Articles | Volume 25, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5133-2021
© 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-25-5133-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
22 Sep 2021
Research article |
| 22 Sep 2021
| 22 Sep 2021
Low hydrological connectivity after summer drought inhibits DOC export in a forested headwater catchment
Katharina Blaurock
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Hydrology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
Burkhard Beudert
Department of Nature Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest
National Park, Grafenau 94481, Germany
Benjamin S. Gilfedder
Department of Hydrology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
Jan H. Fleckenstein
Department of Hydrogeology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental
Research, Leipzig 04318, Germany
Hydrological Modeling Unit, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and
Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
Stefan Peiffer
Department of Hydrology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
Luisa Hopp
Department of Hydrology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
Related authors
Katharina Blaurock, Burkhard Beudert, and Luisa Hopp
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2377–2391, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2377-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2377-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The release of carbon from landscapes into streams is one important component within the global carbon cycle. We measured the concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), one of the forms in which carbon can be present, in the streams of three nested forested subcatchments over 12 months. The export of DOC is closely linked to water flow processes within the subcatchments, but the interplay of soils, vegetation, topography, and microclimate results in distinct seasonal DOC release patterns.
Adrian Flores Orozco, Jakob Gallistl, Benjamin Gilfedder, Timea Katona, Sven Frei, Peter Strauss, and Gunter Blöschl
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4015, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4015, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Biogeosciences (BG).
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding the role of soil in the storage of organic carbon is critical for a large number of environmental processes. Current practices rely on the drilling and analysis of samples, which is expensive, time consuming and destructive. Here we present a technique able to map soil organic carbon measuring the electrical properties of the subsurface without the necessity of drilling. Our results could permit to advance soil management strategies to enhance carbon sequestration and storage.
Álvaro Pardo-Álvarez, Jan H. Fleckenstein, Kalliopi Koutantou, and Philip Brunner
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3521, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3521, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscientific Model Development (GMD).
Short summary
Short summary
An upgraded version of a numerical solver is introduced to better capture the three-dimensional interactions between surface water and groundwater. Built using open-source software, it adds new features to handle the complexity of real environments, including the representation of subsurface geology and the simulation of diverse dynamic processes, such as solute transport and heat transfer, in both domains. A test case and a full description of the novel features are provided in this paper.
Pia Ebeling, Andreas Musolff, Rohini Kumar, Andreas Hartmann, and Jan H. Fleckenstein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2925–2950, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2925-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2925-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Groundwater is a crucial resource at risk due to droughts. To understand drought effects on groundwater levels in Germany, we grouped 6626 wells into six regional and two national patterns. Weather explained half of the level variations with varied response times. Shallow groundwater responds fast and is more vulnerable to short droughts (a few months). Dampened deep heads buffer short droughts but suffer from long droughts and recoveries. Two nationwide trend patterns were linked to human water use.
Katharina Blaurock, Burkhard Beudert, and Luisa Hopp
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2377–2391, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2377-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2377-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The release of carbon from landscapes into streams is one important component within the global carbon cycle. We measured the concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), one of the forms in which carbon can be present, in the streams of three nested forested subcatchments over 12 months. The export of DOC is closely linked to water flow processes within the subcatchments, but the interplay of soils, vegetation, topography, and microclimate results in distinct seasonal DOC release patterns.
Arianna Borriero, Rohini Kumar, Tam V. Nguyen, Jan H. Fleckenstein, and Stefanie R. Lutz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2989–3004, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2989-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2989-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We analyzed the uncertainty of the water transit time distribution (TTD) arising from model input (interpolated tracer data) and structure (StorAge Selection, SAS, functions). We found that uncertainty was mainly associated with temporal interpolation, choice of SAS function, nonspatial interpolation, and low-flow conditions. It is important to characterize the specific uncertainty sources and their combined effects on TTD, as this has relevant implications for both water quantity and quality.
Andreas Hartmann, Jean-Lionel Payeur-Poirier, and Luisa Hopp
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1325–1341, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1325-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1325-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We advance our understanding of including information derived from environmental tracers into hydrological modeling. We present a simple approach that integrates streamflow observations and tracer-derived streamflow contributions for model parameter estimation. We consider multiple observed streamflow components and their variation over time to quantify the impact of their inclusion for streamflow prediction at the catchment scale.
Michael Rode, Jörg Tittel, Frido Reinstorf, Michael Schubert, Kay Knöller, Benjamin Gilfedder, Florian Merensky-Pöhlein, and Andreas Musolff
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1261–1277, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1261-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1261-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Agricultural catchments show elevated phosphorus (P) concentrations during summer low flow. In an agricultural stream, we found that phosphorus in groundwater was a major source of stream water phosphorus during low flow, and stream sediments derived from farmland are unlikely to have increased stream phosphorus concentrations during low water. We found no evidence that riparian wetlands contributed to soluble reactive (SR) P loads. Agricultural phosphorus was largely buffered in the soil zone.
Carolin Winter, Tam V. Nguyen, Andreas Musolff, Stefanie R. Lutz, Michael Rode, Rohini Kumar, and Jan H. Fleckenstein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 303–318, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-303-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-303-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The increasing frequency of severe and prolonged droughts threatens our freshwater resources. While we understand drought impacts on water quantity, its effects on water quality remain largely unknown. Here, we studied the impact of the unprecedented 2018–2019 drought in Central Europe on nitrate export in a heterogeneous mesoscale catchment in Germany. We show that severe drought can reduce a catchment's capacity to retain nitrogen, intensifying the internal pollution and export of nitrate.
Thomas Hermans, Pascal Goderniaux, Damien Jougnot, Jan H. Fleckenstein, Philip Brunner, Frédéric Nguyen, Niklas Linde, Johan Alexander Huisman, Olivier Bour, Jorge Lopez Alvis, Richard Hoffmann, Andrea Palacios, Anne-Karin Cooke, Álvaro Pardo-Álvarez, Lara Blazevic, Behzad Pouladi, Peleg Haruzi, Alejandro Fernandez Visentini, Guilherme E. H. Nogueira, Joel Tirado-Conde, Majken C. Looms, Meruyert Kenshilikova, Philippe Davy, and Tanguy Le Borgne
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 255–287, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-255-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-255-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Although invisible, groundwater plays an essential role for society as a source of drinking water or for ecosystems but is also facing important challenges in terms of contamination. Characterizing groundwater reservoirs with their spatial heterogeneity and their temporal evolution is therefore crucial for their sustainable management. In this paper, we review some important challenges and recent innovations in imaging and modeling the 4D nature of the hydrogeological systems.
Pascal Wintjen, Frederik Schrader, Martijn Schaap, Burkhard Beudert, Richard Kranenburg, and Christian Brümmer
Biogeosciences, 19, 5287–5311, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5287-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5287-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
For the first time, we compared four methods for estimating the annual dry deposition of total reactive nitrogen into a low-polluted forest ecosystem. In our analysis, we used 2.5 years of flux measurements, an in situ modeling approach, a large-scale chemical transport model (CTM), and canopy budget models. Annual nitrogen dry deposition budgets ranged between 4.3 and 6.7 kg N ha−1 a−1, depending on the applied method.
Jie Yang, Qiaoyu Wang, Ingo Heidbüchel, Chunhui Lu, Yueqing Xie, Andreas Musolff, and Jan H. Fleckenstein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5051–5068, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5051-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5051-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We assessed the effect of catchment topographic slopes on the nitrate export dynamics in terms of the nitrogen mass fluxes and concentration level using a coupled surface–subsurface model. We found that flatter landscapes tend to retain more nitrogen mass in the soil and export less nitrogen mass to the stream, explained by the reduced leaching and increased potential of degradation in flat landscapes. We emphasized that stream water quality is potentially less vulnerable in flatter landscapes.
Guilherme E. H. Nogueira, Christian Schmidt, Daniel Partington, Philip Brunner, and Jan H. Fleckenstein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1883–1905, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1883-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1883-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In near-stream aquifers, mixing between stream water and ambient groundwater can lead to dilution and the removal of substances that can be harmful to the water ecosystem at high concentrations. We used a numerical model to track the spatiotemporal evolution of different water sources and their mixing around a stream, which are rather difficult in the field. Results show that mixing mainly develops as narrow spots, varying In time and space, and is affected by magnitudes of discharge events.
Christian Brümmer, Jeremy J. Rüffer, Jean-Pierre Delorme, Pascal Wintjen, Frederik Schrader, Burkhard Beudert, Martijn Schaap, and Christof Ammann
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 743–761, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-743-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-743-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Field campaigns were carried out to investigate the biosphere–atmosphere exchange of selected reactive nitrogen compounds over different land surfaces using two different analytical devices for ammonia and total reactive nitrogen. The datasets improve our understanding of the temporal variability of surface–atmosphere exchange in different ecosystems, thereby providing validation opportunities for inferential models simulating the exchange of reactive nitrogen.
Pascal Wintjen, Frederik Schrader, Martijn Schaap, Burkhard Beudert, and Christian Brümmer
Biogeosciences, 19, 389–413, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-389-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-389-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Fluxes of total reactive nitrogen (∑Nr) over a low polluted forest were analyzed with regard to their temporal dynamics. Mostly deposition was observed with median fluxes ranging from −15 to −5 ng N m−2 s−1, corresponding to a range of deposition velocities from 0.2 to 0.5 cm s−1. While seasonally changing contributions of NH3 and NOx to the ∑Nr signal were found, we estimate an annual total N deposition (dry+wet) of 12.2 and 10.9 kg N ha−1 a−1 in the 2 years of observation.
Joni Dehaspe, Fanny Sarrazin, Rohini Kumar, Jan H. Fleckenstein, and Andreas Musolff
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 6437–6463, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6437-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6437-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Increased nitrate concentrations in surface waters can compromise river ecosystem health. As riverine nitrate uptake is hard to measure, we explore how low-frequency nitrate concentration and discharge observations (that are widely available) can help to identify (in)efficient uptake in river networks. We find that channel geometry and water velocity rather than the biological uptake capacity dominate the nitrate-discharge pattern at the outlet. The former can be used to predict uptake.
Benedikt J. Werner, Oliver J. Lechtenfeld, Andreas Musolff, Gerrit H. de Rooij, Jie Yang, Ralf Gründling, Ulrike Werban, and Jan H. Fleckenstein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 6067–6086, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6067-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6067-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from riparian zones (RZs) is an important yet poorly understood component of the catchment carbon budget. This study chemically and spatially classifies DOC source zones within a RZ of a small catchment to assess DOC export patterns. Results highlight that DOC export from only a small fraction of the RZ with distinct DOC composition dominates overall DOC export. The application of a spatial, topographic proxy can be used to improve DOC export models.
Timea Katona, Benjamin Silas Gilfedder, Sven Frei, Matthias Bücker, and Adrian Flores-Orozco
Biogeosciences, 18, 4039–4058, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4039-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4039-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We used electrical geophysical methods to map variations in the rates of microbial activity within a wetland. Our results show that the highest electrical conductive and capacitive properties relate to the highest concentrations of phosphates, carbon, and iron; thus, we can use them to characterize the geometry of the biogeochemically active areas or hotspots.
Cited articles
Ågren, A., Buffam, I., Berggren, M., Bishop, K., Jansson, M., and
Laudon, H.: Dissolved organic carbon characteristics in boreal streams in a
forest-wetland gradient during the transition between winter and summer, J.
Geophys. Res., 113, G03003, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JG000674, 2008.
Aitkenhead-Peterson, J. A., Smart, R. P., Aitkenhead, M. J., Cresser, M. S.,
and McDowell, W. H.: Spatial and temporal variation of dissolved organic
carbon export from gauged and ungauged watersheds of Dee Valley, Scotland:
Effect of land cover and C:N, Water Resour. Res., 43, W05442,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2006WR004999, 2007.
Alarcon-Herrera, M. T., Bewtra, J. K., and Biswas, N.: Seasonal variations in humic substances and their reduction through water treatment processes, Can. J. Civ. Eng., 21, 173–179, https://doi.org/10.1139/l94-020, 1994.
Alvarez-Cobelas, M., Angeler, D. G., Sánchez-Carrillo, S., and
Almendros, G.: A worldwide view of organic carbon export from catchments,
Biogeochemistry, 107, 275–293, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-010-9553-z,
2012.
Andersson, S., Nilsson, S. I., and Saetre, P.: Leaching of dissolved organic
carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in mor humus as affected
by temperature and pH, Soil Biol. Biochem., 32, 1–10, 2000.
Bartsch, S., Peiffer, S., Shope, C. L., Arnhold, S., Jeong, J.-J., Park,
J.-H., Eum, J., Kim, B., and Fleckenstein, J. H.: Monsoonal-type climate or
land-use management: Understanding their role in the mobilization of nitrate
and DOC in a mountainous catchment, J. Hydrol., 507, 149–162,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.10.012, 2013.
Batjes, N. H.: Total carbon and nitrogen in the soils of the world, Eur. J.
Soil Sci., 65, 4–21, 2014.
Battin, T. J., Luyssaert, S., Kaplan, L. A., Aufdenkampe, A. K., Richter,
A., and Tranvik, L. J.: The boundless carbon cycle, Nat. Geosci., 2,
598–600, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo618, 2009.
Bavarian State Office for Environment: Aktuelle Messwerte
Rachel-Diensthütte/Markungsgraben,
available at: https://www.gkd.bayern.de/de/fluesse/abfluss/passau/rachel-diensthuette-17418004/messwerte,
last access: 1 December 2020.
Bernal, S., Lupon, A., Wollheim, W. M., Sabater, F., Poblador, S., and
Martí, E.: Supply, Demand, and In-Stream Retention of Dissolved Organic
Carbon and Nitrate During Storms in Mediterranean Forested Headwater
Streams, Front. Environ. Sci., 7, 60, https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2019.00060,
2019.
Beudert, B., Spitzy, A., Klöcking, B., Zimmermann, L., Bässler, C.,
and Foullois, N.: DOC-Langzeitmonitoring im Einzugsgebiet der “Großen
Ohe”, Wasserhaushalt und Stoffbilanzen im naturnahen Einzugsgebiet Große
Ohe, National Park Administration Bavarian Forest, Grafenau, Germany, 2012.
Beudert, B., Bässler, C., Thorn, S., Noss, R., Schröder, B.,
Dieffenbach-Fries, H., Foullois, N., and Müller, J.: Bark Beetles
Increase Biodiversity While Maintaining Drinking Water Quality, Conserv.
Lett., 8, 272–281, https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12153, 2015.
Birkel, C., Broder, T., and Biester, H.: Nonlinear and threshold-dominated
runoff generation controls DOC export in a small peat catchment, J.
Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 122, 498–513,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JG003621, 2017.
Bishop, K., Seibert, J., Köhler, S., and Laudon, H.: Resolving the
Double Paradox of rapidly mobilized old water with highly variable responses
in runoff chemistry, Hydrol. Process., 18, 185–189,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5209, 2004.
Blaen, P. J., Khamis, K., Lloyd, C., Comer-Warner, S., Ciocca, F., Thomas,
R. M., MacKenzie, A. R., and Krause, S.: High-frequency monitoring of
catchment nutrient exports reveals highly variable storm event responses and
dynamic source zone activation, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 122,
2265–2281, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JG003904, 2017.
Borken, W., Ahrens, B., Schulz, C., and Zimmermann, L.: Site-to-site
variability and temporal trends of DOC concentrations and fluxes in
temperate forest soils, Global Change Biol., 17, 2428–2443,
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02390.x, 2011.
Bowes, M. J., Smith, J. T., and Neal, C.: The value of high-resolution
nutrient monitoring: A case study of the River Frome, Dorset, UK, J.
Hydrol., 378, 82–96, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.09.015, 2009.
Brown, V. A., McDonnell, J. J., Burns, D. A., and Kendall, C.: The role of
event water, a rapid shallow flow component, and catchment size in summer
stormflow, J. Hydrol., 217, 171–190,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(98)00247-9, 1999.
Buffam, I., Galloway, J. N., Blum, L. K., and McGlathery, K. J.: A
stormflow/baseflow comparison of dissolved organic matter concentrations and
bioavailability in an Appalachian stream, Biogeochemistry, 53, 269–306,
2001.
Butturini, A., Gallart, F., Latron, J., Vazquez, E., and Sabater, F.:
Cross-site Comparison of Variability of DOC and Nitrate c–q Hysteresis
during the Autumn–winter Period in Three Mediterranean Headwater Streams: A
Synthetic Approach, Biogeochemistry, 77, 327–349,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-005-0711-7, 2006.
Cerro, I., Sanchez-Perez, J. M., Ruiz-Romera, E., and Antigüedad, I.:
Variability of particulate (SS, POC) and dissolved (DOC, NO
Clark, J. M., Bottrell, S. H., Evans, C. D., Monteith, D. T., Bartlett, R.,
Rose, R., Newton, R. J., and Chapman, P. J.: The importance of the
relationship between scale and process in understanding long-term DOC
dynamics, Sci. Total Environ., 408, 2768–2775,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.02.046, 2010.
Correa, A., Breuer, L., Crespo, P., Célleri, R., Feyen, J., Birkel, C.,
Silva, C., and Windhorst, D.: Spatially distributed hydro-chemical data with
temporally high-resolution is needed to adequately assess the hydrological
functioning of headwater catchments, Sci. Total Environ.,
651, 1613–1626, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.189, 2019.
Covino, T.: Hydrologic connectivity as a framework for understanding
biogeochemical flux through watersheds and along fluvial networks,
Geomorphology, 277, 133–144,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.09.030, 2017.
Creed, I. F., Beall, F. D., Clair, T. A., Dillon, P. J., and Hesslein, R.
H.: Predicting export of dissolved organic carbon from forested catchments
in glaciated landscapes with shallow soils, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 22,
GB4024, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GB003294, 2008.
Dawson, J. J. C., Soulsby, C., Tetzlaff, D., Hrachowitz, M., Dunn, S. M.,
and Malcolm, I. A.: Influence of hydrology and seasonality on DOC exports
from three contrasting upland catchments, Biogeochemistry, 90, 93–113,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-008-9234-3, 2008.
Detty, J. M. and McGuire, K. J.: Topographic controls on shallow groundwater
dynamics: implications of hydrologic connectivity between hillslopes and
riparian zones in a till mantled catchment, Hydrol. Process., 24,
2222–2236, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7656, 2010.
Dixon, R. K., Brown, S., Houghton, R. A., Solomon, A. M., Trexler, M. C.,
and Wisniewski, J.: Carbon Pools and Flux of Global Forest Ecosystems,
Science, 263, 185–190, 1994.
Dörr, H. and Münnich, K. O.: Lead and Cesium Transport in European
Forest Soils, Water Air Soil Pollut., 57–58, 809–818, 1991.
Drake, T. W., Raymond, P. A., and Spencer, R. G. M.: Terrestrial carbon
inputs to inland waters: A current synthesis of estimates and uncertainty,
Limnol. Oceanogr., 3, 132–142, https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10055, 2018.
Easthouse, K. B., Mulder, J., Christophersen, N., and Seip, H. M.: Dissolved
organic carbon fractions in soil and stream water during variable
hydrological conditions at Birkenes, southern Norway, Water Resour. Res.,
28, 1585–1596, 1992.
Ejarque, E., Freixa, A., Vazquez, E., Guarch, A., Amalfitano, S., Fazi, S.,
Romaní, A. M., and Butturini, A.: Quality and reactivity of dissolved
organic matter in a Mediterranean river across hydrological and spatial
gradients, Sci. Total Environ., 599–600, 1802–1812,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.113, 2017.
Evans, C. D., Monteith, D. T., and Cooper, D. M.: Long-term increases in
surface water dissolved organic carbon: observations, possible causes and
environmental impacts, Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex 1987), 137,
55–71, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2004.12.031, 2005.
Evans, C. D., Chapman, P. J., Clark, J. M., Montheith, D., and Cresser, M.
S.: Alternative explanations for rising dissolved organic carbon export from
organic soils, Global Change Biol., 12, 2044–2053,
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01241.x, 2006.
Fazekas, H. M., Wymore, A. S., and McDowell, W. H.: Dissolved Organic Carbon
and Nitrate Concentration-Discharge Behavior Across Scales: Land Use,
Excursions, and Misclassification, Water Resour. Res., 56, e2019WR027028,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019WR027028, 2020.
Frei, S., Lischeid, G., and Fleckenstein, J. H.: Effects of micro-topography
on surface–subsurface exchange and runoff generation in a virtual riparian
wetland – A modeling study, Adv. Water Resour., 33, 1388–1401,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2010.07.006, 2010.
Granados, V., Gutiérrez-Cánovas, C., Arias-Real, R., Obrador, B.,
Harjung, A., and Butturini, A.: The interruption of longitudinal
hydrological connectivity causes delayed responses in dissolved organic
matter, Sci. Total Environ., 713, 136619,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136619, 2020.
Hagedorn, F., Schleppi, P., Waldner, P., and Flühler, H.: Export of
dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen from Gleysol dominated catchments –
the significance of water flow paths, Biogeochemistry, 50, 137–161, 2000.
Harrison, J. A., Caraco, N., and Seitzinger, S. P.: Global patterns and
sources of dissolved organic matter export to the coastal zone: Results from
a spatially explicit, global model, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 19, GB4S04,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GB002480, 2005.
Hobbie, J. E. and Likens, G. E.: Output of Phosphorus, Dissolved Organic
Carbon, and Fine Particulate Carbon from Hubbard Brook Watersheds, Limnol.
Oceanogr., 18, 734–742, 1973.
Hongve, D., Riise, G., and Kristiansen, J. F.: Increased colour and organic
acid concentrations in Norwegian forest lakes and drinking water? a result
of increased precipitation?, Aquat. Sci.,
66, 231–238, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-004-0708-7, 2004.
Hood, E., Gooseff, M. N., and Johnson, S. L.: Changes in the character of
stream water dissolved organic carbon during flushing in three small
watersheds, Oregon, J. Geophys. Res., 111, 567,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JG000082, 2006.
Hope, D., Billet, M. F., and Cresser, M. S.: A Review of the Export of
Carbon in River Water: Fluxes and Processes, Environ. Pollut., 84,
301–324, 1994.
House, W. A. and Warwick, M. S.: Hysteresis of the solute
concentration/discharge relationship in rivers during storms, Water
Res., 32, 2279–2290, 1998.
Hruška, J., Krám, P., McDowell, W. H., and Oulehle, F.: Increased
Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) in Central European Streams is Driven by
Reductions in Ionic Strength Rather than Climate Change or Decreasing
Acidity, Environ. Sci. Technol., 43, 4320–4326,
https://doi.org/10.1021/es803645w, 2009.
Inamdar, S. P. and Mitchell, M. J.: Hydrologic and topographic controls on
storm-event exports of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrate across
catchment scales, Water Resour. Res., 42, 378,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2005WR004212, 2006.
Inamdar, S. P. and Mitchell, M. J.: Contributions of riparian and hillslope
waters to storm runoff across multiple catchments and storm events in a
glaciated forested watershed, J. Hydrol., 341, 116–130,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.05.007, 2007.
Jankowski, K. J. and Schindler, D. E.: Watershed geomorphology modifies the
sensitivity of aquatic ecosystem metabolism to temperature, Sci.
Rep.-UK, 9, 17619, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-53703-3, 2019.
Jeong, J.-J., Bartsch, S., Fleckenstein, J. H., Matzner, E., Tenhunen, J.
D., Lee, S. D., Park, S. K., and Park, J.-H.: Differential storm responses
of dissolved and particulate organic carbon in a mountainous headwater
stream, investigated by high-frequency, in situ optical measurements, J.
Geophys. Res., 117, G03013, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JG001999, 2012.
Kawasaki, M., Ohte, N., and Katsuyama, M.: Biogeochemical and hydrological
controls on carbon export from a forested catchment in central Japan, Ecol.
Res., 20, 347–358, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-005-0050-0, 2005.
Kiewiet, L., van Meerveld, I., Stähli, M., and Seibert, J.: Do stream water solute concentrations reflect when connectivity occurs in a small, pre-Alpine headwater catchment?, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3381–3398, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3381-2020, 2020.
Kindler, R., Siemens, J., Kaiser, K., Walmsley David C., Bernhofer, C.,
Buchmann, N., Cellier, P., Eugster, W., Gleixner, G., Grünwald, T.,
Heim, A., Ibrom, A., Jones, S., Jones, M., Klumpp, K., Kutsch, W., Larsen,
K. S., Lehuger, S., Loubet, B., McKenzie, R., Moors, E., Osborne, B.,
Pilegard, K., Rebmann, C., Saunders, M., Schmidt, M., Schrumpf, M.,
Seyfferth, J., Skiba, U., Soussana, J.-F., Sutton, M., Tefs, C., Vowinckel,
B., Zeeman, M. J., and Kaupenjohann, M.: Dissolved carbon leaching from soil
is a crucial component of the net ecosystem carbon balance, Global Change
Biol., 17, 1167–1185, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02282.x,
2011.
Kirkby, M. J.: Tests of the random network model, and its application to
basin hydrology, Earth Surf. Process., 1, 197–212,
https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3290010302, 1976.
Knorr, K.-H.: DOC-dynamics in a small headwater catchment as driven by redox fluctuations and hydrological flow paths – are DOC exports mediated by iron reduction/oxidation cycles?, Biogeosciences, 10, 891–904, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-891-2013, 2013.
Kreps, H.: Praktische Arbeit in der Hydrographie, Central Hydrographical Bureau, Vienna, Austria, 1975.
Larson, J. H., Frost, P. C., Xenopoulos, M. A., Williams, C. J.,
Morales-Williams, A. M., Vallazza, J. M., Nelson, J. C., and Richardson, W.
B.: Relationships Between Land Cover and Dissolved Organic Matter Change
Along the River to Lake Transition, Ecosystems, 17, 1413–1425,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-014-9804-2, 2014.
Laurenson, E. M.: A catchment storage model for runoff routing, J.
Hydrol., 2, 141–163, https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(64)90025-3, 1964.
Ledesma, J. L. J., Köhler, S. J., and Futter, M. N.: Long-term dynamics of dissolved organic carbon: implications for drinking water supply, Sci. Total Environ., 432, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.05.071, 2012.
Ledesma, J. L. J., Grabs, T., Bishop, K. H., Schiff, S. L., and Köhler,
S. J.: Potential for long-term transfer of dissolved organic carbon from
riparian zones to streams in boreal catchments, Global Change Biol., 21,
2963–2979, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12872, 2015.
Ledesma, J. L. J., Futter, M. N., Laudon, H., EVANS, C. D., and Köhler,
S. J.: Boreal forest riparian zones regulate stream sulfate and dissolved
organic carbon, Sci. Total Environ., 560–561, 110–122,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.230, 2016.
Ledesma, J. L. J., Kothawala, D. N., Bastviken, P., Maehder, S., Grabs, T.,
and Futter, M. N.: Stream Dissolved Organic Matter Composition Reflects the
Riparian Zone, Not Upslope Soils in Boreal Forest Headwaters, Water Resour.
Res., 54, 3896–3912, https://doi.org/10.1029/2017WR021793, 2018.
Li, M., Giorgio, P. A., Parkes, A. H., and Prairie, Y. T.: The relative
influence of topography and land cover on inorganic and organic carbon
exports from catchments in southern Quebec, Canada, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 120, 2562–2578, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JG003073, 2015.
McDowell, W. H. and Fisher, S. G.: Autumnal Processing of Dissolved Organic
Matter in a Small Woodland Stream Ecosystem, Ecology, 57, 561–569, 1976.
McDowell, W. H. and Likens, G. E.: Origin, Composition, and Flux of
Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Hubbard Brook Valley, Ecol. Monogr.,
58, 177–195, https://doi.org/10.2307/2937024, 1988.
McGuire, K. J. and McDonnell, J. J.: Hydrological connectivity of hillslopes
and streams: Characteristic time scales and nonlinearities, Water Resour.
Res., 46, W10543, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010WR009341, 2010.
Mei, Y., Hornberger, G. M., Kaplan, L. A., Newbold, J. D., and Aufdenkampe,
A. K.: The delivery of dissolved organic carbon from a forested hillslope to
a headwater stream in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, Water Resour. Res.,
50, 5774–5796, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014WR015635, 2014.
Meyer, J. L. and Tate, C. M.: The effects of watershed disturbance on
dissolved organic carbon dynamics of a stream, Ecology, 64, 33–44, 1983.
Monteith, D. T., Stoddard, J. L., EVANS, C. D., Wit, H. A. de, Forsius, M.,
Høgåsen, T., Wilander, A., Skjelkvåle, B. L., Jeffries, D. S.,
Vuorenmaa, J., Keller, B., Kopácek, J., and Vesely, J.: Dissolved
organic carbon trends resulting from changes in atmospheric deposition
chemistry, Nature, 450, 537–540, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06316, 2007.
Moore, T. R., Paré, D., and Boutin, R.: Production of Dissolved Organic
Carbon in Canadian Forest Soils, Ecosystems, 11, 740–751,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-008-9156-x, 2008.
Musolff, A., Selle, B., Büttner, O., Opitz, M., and Tittel, J.:
Unexpected release of phosphate and organic carbon to streams linked to
declining nitrogen depositions, Global Change Biol., 23, 1891–1901,
https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13498, 2016.
Musolff, A., Fleckenstein, J. H., Rao, P. S. C., and Jawitz, J. W.: Emergent
archetype patterns of coupled hydrologic and biogeochemical responses in
catchments, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, 4143–4151,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL072630, 2017.
Musolff, A., Fleckenstein, J. H., Opitz, M., Büttner, O., Kumar, R., and
Tittel, J.: Spatio-temporal controls of dissolved organic carbon stream
water concentrations, J. Hydrol., 566, 205–215,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.09.011, 2018.
Ogawa, A., Shibata, H., Suzuki, K., Mitchell, M. J., and Ikegami, Y.:
Relationship of topography to surface water chemistry with particular focus
on nitrogen and organic carbon solutes within a forested watershed in
Hokkaido, Japan, Hydrol. Process., 20, 251–265,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5901, 2006.
Pachauri, R. K. and Mayer, L. (Eds.): Climate change 2014: Synthesis report,
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva, Switzerland, 151 pp.,
2014.
Pacific, V. J., Jencso, K. G., and McGlynn, B. L.: Variable flushing
mechanisms and landscape structure control stream DOC export during snowmelt
in a set of nested catchments, Biogeochemistry, 99, 193–211,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-009-9401-1, 2010.
Penna, D., van Meerveld, H. J., Oliviero, O., Zuecco, G., Assendelft, R. S.,
Dalla Fontana, G., and Borga, M.: Seasonal changes in runoff generation in a
small forested mountain catchment, Hydrol. Process., 29, 2027–2042,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10347, 2015.
Ploum, S. W., Laudon, H., Peralta-Tapia, A., and Kuglerová, L.: Are dissolved organic carbon concentrations in riparian groundwater linked to hydrological pathways in the boreal forest?, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1709–1720, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1709-2020, 2020.
Ravichandran, M.: Interactions between mercury and dissolved organic
matter – a review, Chemosphere, 55, 319–331,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2003.11.011, 2004.
Raymond, P. A. and Saiers, J. E.: Event controlled DOC export from forested
watersheds, Biogeochemistry, 100, 197–209,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-010-9416-7, 2010.
Raymond, P. A., Saiers, J. E., and Sobczak, W. V.: Hydrological and
biogeochemical controls on watershed dissolved organic matter transport:
pulse-shunt concept, Ecology, 97, 5–16, 2016.
Rinderer, M., van Meerveld, I., Stähli, M., and Seibert, J.: Is
groundwater response timing in a pre-alpine catchment controlled more by
topography or by rainfall?, Hydrol. Process., 30, 1036–1051,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10634, 2016.
Roulet, N. and Moore, T. R.: Browning the waters, Nature, 283–284, 2006.
Sadiq, R. and Rodriguez, M. J.: Disinfection by-prodcuts (DBPs) in drinking water and predictive models for their occurrence: a review, Sci. Total Environ., 321, 21–46, https://doi.org/10.1016.j.scitotenv.2003.05.001, 2004.
Schwarze, R. and Beudert, B.: Analyse der Hochwassergenese und des
Wasserhaushalts eines bewaldeten Einzugsgebietes unter dem Einfluss eines
massiven Borkenkäferbefalls, Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung, 53,
236–249, 2009.
Seybold, E., Gold, A. J., Inamdar, S. P., Adair, C., Bowden, W. B., Vaughan,
M. C. H., Pradhanang, S. M., Addy, K., Shanley, J. B., Vermilyea, A., Levia,
D. F., Wemple, B. C., and Schroth, A. W.: Influence of land use and
hydrologic variability on seasonal dissolved organic carbon and nitrate
export: insights from a multi-year regional analysis for the northeastern
USA, Biogeochemistry, 146, 31–49,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-019-00609-x, 2019.
Strohmeier, S., Knorr, K.-H., Reichert, M., Frei, S., Fleckenstein, J. H., Peiffer, S., and Matzner, E.: Concentrations and fluxes of dissolved organic carbon in runoff from a forested catchment: insights from high frequency measurements, Biogeosciences, 10, 905–916, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-905-2013, 2013.
Tetzlaff, D., Birkel, C., Dick, J., Geris, J., and Soulsby, C.: Storage
dynamics in hydropedological units control hillslope connectivity, runoff
generation, and the evolution of catchment transit time distributions, Water
Resour. Res., 50, 969–985, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013WR014147,
2014.
Thurman, E. M.: Organic Geochemistry of Natural Waters, Martinus Nijhoff/Dr
W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, 1985.
Tunaley, C., Tetzlaff, D., Lessels, J., and Soulsby, C.: Linking
high-frequency DOC dynamics to the age of connected water sources, Water
Resour. Res., 52, 5232–5247, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015WR018419, 2016.
van Verseveld, W. J., McDonnell, J. J., and Lajtha, K.: The role of
hillslope hydrology in controlling nutrient loss, J. Hydrol., 367,
177–187, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.11.002, 2009.
Vaughan, M. C. H., Bowden, W. B., Shanley, J. B., Vermilyea, A., Sleeper,
R., Gold, A. J., Pradhanang, S. M., Inamdar, S. P., Levia, D. F., Andres, A.
S., Birgand, F., and Schroth, A. W.: High-frequency dissolved organic carbon
and nitrate measurements reveal differences in storm hysteresis and loading
in relation to land cover and seasonality, Water Resour. Res., 53,
5345–5363, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017WR020491, 2017.
Weiler, M. and McDonnell, J. J.: Testing nutrient flushing hypotheses at the
hillslope scale: A virtual experiment approach, J. Hydrol., 319,
339–356, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.06.040, 2006.
Wen, H., Perdrial, J., Abbott, B. W., Bernal, S., Dupas, R., Godsey, S. E., Harpold, A., Rizzo, D., Underwood, K., Adler, T., Sterle, G., and Li, L.: Temperature controls production but hydrology regulates export of dissolved organic carbon at the catchment scale, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 945–966, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-945-2020, 2020.
Werner, B. J., Musolff, A., Lechtenfeld, O. J., de Rooij, G. H., Oosterwoud, M. R., and Fleckenstein, J. H.: High-frequency measurements explain quantity and quality of dissolved organic carbon mobilization in a headwater catchment, Biogeosciences, 16, 4497–4516, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4497-2019, 2019.
Weyhenmeyer, G. A. and Karlsson, J.: Nonlinear response of dissolved organic
carbon concentrations in boreal lakes to increasing temperatures, Limnol.
Oceanogr., 54, 2513–2519,
https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2009.54.6_part_2.2513, 2009.
Zarnetske, J. P., Bouda, M., Abbott, B. W., Saiers, J., and Raymond, P. A.:
Generality of Hydrologic Transport Limitation of Watershed Organic Carbon
Flux Across Ecoregions of the United States, Geophys. Res. Lett., 45,
11702–11711, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL080005, 2018.
Zimmer, M. A. and McGlynn, B. L.: Lateral, Vertical, and Longitudinal Source
Area Connectivity Drive Runoff and Carbon Export Across Watershed Scales,
Water Resour. Res., 54, 1576–1598, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017WR021718,
2018.
Zuecco, G., Penna, D., Borga, M., and van Meerveld, H. J.: A versatile index
to characterize hysteresis between hydrological variables at the runoff
event timescale, Hydrol. Process., 30, 1449–1466,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10681, 2016.
Short summary
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is an important part of the global carbon cycle with regards to carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions and drinking water treatment. In this study, we compared DOC export of a small, forested catchment during precipitation events after dry and wet preconditions. We found that the DOC export from areas that are usually important for DOC export was inhibited after long drought periods.
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is an important part of the global carbon cycle with regards to...
