurface water and introduces a new method for managing watershed ecosystem services.
Eduardo Acuña Espinoza, Ralf Loritz, Frederik Kratzert, Daniel Klotz, Martin Gauch, Manuel Álvarez Chaves, and Uwe Ehret
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1277–1294, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1277-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1277-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Data-driven techniques have shown the potential to outperform process-based models in rainfall–runoff simulations. Hybrid models, combining both approaches, aim to enhance accuracy and maintain interpretability. Expanding the set of test cases to evaluate hybrid models under different conditions, we test their generalization capabilities for extreme hydrological events.
Basil Kraft, Michael Schirmer, William H. Aeberhard, Massimiliano Zappa, Sonia I. Seneviratne, and Lukas Gudmundsson
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1061–1082, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1061-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1061-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study reconstructs daily runoff in Switzerland (1962–2023) using a deep-learning model, providing a spatially contiguous dataset on a medium-sized catchment grid. The model outperforms traditional hydrological methods, revealing shifts in Swiss water resources, including more frequent dry years and declining summer runoff. The reconstruction is publicly available.
Mengjiao Zhang, Yi Nan, and Fuqiang Tian
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1033–1060, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1033-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1033-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Owing to differences in the existing published results, we conducted a detailed analysis of the runoff components and future trends in the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin and found that the contributions of snowmelt and glacier melt runoff to streamflow (both ~5 %) are limited and much lower than previous results. The streamflow in this area will continuously increase in the future, but the overestimated contribution of glacier melt could lead to an underestimation of this increasing trend.
Tian Lan, Tongfang Li, Hongbo Zhang, Jiefeng Wu, Yongqin David Chen, and Chong-Yu Xu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 903–924, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-903-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-903-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study develops an integrated framework based on the novel Driving index for changes in Precipitation–Runoff Relationships (DPRR) to explore the controlling changes in precipitation–runoff relationships in non-stationary environments. According to the quantitative results of the candidate driving factors, the possible process explanations for changes in the precipitation–runoff relationships are deduced. The main contribution offers a comprehensive understanding of hydrological processes.
Marc Aurel Vischer, Noelia Otero, and Jackie Ma
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3649, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3649, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We use a neural network to predict the amount of water flowing into rivers. Our focus is on large river catchment areas in central Europe with pronounced human activity. Our model scales efficiently to large amounts of data and is thus able to processes the input without prior aggregation, capturing fine spatial detail and improving prediction in large catchments. Our model’s internal states can be adapted to allow capturing human activity more explicitly in the future.
Everett Snieder and Usman T. Khan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 785–798, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-785-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-785-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Improving the accuracy of flood forecasts is paramount to minimising flood damage. Machine learning (ML) models are increasingly being applied for flood forecasting. Such models are typically trained on large historic hydrometeorological datasets. In this work, we evaluate methods for selecting training datasets that maximise the spatio-temporal diversity of the represented hydrological processes. Empirical results showcase the importance of hydrological diversity in training ML models.
Joško Trošelj and Naota Hanasaki
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 753–766, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-753-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-753-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents the first distributed hydrological simulation which confirms claims raised by historians that the eastward diversion project of the Tone River in Japan was conducted 4 centuries ago to increase low flows and subsequent travelling possibilities surrounding the capital, Edo (Tokyo), using inland navigation. We showed that great steps forward can be made for improving quality of life with small human engineering waterworks and small interventions in the regime of natural flows.
Léonard Santos, Vazken Andréassian, Torben O. Sonnenborg, Göran Lindström, Alban de Lavenne, Charles Perrin, Lila Collet, and Guillaume Thirel
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 683–700, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-683-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-683-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This work investigates how hydrological models are transferred to a period in which climate conditions are different to the ones of the period in which they were set up. The robustness assessment test built to detect dependencies between model error and climatic drivers was applied to three hydrological models in 352 catchments in Denmark, France and Sweden. Potential issues are seen in a significant number of catchments for the models, even though the catchments differ for each model.
Xudong Zheng, Dengfeng Liu, Shengzhi Huang, Hao Wang, and Xianmeng Meng
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 627–653, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-627-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-627-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Water budget non-closure is a widespread phenomenon among multisource datasets which undermines the robustness of hydrological inferences. This study proposes a Multisource Dataset Correction Framework grounded in Physical Hydrological Process Modelling to enhance water budget closure, termed PHPM-MDCF. We examined the efficiency and robustness of the framework using the CAMELS dataset and achieved an average reduction of 49 % in total water budget residuals across 475 CONUS basins.
Elena Macdonald, Bruno Merz, Viet Dung Nguyen, and Sergiy Vorogushyn
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 447–463, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-447-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-447-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Flood peak distributions indicate how likely the occurrence of an extreme flood is at a certain river. If the distribution has a so-called heavy tail, extreme floods are more likely than might be anticipated. We find heavier tails in small catchments compared to large catchments, and spatially variable rainfall leads to a lower occurrence probability of extreme floods. Spatially variable runoff does not show effects. The results can improve estimations of probabilities of extreme floods.
Ngo Nghi Truyen Huynh, Pierre-André Garambois, Benjamin Renard, François Colleoni, Jérôme Monnier, and Hélène Roux
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3665, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3665, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding and modeling flash flood-prone areas remains challenging due to limited data and scale-relevant hydrological theory. While machine learning shows promise, its integration with process-based models is difficult. We present an approach incorporating machine learning into a high-resolution hydrological model to correct internal fluxes and transfer parameters between watersheds. Results show improved accuracy, advancing development of learnable and interpretable process-based models.
Alonso Pizarro, Demetris Koutsoyiannis, and Alberto Montanari
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-389, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-389, 2025
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
We introduce RUMI, a new metric to improve rainfall-runoff simulations. RUMI better captures the link between observed and simulated stream flows by considering uncertainty at a core computation step. Tested on 99 catchments and with the GR4J model, it outperforms traditional metrics by providing more reliable and consistent results. RUMI paves the way for more accurate hydrological predictions.
Junfu Gong, Xingwen Liu, Cheng Yao, Zhijia Li, Albrecht H. Weerts, Qiaoling Li, Satish Bastola, Yingchun Huang, and Junzeng Xu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 335–360, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-335-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-335-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our study introduces a new method to improve flood forecasting by combining soil moisture and streamflow data using an advanced data assimilation technique. By integrating field and reanalysis soil moisture data and assimilating this with streamflow measurements, we aim to enhance the accuracy of flood predictions. This approach reduces the accumulation of past errors in the initial conditions at the start of the forecast, helping to better prepare for and respond to floods.
Jordy Salmon-Monviola, Ophélie Fovet, and Markus Hrachowitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 127–158, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-127-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-127-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
To increase the predictive power of hydrological models, it is necessary to improve their consistency, i.e. their physical realism, which is measured by the ability of the model to reproduce observed system dynamics. Using a model to represent the dynamics of water and nitrate and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in an agricultural catchment, we showed that using solute-concentration data for calibration is useful to improve the hydrological consistency of the model.
Parthkumar A. Modi, Jared C. Carbone, Keith S. Jennings, Hannah Kamen, Joseph R. Kasprzyk, Bill Szafranski, Cameron W. Wobus, and Ben Livneh
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4046, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4046, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study shows that in unmanaged snow-dominated basins, high forecast accuracy doesn’t always lead to high economic value, especially during extreme conditions like droughts. It highlights how irregular errors in modern forecasting systems weaken the connection between accuracy and value. These findings call for forecast evaluations to focus not only on accuracy but also on economic impacts, providing valuable guidance for better water resource management under uncertainty.
Benjamin Guillaume, Adrien Michez, and Aurore Degré
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3978, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3978, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Nature-based solutions (NbS) can mitigate floods and agricultural droughts by enhancing soil health and restoring hydrological cycles. This study highlights that leveraging soil diversity is key to optimizing NbS performance.
Haley A. Canham, Belize Lane, Colin B. Phillips, and Brendan P. Murphy
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 27–43, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-27-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-27-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The influence of watershed disturbances has proved challenging to disentangle from natural streamflow variability. This study evaluates the influence of time-varying hydrologic controls on rainfall–runoff in undisturbed and wildfire-disturbed watersheds using a novel time-series event separation method. Across watersheds, water year type and season influenced rainfall–runoff patterns. Accounting for these controls enabled clearer isolation of wildfire effects.
Fabian Merk, Timo Schaffhauser, Faizan Anwar, Ye Tuo, Jean-Martial Cohard, and Markus Disse
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5511–5539, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5511-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5511-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Evapotranspiration (ET) is computed from the vegetation (plant transpiration) and soil (soil evaporation). In western Africa, plant transpiration correlates with vegetation growth. Vegetation is often represented using the leaf area index (LAI). In this study, we evaluate the importance of the LAI for ET calculation. We take a close look at this interaction and highlight its relevance. Our work contributes to the understanding of terrestrial water cycle processes .
Eshrat Fatima, Rohini Kumar, Sabine Attinger, Maren Kaluza, Oldrich Rakovec, Corinna Rebmann, Rafael Rosolem, Sascha E. Oswald, Luis Samaniego, Steffen Zacharias, and Martin Schrön
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5419–5441, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5419-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5419-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study establishes a framework to incorporate cosmic-ray neutron measurements into the mesoscale Hydrological Model (mHM). We evaluate different approaches to estimate neutron counts within the mHM using the Desilets equation, with uniformly and non-uniformly weighted average soil moisture, and the physically based code COSMIC. The data improved not only soil moisture simulations but also the parameterisation of evapotranspiration in the model.
Laia Estrada, Xavier Garcia, Joan Saló-Grau, Rafael Marcé, Antoni Munné, and Vicenç Acuña
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5353–5373, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5353-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5353-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrological modelling is a powerful tool to support decision-making. We assessed spatio-temporal patterns and trends of streamflow for 2001–2022 with a hydrological model, integrating stakeholder expert knowledge on management operations. The results provide insight into how climate change and anthropogenic pressures affect water resources availability in regions vulnerable to water scarcity, thus raising the need for sustainable management practices and integrated hydrological modelling.
Patricio Yeste, Matilde García-Valdecasas Ojeda, Sonia R. Gámiz-Fortis, Yolanda Castro-Díez, Axel Bronstert, and María Jesús Esteban-Parra
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5331–5352, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5331-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5331-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Integrating streamflow and evaporation data can help improve the physical realism of hydrologic models. We investigate the capabilities of the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) to reproduce both hydrologic variables for 189 headwater located in Spain. Results from sensitivity analyses indicate that adding two vegetation parameters is enough to improve the representation of evaporation and that the performance of VIC exceeded that of the largest modelling effort currently available in Spain.
Daniel T. Myers, David Jones, Diana Oviedo-Vargas, John Paul Schmit, Darren L. Ficklin, and Xuesong Zhang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5295–5310, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5295-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5295-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We studied how streamflow and water quality models respond to land cover data collected by satellites during the growing season versus the non-growing season. The land cover data showed more trees during the growing season and more built areas during the non-growing season. We next found that the use of non-growing season data resulted in a higher modeled nutrient export to streams. Knowledge of these sensitivities would be particularly important when models inform water resource management.
Hatice Türk, Christine Stumpp, Markus Hrachowitz, Karsten Schulz, Peter Strauss, Günter Blöschl, and Michael Stockinger
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-359, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-359, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
Using advances in transit time estimation and tracer data, we tested if fast-flow transit times are controlled solely by soil moisture or are also controlled by precipitation intensity. We used soil moisture-dependent and precipitation intensity-conditional transfer functions. We showed that significant portion of event water bypasses the soil matrix through fast flow paths (overland flow, tile drains, preferential flow paths) in dry soil conditions for both low and high-intensity precipitation.
Kevin R. Shook, Paul H. Whitfield, Christopher Spence, and John W. Pomeroy
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 5173–5192, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5173-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-5173-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Recent studies suggest that the velocities of water running off landscapes in the Canadian Prairies may be much smaller than generally assumed. Analyses of historical flows for 23 basins in central Alberta show that many of the rivers responded more slowly and that the flows are much slower than would be estimated from equations developed elsewhere. The effects of slow flow velocities on the development of hydrological models of the region are discussed, as are the possible causes.
Alberto Bassi, Marvin Höge, Antonietta Mira, Fabrizio Fenicia, and Carlo Albert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4971–4988, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4971-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4971-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The goal is to remove the impact of meteorological drivers in order to uncover the unique landscape fingerprints of a catchment from streamflow data. Our results reveal an optimal two-feature summary for most catchments, with a third feature associated with aridity and intermittent flow that is needed for challenging cases. Baseflow index, aridity, and soil or vegetation attributes strongly correlate with learnt features, indicating their importance for streamflow prediction.
Anjana Devanand, Jason Evans, Andy Pitman, Sujan Pal, David Gochis, and Kevin Sampson
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3148, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3148, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Including lateral flow increases evapotranspiration near major river channels in high-resolution land surface simulations in southeast Australia, consistent with observations. The 1-km resolution model shows a widespread pattern of dry ridges that does not exist at coarser resolutions. Our results have implications for improved simulations of droughts and future water availability.
Sylvain Payraudeau, Pablo Alvarez-Zaldivar, Paul van Dijk, and Gwenaël Imfeld
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2840, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2840, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our study focuses on the rising concern of pesticides damaging aquatic ecosystems, which puts drinking water, the environment, and human health at risk. We provided more accurate estimates of how pesticides break down and spread in small water systems, helping to improve pesticide management practices. By using unique chemical markers in our analysis, we enhanced the accuracy of our predictions, offering important insights for better protection of water sources and natural ecosystems.
Guillaume Thirel, Léonard Santos, Olivier Delaigue, and Charles Perrin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4837–4860, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4837-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4837-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We discuss how mathematical transformations impact calibrated hydrological model simulations. We assess how 11 transformations behave over the complete range of streamflows. Extreme transformations lead to models that are specialized for extreme streamflows but show poor performance outside the range of targeted streamflows and are less robust. We show that no a priori assumption about transformations can be taken as warranted.
Vishal Thakur, Yannis Markonis, Rohini Kumar, Johanna Ruth Thomson, Mijael Rodrigo Vargas Godoy, Martin Hanel, and Oldrich Rakovec
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-341, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-341, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding the changes in water movement in earth is crucial for everyone. To quantify this water movement there are several techniques. We examined how different methods of estimating evaporation impact predictions of various types of water movement across Europe. We found that, while these methods generally agree on whether changes are increasing or decreasing, they differ in magnitude. This means selecting the right evaporation method is crucial for accurate predictions of water movement.
Robert Hull, Elena Leonarduzzi, Luis De La Fuente, Hoang Viet Tran, Andrew Bennett, Peter Melchior, Reed M. Maxwell, and Laura E. Condon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4685–4713, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4685-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4685-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Large-scale hydrologic simulators are a needed tool to explore complex watershed processes and how they may evolve with a changing climate. However, calibrating them can be difficult because they are costly to run and have many unknown parameters. We implement a state-of-the-art approach to model calibration using neural networks with a set of experiments based on streamflow in the upper Colorado River basin.
Nan Wu, Ke Zhang, Amir Naghibi, Hossein Hashemi, Zhongrui Ning, Qinuo Zhang, Xuejun Yi, Haijun Wang, Wei Liu, Wei Gao, and Jerker Jarsjö
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-324, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-324, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
The hydrology of cold regions in the human population is poorly understood due to complex motion and limited data, hindering streamflow analysis. Using existing models, we compared runoff from an extended model with snowmelt and frozen ground, validating its reliability and integration. This study focuses on the effects of snowmelt and frozen ground on runoff, affecting precipitation type, surface-groundwater partitioning, and evapotranspiration.
Cited articles
Angermann, L., Jackisch, C., Allroggen, N., Sprenger, M., Zehe, E., Tronicke,
J., Weiler, M., and Blume, T.: Form and function in hillslope hydrology:
characterization of subsurface flow based on response observations, Hydrol.
Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3727–3748, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3727-2017, 2017. a, b, c
Antonelli, M., Glaser, B., Teuling, A. J., Klaus, J., and Pfister, L.:
Saturated areas through the lens: 1. Spatio-temporal variability of surface
saturation documented through thermal infrared imagery, Hydrol. Process., 34, 1310–1332, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13698, 2020a. a
Antonelli, M., Glaser, B., Teuling, A J., Klaus, J., and Pfister, L.:
Saturated areas through the lens: 2. Spatio-temporal variability of
streamflow generation and its relationship with surface saturation, Hydrol. Process, 34, 1333–1349, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13607, 2020b. a
Bajjali, W.: Spatial variability of environmental isotope and chemical content of precipitation in Jordan and evidence of slight change in climate, Appl. Water Sci., 2, 271–283, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-012-0046-1, 2012. a
Begemann, F. and Libby, W.: Continental water balance, ground water inventory
and storage times, surface ocean mixing rates and world-wide water circulation patterns from cosmic-ray and bomb tritium, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 12, 277–296, https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(57)90040-6, 1957. a
Benettin, P. and Bertuzzo, E.: tran-SAS v1.0: a numerical model to
compute catchment-scale hydrologic transport using StorAge Selection
functions, Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 1627–1639, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-1627-2018, 2018. a
Benettin, P., Bailey, S. W., Campbell, J. L., Green, M. B., Rinaldo, A.,
Likens, G. E., McGuire, K. J., and Botter, G.: Linking water age and solute
dynamics in streamflow at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, NH, USA,
Water Resour. Res., 51, 9256–9272, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015WR017552, 2015a. a, b, c, d
Benettin, P., Rinaldo, A., and Botter, G.: Tracking residence times in
hydrological systems: forward and backward formulations, Hydrol. Process., 29, 5203–5213, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10513, 2015b. a
Benettin, P., Bailey, S. W., Rinaldo, A., Likens, G. E., McGuire, K. J., and
Botter, G.: Young runoff fractions control streamwater age and solute
concentration dynamics, Hydrol. Process., 31, 2982–2986,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11243, 2017a. a
Benettin, P., Soulsby, C., Birkel, C., Tetzlaff, D., Botter, G., and Rinaldo,
A.: Using SAS functions and high-resolution isotope data to unravel travel
time distributions in headwater catchments, Water Resour. Res., 53, 1864–1878, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR020117, 2017b. a, b
Berman, E. S. F., Gupta, M., Gabrielli, C., Garland, T., and McDonnell, J. J.: High-frequency field-deployable isotope analyzer for hydrological
applications, Water Resour. Res., 45, W10201, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009WR008265, 2009. a
Berry, Z. C., Evaristo, J., Moore, G., Poca, M., Steppe, K., Verrot, L.,
Asbjornsen, H., Borma, L. S., Bretfeld, M., Hervé-Fernández, P., Seyfried, M., Schwendenmann, L., Sinacore, K., De Wispelaere, L., and McDonnell, J.: The two water worlds hypothesis: Addressing multiple working hypotheses and proposing a way forward, Ecohydrology, 11, e1843, https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1843, 2018. a
Bethke, C. M. and Johnson, T. M.: Groundwater Age and Groundwater Age Dating,
Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 36, 121–152, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.36.031207.124210, 2008. a
Beven, K. and Binley, A.: The future of distributed models: Model calibration
and uncertainty prediction, Hydrol. Process., 6, 279–298, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.3360060305, 1992. a, b
Birkel, C., Soulsby, C., and Tetzlaff, D.: Modelling catchment-scale water
storage dynamics: reconciling dynamic storage with tracer-inferred passive
storage, Hydrol. Process., 25, 3924–3936, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8201, 2011. a, b
Birkel, C., Soulsby, C., and Tetzlaff, D.: Conceptual modelling to assess how
the interplay of hydrological connectivity, catchment storage and tracer
dynamics controls nonstationary water age estimates, Hydrol. Process., 29, 2956–2969, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10414, 2015. a, b
Botter, G., Bertuzzo, E., and Rinaldo, A.: Catchment residence and travel time distributions: The master equation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L11403, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL047666, 2011. a, b
Brooks, J. R., Barnard, H. R., Coulombe, R., and McDonnell, J. J.: Ecohydrologic separation of water between trees and streams in a Mediterranean climate, Nat. Geosci., 3, 100–104, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo722, 2010. a
Buttafuoco, G., Caloiero, T., and Coscarelli, R.: Spatial uncertainty assessment in modelling reference evapotranspiration at regional scale, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 2319–2327, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-2319-2010, 2010. a
Buttle, J.: Isotope hydrograph separations and rapid delivery of pre-event
water from drainage basins, Prog. Phys. Geogr., 18, 16–41, https://doi.org/10.1177/030913339401800102, 1994. a
Buzacott, A. J., van der Velde, Y., Keitel, C., and Vervoort, R. W.:
Constraining water age dynamics in a south-eastern Australian catchment using
an age-ranked storage and stable isotope approach, Hydrol. Process., 34, 4384–4403, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13880, 2020. a
Carrer, G. E., Klaus, J., and Pfister, L.: Assessing the Catchment Storage
Function Through a Dual-Storage Concept, Water Resour. Res., 55, 476–494, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR022856, 2019. a, b, c
Cartwright, I. and Morgenstern, U.: Contrasting transit times of water from
peatlands and eucalypt forests in the Australian Alps determined by tritium:
implications for vulnerability and the source of water in upland catchments,
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 4757–4773, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4757-2016, 2016. a
Criss, R. E. and Winston, W. E.: Do Nash values have value? Discussion and
alternate proposals, Hydrol. Process., 22, 2723–2725, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7072, 2008. a
Crouzet, E., Hubert, P., Olive, P., Siwertz, E., and Marce, A.: Le tritium dans les mesures d'hydrologie de surface. Determination experimentale du
coefficient de ruissellement, J. Hydrol., 11, 217–229,
https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(70)90063-6, 1970. a, b
Delsman, J. R., Essink, G. H. P. O., Beven, K. J., and Stuyfzand, P. J.:
Uncertainty estimation of end-member mixing using generalized likelihood
uncertainty estimation (GLUE), applied in a lowland catchment, Water Resour. Res., 49, 4792–4806, https://doi.org/10.1002/wrcr.20341, 2013. a
Devell, L.: Measurements of the Self-diffusion of Water in Pure Water, H2O-D2O Mixtures and Solutions of Electrolytes, Acta Chem. Scand., 16, 2177–2188, https://doi.org/10.3891/acta.chem.scand.16-2177, 1962. a
Dinçer, T., Payne, B. R., Florkowski, T., Martinec, J., and Tongiorgi, E.: Snowmelt runoff from measurements of tritium and oxygen-18, Water Resour. Res., 6, 110–124, https://doi.org/10.1029/WR006i001p00110, 1970. a, b, c, d
Doherty, J. and Johnston, J. M.: Methodologies For Calibration And Predictive Analysis Of A Watershed Model, J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc., 39, 251–265, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.2003.tb04381.x, 2003. a
Dralle, D. N., Hahm, W. J., Rempe, D. M., Karst, N. J., Thompson, S. E., and
Dietrich, W. E.: Quantification of the seasonal hillslope water storage that
does not drive streamflow, Hydrol. Process., 32, 1978–1992, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11627, 2018. a
Dubbert, M., Caldeira, M. C., Dubbert, D., and Werner, C.: A pool-weighted
perspective on the two-water-worlds hypothesis, New Phytol., 222, 1271–1283, https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15670, 2019. a
Duvert, C., Stewart, M. K., Cendón, D. I., and Raiber, M.: Time series of
tritium, stable isotopes and chloride reveal short-term variations in
groundwater contribution to a stream, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 257–277, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-257-2016, 2016. a, b
Ehret, U. and Zehe, E.: Series distance – an intuitive metric to quantify
hydrograph similarity in terms of occurrence, amplitude and timing of
hydrological events, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 877–896,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-877-2011, 2011. a
Eriksson, E.: The Possible Use of Tritium' for Estimating Groundwater Storage, Tellus, 10, 472–478, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2153-3490.1958.tb02035.x, 1958. a
Etter, S., Strobl, B., Seibert, J., and van Meerveld, H. J. I.: Value of
uncertain streamflow observations for hydrological modelling, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5243–5257, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5243-2018, 2018. a
Fenicia, F., Wrede, S., Kavetski, D., Pfister, L., Hoffmann, L., Savenije, H.
H. G., and McDonnell, J. J.: Assessing the impact of mixing assumptions on
the estimation of streamwater mean residence time, Hydrol. Process., 24, 1730–1741, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7595, 2010. a, b, c
Fenicia, F., Kavetski, D., Savenije, H. H. G., Clark, M. P., Schoups, G.,
Pfister, L., and Freer, J.: Catchment properties, function, and conceptual
model representation: is there a correspondence?, Hydrol. Process., 28,
2451–2467, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9726, 2014. a
Fenicia, F., Kavetski, D., Savenije, H. H. G., and Pfister, L.: From spatially variable streamflow to distributed hydrological models: Analysis of key modeling decisions, Water Resour. Res., 52, 954–989,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2015WR017398, 2016. a
Gabrielli, C. P., Morgenstern, U., Stewart, M. K., and McDonnell, J. J.:
Contrasting Groundwater and Streamflow Ages at the Maimai Watershed, Water
Resour. Res., 54, 3937–3957, https://doi.org/10.1029/2017WR021825, 2018. a
Gallart, F., Roig-Planasdemunt, M., Stewart, M. K., Llorens, P., Morgenstern,
U., Stichler, W., Pfister, L., and Latron, J.: A GLUE-based uncertainty
assessment framework for tritium-inferred transit time estimations under
baseflow conditions, Hydrol. Process., 30, 4741–4760, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10991, 2016. a, b, c, d
Glaser, B., Klaus, J., Frei, S., Frentress, J., Pfister, L., and Hopp, L.: On
the value of surface saturated area dynamics mapped with thermal infrared
imagery for modeling the hillslope-riparian-stream continuum, Water Resour.
Res., 52, 8317–8342, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015WR018414, 2016. a, b, c, d, e
Glaser, B., Antonelli, M., Chini, M., Pfister, L., and Klaus, J.: Technical
note: Mapping surface-saturation dynamics with thermal infrared imagery, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5987–6003,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5987-2018, 2018. a
Glaser, B., Jackisch, C., Hopp, L., and Klaus, J.: How meaningful are plot-scale observations and simulations of preferential flow for catchment
models?, Vadose Zone J., 18, 1–18, https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2018.08.0146, 2019. a, b, c
Glaser, B., Antonelli, M., Hopp, L., and Klaus, J.: Intra-catchment variability of surface saturation – insights from physically based simulations in comparison with biweekly thermal infrared image observations, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1393–1413, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1393-2020, 2020. a, b, c
Graham, C. B., van Verseveld, W., Barnard, H. R., and McDonnell, J. J.:
Estimating the deep seepage component of the hillslope and catchment water
balance within a measurement uncertainty framework, Hydrol. Process., 24, 3631–3647, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7788, 2010. a
Gupta, P., Noone, D., Galewsky, J., Sweeney, C., and Vaughn, B. H.:
Demonstration of high-precision continuous measurements of water vapor
isotopologues in laboratory and remote field deployments using
wavelength-scanned cavity ring-down spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) technology, Rapid
Commun. Mass Spectrom., 23, 2534–2542, https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.4100, 2009. a
Gusyev, M. A., Toews, M., Morgenstern, U., Stewart, M., White, P., Daughney,
C., and Hadfield, J.: Calibration of a transient transport model to tritium
data in streams and simulation of groundwater ages in the western Lake Taupo
catchment, New Zealand, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1217–1227,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1217-2013, 2013. a
Halder, J., Terzer, S., Wassenaar, L. I., Araguás-Araguás, L. J., and
Aggarwal, P. K.: The Global Network of Isotopes in Rivers (GNIR): integration
of water isotopes in watershed observation and riverine research, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3419–3431, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3419-2015, 2015. a
Harman, C. J.: Time-variable transit time distributions and transport: Theory
and application to storage-dependent transport of chloride in a watershed,
Water Resour. Res., 51, 1–30, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014WR015707, 2015. a, b, c
Heidbuechel, I., Troch, P. A., Lyon, S. W., and Weiler, M.: The master transit time distribution of variable flow systems, Water Resour. Res., 48, W06520, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR011293, 2012. a
Helton, J. and Davis, F.: Latin hypercube sampling and the propagation of
uncertainty in analyses of complex systems, Reliabil. Eng. Syst. Saf., 81, 23–69, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0951-8320(03)00058-9, 2003. a, b
Herbstritt, B., Gralher, B., and Weiler, M.: Continuous in situ measurements of stable isotopes in liquid water, Water Resour. Res., 48, W03601, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR011369, 2012. a
Herbstritt, B., Gralher, B., and Weiler, M.: Continuous, near-real-time
observations of water stable isotope ratios during rainfall and throughfall
events, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3007–3019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3007-2019, 2019. a
Hissler, C., Martínez-Carreras, N., Barnich, F., Gourdol, L., Iffly, J. F., Juilleret, J., Klaus, J., and Pfister, L.: The Weierbach experimental catchment in Luxembourg: a decade of critical zone monitoring in a temperate forest – from hydrological investigations to ecohydrological perspectives, Version 1.0, Zenodo, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4061554, 2020. a
Hrachowitz, M., Soulsby, C., Tetzlaff, D., and Malcolm, I. A.: Sensitivity of
mean transit time estimates to model conditioning and data availability, Hydrol. Process., 25, 980–990, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7922, 2011. a
Hrachowitz, M., Savenije, H., Bogaard, T. A., Tetzlaff, D., and Soulsby, C.:
What can flux tracking teach us about water age distribution patterns and
their temporal dynamics?, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 533–564, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-533-2013, 2013. a, b
Hrachowitz, M., Benettin, P., Breukelen, B. M. V., Fovet, O., Howden, N. J. K., Ruiz, L., Velde, Y. V. D., and Wade, A. J.: Transit times – the link
between hydrology and water quality at the catchment scale, Wiley Interdisciplin. Rev.: Water, 3, 629–657, https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1155, 2016. a
Hubert, P., Marin, E., Meybeck, M., Olive, P., and Siwertz, E.: Aspects
Hydrologiques, Géochimiques et Sédimentologique de la Crue
Exceptionnelle de la Dranse du Chablais du 22 Septembre 1968, in: Archives des Sciences, volume 22, fascicule 1, edited by: la Société de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Genève, Geneva, 581–604, 1969. a, b, c
IAEA: Global Network of Isotopes in Rivers, The GNIR Database, available at:
https://nucleus.iaea.org/wiser (last access: 24 January 2021), 2019. a
Jackisch, C., Angermann, L., Allroggen, N., Sprenger, M., Blume, T., Tronicke, J., and Zehe, E.: Form and function in hillslope hydrology: in situ imaging and characterization of flow-relevant structures, Hydrol. Earth Syst.
Sci., 21, 3749–3775, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3749-2017, 2017. a
Juilleret, J., Dondeyne, S., Vancampenhout, K., Deckers, J., and Hissler, C.:
Mind the gap: A classification system for integrating the subsolum into soil
surveys, Geoderma, 264, 332–339, 2016. a
Keim, R. F., Kendall, C., and Jefferson, A.: The Expanding Utility of Laser
Spectroscopy, Eos Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, 95, 144–144,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2014EO170007, 2014. a
Kendall, C. and McDonnell, J. J.: Isotope tracers in catchment hydrology,
Elsevier, Amsterdam, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-81546-0.50001-X, 1998. a, b
Kirchner, J. W.: A double paradox in catchment hydrology and geochemistry,
Hydrol. Process., 17, 871–874, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5108, 2003. a
Kirchner, J. W.: Aggregation in environmental systems – Part 1: Seasonal
tracer cycles quantify young water fractions, but not mean transit times, in
spatially heterogeneous catchments, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 279–297, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-279-2016, 2016. a, b
Klaus, J. and McDonnell, J.: Hydrograph separation using stable isotopes:
Review and evaluation, J. Hydrol., 505, 47–64, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.09.006, 2013. a, b
Klaus, J. and Zehe, E.: Modelling rapid flow response of a tile-drained field
site using a 2D physically based model: assessment of `equifinal' model
setups, Hydrol. Process., 24, 1595–1609, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7687, 2010. a, b
Klaus, J., Chun, K. P., McGuire, K. J., and McDonnell, J. J.: Temporal dynamics of catchment transit times from stable isotope data, Water Resour.
Res., 51, 4208–4223, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014WR016247, 2015a. a
Koehler, G. and Wassenaar, L. I.: Realtime Stable Isotope Monitoring of Natural Waters by Parallel-Flow Laser Spectroscopy, Anal. Chem., 83, 913–919, https://doi.org/10.1021/ac102584q, pMID: 21214188, 2011. a
Kreft, A. and Zuber, A.: On the physical meaning of the dispersion equation and its solutions for different initial and boundary conditions, Chem. Eng. Sci. 33, 1471–1480, https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2509(78)85196-3, 1978. a
Lis, G., Wassenaar, L. I., and Hendry, M. J.: High-Precision Laser Spectroscopy D∕H and 18O∕16O Measurements of Microliter Natural Water Samples, Anal. Chem., 80, 287–293, https://doi.org/10.1021/ac701716q, 2008. a
Loritz, R., Gupta, H., Jackisch, C., Westhoff, M., Kleidon, A., Ehret, U., and Zehe, E.: On the dynamic nature of hydrological similarity, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3663–3684, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3663-2018, 2018. a
Loritz, R., Kleidon, A., Jackisch, C., Westhoff, M., Ehret, U., Gupta, H., and Zehe, E.: A topographic index explaining hydrological similarity by
accounting for the joint controls of runoff formation, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3807–3821, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3807-2019, 2019. a
Maher, K.: The role of fluid residence time and topographic scales in
determining chemical fluxes from landscapes, Earth Planet. Sc. Lett., 312, 48–58, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2011.09.040, 2011. a
Małoszewski, P. and Zuber, A.: Determining the turnover time of groundwater systems with the aid of environmental tracers: 1. Models and their applicability, J. Hydrol., 57, 207–231,
https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(82)90147-0, 1982. a, b, c, d
Małoszewski, P. and Zuber, A.: Principles and practice of calibration and validation of mathematical models for the interpretation of environmental tracer data in aquifers, Adv. Water Resour., 16, 173–190,
https://doi.org/10.1016/0309-1708(93)90036-F, 1993. a
Małoszewski, P., Rauert, W., Stichler, W., and Herrmann, A.: Application of flow models in an alpine catchment area using tritium and deuterium data, J. Hydrol., 66, 319–330, https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(83)90193-2, 1983. a, b, c
Martinec, J.: Subsurface flow from snowmelt traced by tritium, Water Resour. Res., 11, 496–498, https://doi.org/10.1029/WR011i003p00496, 1975. a
Martínez-Carreras, N., Wetzel, C. E., Frentress, J., Ector, L., McDonnell, J. J., Hoffmann, L., and Pfister, L.: Hydrological connectivity inferred from diatom transport through the riparian-stream system, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3133–3151, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3133-2015, 2015. a, b, c
Martínez-Carreras, N., Hissler, C., Gourdol, L., Klaus, J., Juilleret, J., Iffly, J. F., and Pfister, L.: Storage controls on the generation of double peak hydrographs in a forested headwater catchment, J. Hydrol., 543, 255–269, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.10.004, 2016. a, b, c, d
McCutcheon, R. J., McNamara, J. P., Kohn, M. J., and Evans, S. L.: An
evaluation of the ecohydrological separation hypothesis in a semiarid catchment, Hydrol. Process., 31, 783–799, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11052, 2017. a
McDonnell, J. J.: The two water worlds hypothesis: ecohydrological separation
of water between streams and trees?, Wiley Interdisciplin. Rev.: Water, 1, 323–329, https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1027, 2014. a
McDonnell, J. J. and Beven, K. J.: Debates on Water Resources: The future of
hydrological sciences: A (common) path forward? A call to action aimed at
understanding velocities, celerities and residence time distributions of the
headwater hydrograph, Water Resour. Res., 50, 5342–5350, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013WR015141, 2014. a
McGuire, K. J. and McDonnell, J. J.: A review and evaluation of catchment
transit time modeling, J. Hydrol., 330, 543–563, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.04.020, 2006. a, b, c, d
McGuire, K. J., McDonnell, J. J., Weiler, M., Kendall, C., McGlynn, B. L.,
Welker, J. M., and Seibert, J.: The role of topography on catchment-scale
water residence time, Water Resour. Res., 41, W05002, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004WR003657, 2005. a
McMahon, T. A., Peel, M. C., Lowe, L., Srikanthan, R., and McVicar, T. R.:
Estimating actual, potential, reference crop and pan evaporation using
standard meteorological data: a pragmatic synthesis, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1331–1363, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1331-2013, 2013. a
McMillan, H., Krueger, T., and Freer, J.: Benchmarking observational
uncertainties for hydrology: rainfall, river discharge and water quality,
Hydrol. Process., 26, 4078–4111, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9384, 2012. a
Michelsen, N., Laube, G., Friesen, J., Weise, S. M., Bait Said, A. B. A., and
Müller, T.: Technical note: A microcontroller-based automatic rain sampler for stable isotope studies, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2637–2645, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2637-2019, 2019. a
Moragues-Quiroga, C., Juilleret, J., Gourdol, L., Pelt, E., Perrone, T.,
Aubert, A., Morvan, G., Chabaux, F., Legout, A., Stille, P., and Hissler, C.:
Genesis and evolution of regoliths: Evidence from trace and major elements
and Sr-Nd-Pb-U isotopes, Catena, 149, 185–198, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2016.09.015, 2017. a
Morgenstern, U. and Taylor, C. B.: Ultra low-level tritium measurement using
electrolytic enrichment and LSC, Isotop. Environ. Health Stud., 45, 96–117, https://doi.org/10.1080/10256010902931194, 2009. a, b
Munksgaard, N. C., Wurster, C. M., and Bird, M. I.: Continuous analysis of
δ18O and δD values of water by diffusion sampling cavity ring-down spectrometry: a novel sampling device for unattended field monitoring of precipitation, ground and surface waters, Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom., 25, 3706–3712, https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.5282, 2011. a
Östlund, G. H.: Hurricane Tritium I: Preliminary Results on Hilda 1964 and Betsy 1965, AGU – American Geophysical Union, available at: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1029/GM011 (last access: 24 January 2021), 2013. a
Palcsu, L., Morgenstern, U., Sültenfuss, J., Koltai, G., László,
E., Temovski, M., Major, Z., Nagy, J. T., Papp, L., Varlam, C., Faurescu, I.,
Túri, M., Rinyu, L., Czuppon, G., Bottyán, E., and Jull, A. J. T.:
Modulation of Cosmogenic Tritium in Meteoric Precipitation by the 11-year
Cycle of Solar Magnetic Field Activity, Scient. Rep., 8, 12813,
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-31208-9, 2018. a
Pangle, L. A., Klaus, J., Berman, E. S. F., Gupta, M., and McDonnell, J. J.: A new multisource and high-frequency approach to measuring δ2H and δ18O in hydrological field studies, Water Resour. Res., 49, 7797–7803, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013WR013743, 2013. a, b
Parsekian, A. D., Singha, K., Minsley, B. J., Holbrook, W. S., and Slater, L.: Multiscale geophysical imaging of the critical zone, Rev. Geophys., 53, 1–26, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014RG000465, 2015. a
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. a, b, c, d, e, f, g
Pfister, L., Thielen, F., Deloule, E., Valle, N., Lentzen, E., Grave, C.,
Beisel, J.-N., and McDonnell, J. J.: Freshwater pearl mussels as a stream
water stable isotope recorder, Ecohydrology, 11, e2007, https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2007, 2018. a
Pfister, L., Grave, C., Beisel, J.-N., and McDonnell, J. J.: A global
assessment of freshwater mollusk shell oxygen isotope signatures and their
relation to precipitation and stream water, Scient. Rep., 9, 4312,
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-40369-0, 2019. a
Pool, S., Viviroli, D., and Seibert, J.: Prediction of hydrographs and
flow-duration curves in almost ungauged catchments: Which runoff measurements
are most informative for model calibration?, J. Hydrol., 554, 613–622, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.09.037, 2017. a
Rank, D., Wyhlidal, S., Schott, K., Weigand, S., and Oblin, A.: Temporal and
spatial distribution of isotopes in river water in Central Europe: 50 years
experience with the Austrian network of isotopes in rivers, Isotop. Environ. Health Stud., 54, 115–136, https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2017.1383906, 2018. a, b
Rinaldo, A. and Marani, A.: Basin scale-model of solute transport, Water Resour. Res., 23, 2107–2118, https://doi.org/10.1029/WR023i011p02107, 1987. a
Rinaldo, A., Benettin, P., Harman, C. J., Hrachowitz, M., McGuire, K. J.,
van der Velde, Y., Bertuzzo, E., and Botter, G.: Storage selection functions:
A coherent framework for quantifying how catchments store and release water
and solutes, Water Resour. Res., 51, 4840–4847, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015WR017273, 2015. a
Rodriguez, N. B.: Composite StorAge Selection based model of deuterium and tritium transport in the Weierbach catchment, available at: https://git.list.lu/catchment-eco-hydro/composite_sas_model_2h_3h_weierbach, last access: 23 January 2021. a
Rodriguez, N. B., McGuire, K. J., and Klaus, J.: Time-Varying Storage-Water Age Relationships in a Catchment With a Mediterranean Climate, Water Resour.
Res., 54, 3988–4008, https://doi.org/10.1029/2017wr021964, 2018. a, b
Rodriguez, N. B., Benettin, P., and Klaus, J.: Multimodal water age
distributions and the challenge of complex hydrological landscapes, Hydrol. Process., 34, 2707–2724, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13770, 2020. a, b
Różański, K., Froehlich, K., and Mook, W. G.: Environmental Isotopes in the Hydrological Cycle, Principles and Applications, in: Volume III: Surface water, IAEA and UNESCO, Paris, 2001. a
Scaini, A., Audebert, M., Hissler, C., Fenicia, F., Gourdol, L., Pfister, L.,
and Beven, K. J.: Velocity and celerity dynamics at plot scale inferred from
artificial tracing experiments and time-lapse ERT, J. Hydrol., 546, 28–43, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.12.035, 2017. a, b, c
Scaini, A., Hissler, C., Fenicia, F., Juilleret, J., Iffly, J. F., Pfister, L., and Beven, K.: Hillslope response to sprinkling and natural rainfall using velocity and celerity estimates in a slate-bedrock catchment, J. Hydrol., 558, 366–379, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.12.011, 2018. a, b, c
Schaefli, B. and Gupta, H. V.: Do Nash values have value?, Hydrol. Process., 21, 2075–2080, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6825, 2007. a, b
Schmidt, A., Frank, G., Stichler, W., Duester, L., Steinkopff, T., and Stumpp, C.: Overview of tritium records from precipitation and surface waters in Germany, Hydrol. Process., 34, 1489–1493, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13691, 2020. a
Schoups, G. and Vrugt, J. A.: A formal likelihood function for parameter and
predictive inference of hydrologic models with correlated, heteroscedastic,
and non-Gaussian errors, Water Resour. Res., 46, W10531, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009WR008933, 2010. a
Schwab, M. P., Klaus, J., Pfister, L., and Weiler, M.: Diel fluctuations of
viscosity-driven riparian inflow affect streamflow DOC concentration,
Biogeosciences, 15, 2177–2188, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-2177-2018, 2018. a
Seibert, J.: On the need for benchmarks in hydrological modelling, Hydrol. Process., 15, 1063–1064, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.446, 2001. a
Seibert, S. P., Ehret, U., and Zehe, E.: Disentangling timing and amplitude
errors in streamflow simulations, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3745–3763, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3745-2016, 2016. a, b
Soulsby, C., Tetzlaff, D., and Hrachowitz, M.: Tracers and transit times:
windows for viewing catchment scale storage?, Hydrol. Process., 23, 3503–3507, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7501, 2009. a, b
Soulsby, C., Piegat, K., Seibert, J., and Tetzlaff, D.: Catchment-scale
estimates of flow path partitioning and water storage based on transit time
and runoff modelling, Hydrol. Process., 25, 3960–3976, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8324, 2011. a
Sprenger, M., Leistert, H., Gimbel, K., and Weiler, M.: Illuminating
hydrological processes at the soil-vegetation-atmosphere interface with water
stable isotopes, Rev. Geophys., 54, 674–704, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015RG000515, 2016. a
Sprenger, M., Stumpp, C., Weiler, M., Aeschbach, W., Allen, S. T., Benettin,
P., Dubbert, M., Hartmann, A., Hrachowitz, M., Kirchner, J. W., McDonnell, J. J., Orlowski, N., Penna, D., Pfahl, S., Rinderer, M., Rodriguez, N., Schmidt, M., and Werner, C.: The demographics of water: A review of water ages in the critical zone, Rev. Geophys., 57, 800–834, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018RG000633, 2019. a
Stamoulis, K., Ioannides, K., Kassomenos, P., and Vlachogianni, A.: Tritium
Concentration in Rainwater Samples in Northwestern Greece, Fusion Sci. Technol., 48, 512–515, https://doi.org/10.13182/FST05-A978, 2005. a
Stewart, M. K. and Morgenstern, U.: Importance of tritium-based transit times
in hydrological systems, Wiley Interdisciplin. Rev.: Water, 3, 145–154,
https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1134, 2016. a, b
Stewart, M. K. and Thomas, J. T.: A conceptual model of flow to the Waikoropupu Springs, NW Nelson, New Zealand, based on hydrometric and tracer (18O, Cl, 3H and CFC) evidence, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 12, 1–19, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-12-1-2008, 2008. a, b, c
Stewart, M. K., Mehlhorn, J., and Elliott, S.: Hydrometric and natural tracer
(oxygen-18, silica, tritium and sulphur hexafluoride) evidence for a dominant
groundwater contribution to Pukemanga Stream, New Zealand, Hydrol. Process., 21, 3340–3356, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6557, 2007. a, b, c, d
Stewart, M. K., Morgenstern, U., Gusyev, M. A., and Małoszewski, P.:
Aggregation effects on tritium-based mean transit times and young water fractions in spatially heterogeneous catchments and groundwater systems, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4615–4627,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4615-2017, 2017. a
Stumpp, C., Klaus, J., and Stichler, W.: Analysis of long-term stable isotopic composition in German precipitation, J. Hydrol., 517, 351–361,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.05.034, 2014. a
Thiesen, S., Darscheid, P., and Ehret, U.: Identifying rainfall-runoff events
in discharge time series: a data-driven method based on information theory,
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1015–1034, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1015-2019, 2019. a
Uhlenbrook, S., Frey, M., Leibundgut, C., and Maloszewski, P.: Hydrograph
separations in a mesoscale mountainous basin at event and seasonal timescales, Water Resour. Res., 38, 31-1–31-14, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001WR000938, 2002. a, b
van der Velde, Y., Heidbüchel, I., Lyon, S. W., Nyberg, L., Rodhe, A.,
Bishop, K., and Troch, P. A.: Consequences of mixing assumptions for
time-variable travel time distributions, Hydrol. Process., 29, 3460–3474, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10372, 2015. a, b, c, d
van Meerveld, H. J. I., Kirchner, J. W., Vis, M. J. P., Assendelft, R. S., and Seibert, J.: Expansion and contraction of the flowing stream network alter hillslope flowpath lengths and the shape of the travel time distribution, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4825–4834, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4825-2019, 2019. a
Visser, A., Thaw, M., Deinhart, A., Bibby, R., Safeeq, M., Conklin, M., Esser, B., and Van der Velde, Y.: Cosmogenic Isotopes Unravel the Hydrochronology and Water Storage Dynamics of the Southern Sierra Critical Zone, Water Resour. Res., 55, 1429–1450, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR023665, 2019. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h
von Freyberg, J., Studer, B., and Kirchner, J. W.: A lab in the field:
high-frequency analysis of water quality and stable isotopes in stream water
and precipitation, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1721–1739,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1721-2017, 2017. a, b
Vrugt, J. A.: Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation using the DREAM software
package: Theory, concepts, and MATLAB implementation, Environ. Model. Softw., 75, 273–316, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.08.013, 2016. a
Waichler, S. R., Wemple, B. C., and Wigmosta, M. S.: Simulation of water
balance and forest treatment effects at the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Hydrol. Process., 19, 3177–3199, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5841, 2005. a
Wilusz, D. C., Harman, C. J., and Ball, W. P.: Sensitivity of Catchment Transit Times to Rainfall Variability Under Present and Future Climates,
Water Resour. Res., 53, 10231–10256, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017WR020894, 2017. a
Wrede, S., Fenicia, F., Martínez-Carreras, N., Juilleret, J., Hissler, C., Krein, A., Savenije, H. H. G., Uhlenbrook, S., Kavetski, D., and Pfister, L.: Towards more systematic perceptual model development: a case study using 3 Luxembourgish catchments, Hydrol. Process., 29, 2731–2750, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10393, 2015. a, b, c
Zuber, A.: On the interpretation of tracer data in variable flow systems, J. Hydrol., 86, 45–57, https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(86)90005-3, 1986. a
Short summary
Different parts of water have often been used as tracers to determine the age of water in streams. The stable tracers, such as deuterium, are thought to be unable to reveal old water compared to the radioactive tracer called tritium. We used both tracers, measured in precipitation and in a stream in Luxembourg, to show that this is not necessarily true. It is, in fact, advantageous to use the two tracers together, and we recommend systematically using tritium in future studies.
Different parts of water have often been used as tracers to determine the age of water in...
