Articles | Volume 26, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3573-2022
© Author(s) 2022. 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-26-3573-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Technical note
| Highlight paper
| 
08 Jul 2022
Technical note | Highlight paper |
| 08 Jul 2022
| 08 Jul 2022
Technical note: Conservative storage of water vapour – practical in situ sampling of stable isotopes in tree stems
Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences, Umeå, 90183, Sweden
Terrestrial Ecohydrology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, 07749, Germany
Benjamin Gralher
Hydrology, Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg, 79098, Germany
Barbara Herbstritt
Hydrology, Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg, 79098, Germany
Angelika Kübert
Ecosystem Physiology, Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg, 79103,
Germany
Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Hyungwoo Lim
Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences, Umeå, 90183, Sweden
Tomas Lundmark
Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences, Umeå, 90183, Sweden
John Marshall
Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences, Umeå, 90183, Sweden
Related authors
Hannes P. T. De Deurwaerder, Marco D. Visser, Matteo Detto, Pascal Boeckx, Félicien Meunier, Kathrin Kuehnhammer, Ruth-Kristina Magh, John D. Marshall, Lixin Wang, Liangju Zhao, and Hans Verbeeck
Biogeosciences, 17, 4853–4870, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4853-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4853-2020, 2020
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The depths at which plants take up water is challenging to observe directly. To do so, scientists have relied on measuring the isotopic composition of xylem water as this provides information on the water’s source. Our work shows that this isotopic composition changes throughout the day, which complicates the interpretation of the water’s source and has been currently overlooked. We build a model to help understand the origin of these composition changes and their consequences for science.
John Marshall, Jose Gutierrez-Lopez, Daniel Metcalfe, Nataliia Kozii, and Hjalmar Laudon
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3328, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3328, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
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The "two water-worlds hypothesis" has attracted significant public attention because it is an accessible way to describe the partitioning of water sources within catchments. This manuscript adds a new degree of complexity to that idea by recognizing that co-occurring tree species, which root at different depths, also use different water sources. So it leads to at least three water worlds.
Adrian Dahlmann, John D. Marshall, David Dubbert, Mathias Hoffmann, and Maren Dubbert
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 2607–2618, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-2607-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-2607-2025, 2025
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Water-stable isotopes are commonly used in hydrological and ecological research. Until now, measurements have been obtained either destructively or directly in the field. Here, we present a novel, affordable, and easy-to-use approach to measure the stable isotope signatures of soil water. Our gas bag approach demonstrates a high accuracy and extends usability by allowing water vapor samples to be collected and stored in the field without the need for an instrument or a permanent power supply.
Jonas Pyschik, Stefan Seeger, Barbara Herbstritt, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 525–534, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-525-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-525-2025, 2025
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We developed a device (named VapAuSa) that automates stable water isotope analysis. Stable water isotopes are a natural tracer that many researchers use to investigate water (re-)distribution processes in environmental systems. VapAuSa helps to analyse such environmental samples by automating a formerly tedious manual process, allowing for higher sample throughput. This enables larger sampling campaigns, as more samples can be processed before reaching their limited storage time.
Barbara Herbstritt, Benjamin Gralher, Stefan Seeger, Michael Rinderer, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3701–3718, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3701-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3701-2023, 2023
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We present a method to collect water vapor samples into bags in the field without an in-field analyser, followed by isotope analysis in the lab. This new method resolves even fine-scaled natural isotope variations. It combines low-cost and lightweight components for maximum spatial and temporal flexibility regarding environmental setups. Hence, it allows for sampling even in terrains that are rather difficult to access, enabling future extended isotope datasets in soil sciences and ecohydrology.
Benjamin Gralher, Barbara Herbstritt, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5219–5235, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5219-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5219-2021, 2021
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We scrutinized the quickest currently available method for stable isotope analysis of matrix-bound water. Simulating common procedures, we demonstrated the limits of certain materials currently used and identified a reliable and cost-efficient alternative. Further, we calculated the optimum proportions of important protocol aspects critical for precise and accurate analyses. Our unifying protocol suggestions increase data quality and comparability as well as the method's general applicability.
Maria Staudinger, Stefan Seeger, Barbara Herbstritt, Michael Stoelzle, Jan Seibert, Kerstin Stahl, and Markus Weiler
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 12, 3057–3066, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-12-3057-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-12-3057-2020, 2020
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The data set CH-IRP provides isotope composition in precipitation and streamflow from 23 Swiss catchments, being unique regarding its long-term multi-catchment coverage along an alpine–pre-alpine gradient. CH-IRP contains fortnightly time series of stable water isotopes from streamflow grab samples complemented by time series in precipitation. Sampling conditions, catchment and climate information, lab standards and errors are provided together with areal precipitation and catchment boundaries.
Hannes P. T. De Deurwaerder, Marco D. Visser, Matteo Detto, Pascal Boeckx, Félicien Meunier, Kathrin Kuehnhammer, Ruth-Kristina Magh, John D. Marshall, Lixin Wang, Liangju Zhao, and Hans Verbeeck
Biogeosciences, 17, 4853–4870, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4853-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4853-2020, 2020
Short summary
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The depths at which plants take up water is challenging to observe directly. To do so, scientists have relied on measuring the isotopic composition of xylem water as this provides information on the water’s source. Our work shows that this isotopic composition changes throughout the day, which complicates the interpretation of the water’s source and has been currently overlooked. We build a model to help understand the origin of these composition changes and their consequences for science.
Barbara Herbstritt, Benjamin Gralher, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3007–3019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3007-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3007-2019, 2019
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We describe a novel technique for the precise, quasi real-time observation of water-stable isotopes in gross precipitation and throughfall from tree canopies in parallel. Various processes (e.g. rainfall intensity, evapotranspiration, exchange with ambient vapour) thereby control throughfall intensity and isotopic composition. The achieved temporal resolution now competes with common meteorological measurements, thus enabling new ways to employ water-stable isotopes in forested catchments.
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
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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.
Natalie Orlowski, Lutz Breuer, Nicolas Angeli, Pascal Boeckx, Christophe Brumbt, Craig S. Cook, Maren Dubbert, Jens Dyckmans, Barbora Gallagher, Benjamin Gralher, Barbara Herbstritt, Pedro Hervé-Fernández, Christophe Hissler, Paul Koeniger, Arnaud Legout, Chandelle Joan Macdonald, Carlos Oyarzún, Regine Redelstein, Christof Seidler, Rolf Siegwolf, Christine Stumpp, Simon Thomsen, Markus Weiler, Christiane Werner, and Jeffrey J. McDonnell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3619–3637, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3619-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-3619-2018, 2018
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To extract water from soils for isotopic analysis, cryogenic water extraction is the most widely used removal technique. This work presents results from a worldwide laboratory intercomparison test of cryogenic extraction systems. Our results showed large differences in retrieved isotopic signatures among participating laboratories linked to interactions between soil type and properties, system setup, extraction efficiency, extraction system leaks, and each lab’s internal accuracy.
Related subject area
Subject: Ecohydrology | Techniques and Approaches: Instruments and observation techniques
Self-potential signals related to tree transpiration in a Mediterranean climate
Understanding ecohydrology and biodiversity in aquatic nature-based solutions in urban streams and ponds through an integrative multi-tracer approach
Technical note: A weighing forest floor grid lysimeter
Effects of subsurface water infiltration systems on land movement dynamics in Dutch peat meadows
Technical Note: Spectral correction for cavity ringdown isotope analysis of plant and soil waters
Seasonal shifts in depth-to-water uptake by young thinned and overstocked lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forests under drought conditions in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Hydrological and pedological effects of combining Italian alder and blackberries in an agroforestry windbreak system in South Africa
Rainfall redistribution in subtropical Chinese forests changes over 22 years
The influence of hillslope topography on beech water use: a comparative study in two different climates
Real-time biological early-warning system based on freshwater mussels’ valvometry data
Root water uptake patterns are controlled by tree species interactions and soil water variability
The seasonal origins and ages of water provisioning streams and trees in a tropical montane cloud forest
Benefits of a robotic chamber system for determining evapotranspiration in an erosion-affected, heterogeneous cropland
Quantifying river water contributions to the transpiration of riparian trees along a losing river: lessons from stable isotopes and an iteration method
Dye-tracer-aided investigation of xylem water transport velocity distributions
Technical note: Lessons from and best practices for the deployment of the Soil Water Isotope Storage System
Throughfall spatial patterns translate into spatial patterns of soil moisture dynamics – empirical evidence
Routing stemflow water through the soil via preferential flow: a dual-labelling approach with artificial tracers
Improving soil aquifer treatment efficiency using air injection into the subsurface
Dynamic root growth in response to depth-varying soil moisture availability: a rhizobox study
Controls on leaf water hydrogen and oxygen isotopes: a local investigation across seasons and altitude
Resolving seasonal and diel dynamics of non-rainfall water inputs in a Mediterranean ecosystem using lysimeters
The effect of rainfall amount and timing on annual transpiration in a grazed savanna grassland
Inter- and intra-event rainfall partitioning dynamics of two typical xerophytic shrubs in the Loess Plateau of China
A comparative study of plant water extraction methods for isotopic analyses: Scholander-type pressure chamber vs. cryogenic vacuum distillation
Xylem water in riparian willow trees (Salix alba) reveals shallow sources of root water uptake by in situ monitoring of stable water isotopes
Technical note: High-accuracy weighing micro-lysimeter system for long-term measurements of non-rainfall water inputs to grasslands
Response of water fluxes and biomass production to climate change in permanent grassland soil ecosystems
Ecohydrological travel times derived from in situ stable water isotope measurements in trees during a semi-controlled pot experiment
Insights into the isotopic mismatch between bulk soil water and Salix matsudana Koidz trunk water from root water stable isotope measurements
The role of dew and radiation fog inputs in the local water cycling of a temperate grassland during dry spells in central Europe
Co-evolution of xylem water and soil water stable isotopic composition in a northern mixed forest biome
Vapor plumes in a tropical wet forest: spotting the invisible evaporation
Rapid reduction in ecosystem productivity caused by flash droughts based on decade-long FLUXNET observations
Throughfall isotopic composition in relation to drop size at the intra-event scale in a Mediterranean Scots pine stand
Rainfall interception and redistribution by a common North American understory and pasture forb, Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam. dogfennel)
In situ measurements of soil and plant water isotopes: a review of approaches, practical considerations and a vision for the future
Coalescence of bacterial groups originating from urban runoffs and artificial infiltration systems among aquifer microbiomes
A combination of soil water extraction methods quantifies the isotopic mixing of waters held at separate tensions in soil
Using water stable isotopes to understand evaporation, moisture stress, and re-wetting in catchment forest and grassland soils of the summer drought of 2018
Partitioning growing season water balance within a forested boreal catchment using sap flux, eddy covariance, and a process-based model
Technical note: Long-term probe misalignment and proposed quality control using the heat pulse method for transpiration estimations
Contribution of understory evaporation in a tropical wet forest during the dry season
Coffee and shade trees show complementary use of soil water in a traditional agroforestry ecosystem
Responses of soil water storage and crop water use efficiency to changing climatic conditions: a lysimeter-based space-for-time approach
Neighbourhood and stand structure affect stemflow generation in a heterogeneous deciduous temperate forest
Technical Note: A global database of the stable isotopic ratios of meteoric and terrestrial waters
Temporally dependent effects of rainfall characteristics on inter- and intra-event branch-scale stemflow variability in two xerophytic shrubs
Dissolved organic carbon driven by rainfall events from a semi-arid catchment during concentrated rainfall season in the Loess Plateau, China
Dew frequency across the US from a network of in situ radiometers
Kaiyan Hu, Bertille Loiseau, Simon D. Carrière, Nolwenn Lesparre, Cédric Champollion, Nicolas K. Martin-StPaul, Niklas Linde, and Damien Jougnot
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2997–3018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2997-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2997-2025, 2025
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This study explores the potential of the electrical self-potential (SP) method, a passive geophysical technique, to provide additional insights into tree transpiration rates. We measured SP and sap velocity in three tree species over a year in a Mediterranean climate. Results indicate SP may characterize transpiration rates, especially during dry seasons. Additionally, the electrokinetic coupling coefficients of these trees align with values typically found in porous geological media.
Maria Magdalena Warter, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Chris Soulsby, Tobias Goldhammer, Daniel Gebler, Kati Vierikko, and Michael T. Monaghan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2707–2725, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2707-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2707-2025, 2025
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There is a lack of understanding of how urban aquatic nature-based solutions (aquaNBSs) affect ecohydrology and how they in turn are affected by urbanization and climate change. We use a multi-tracer approach of stable water isotopes, hydrochemistry, and microbial and macrophyte diversity to disentangle the effects of hydroclimate and urbanization. The results show potential limitations of aquaNBSs regarding water quality and biodiversity in response to hydroclimate and urban water sources.
Heinke Paulsen and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2309–2319, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2309-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2309-2025, 2025
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This technical note describes the development of a weighing forest floor grid lysimeter. The device is needed to investigate the dynamics of the water balance components of the organic layer in forests, quantifying precipitation, drainage, evaporation, and storage. We designed a setup that can be easily rebuilt and that is cost-effective, which allows for customized applications. Performance metrics from laboratory results and initial field data are presented.
Sanneke van Asselen, Gilles Erkens, Christian Fritz, Rudi Hessel, and Jan J. H. van den Akker
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1865–1894, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1865-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1865-2025, 2025
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Water infiltration systems in peat meadows commonly reduce groundwater level. Groundwater level fluctuations induce soil volume decreases and increases in both the saturated and unsaturated zone, causing yearly vertical soil movement dynamics of up to 10 cm. Multiyear subsidence rates are of the order of millimeters per year. Such research is vital to increase knowledge of subsidence processes and develop effective measures to reduce land subsidence and greenhouse gas emissions.
Gabriel J. Bowen, Sagarika Banerjee, and Suvankar Chakraborty
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-949, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-949, 2025
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Instruments that use absorption of laser light to measure isotope concentrations in water are advancing our understanding of the water cycle, but for some sample types these instruments suffer from major biases caused by organic compounds. A new dataset of water from >1800 plant and soil samples shows these effects are common and severe for many plant species but can be mathematically corrected to obtain high-quality research data.
Emory C. Ellis, Robert D. Guy, and Xiaohua A. Wei
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4667–4684, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4667-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4667-2024, 2024
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This study analyzes water-stable isotope composition by analyzing the impact of forest thinning on lodgepole pine depth-to-water uptake and water-use strategies. Lodgepole pine's primary source is spring snowmelt and shifts to rely on deeper soil water to maintain water uptake. There was no effect of decreased stand density on depth-to-water uptake. It will become more critical that we know how much water forests are using and which strategies trees use to sustain their water supply.
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
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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).
Wanjun Zhang, Thomas Scholten, Steffen Seitz, Qianmei Zhang, Guowei Chu, Linhua Wang, Xin Xiong, and Juxiu Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 3837–3854, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3837-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-3837-2024, 2024
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Rainfall input generally controls soil water and plant growth. We focus on rainfall redistribution in succession sequence forests over 22 years. Some changes in rainwater volume and chemistry in the throughfall and stemflow and drivers were investigated. Results show that shifted open rainfall over time and forest factors induced remarkable variability in throughfall and stemflow, which potentially makes forecasting future changes in water resources in the forest ecosystems more difficult.
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
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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.
Ashkan Pilbala, Nicoletta Riccardi, Nina Benistati, Vanessa Modesto, Donatella Termini, Dario Manca, Augusto Benigni, Cristiano Corradini, Tommaso Lazzarin, Tommaso Moramarco, Luigi Fraccarollo, and Sebastiano Piccolroaz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 2297–2311, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2297-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2297-2024, 2024
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This study investigates the impact of floods on the aquatic ecosystem using freshwater mussels instrumented with sensors to monitor the opening of their valves. Signal analysis techniques were used to gain insight into their responses in terms of changes in the intensity and frequency of valve opening. The approach used in the study enables the development of real-time monitoring systems for ecological purposes and provides a pathway for practical biological early-warning systems.
Gökben Demir, Andrew J. Guswa, Janett Filipzik, Johanna Clara Metzger, Christine Römermann, and Anke Hildebrandt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 1441–1461, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1441-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1441-2024, 2024
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Experimental evidence is scarce to understand how the spatial variation in below-canopy precipitation affects root water uptake patterns. Here, we conducted field measurements to investigate drivers of root water uptake patterns while accounting for canopy induced heterogeneity in water input. We found that tree species interactions and soil moisture variability, rather than below-canopy precipitation patterns, control root water uptake patterns in a mixed unmanaged forest.
Emily I. Burt, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Roxanne M. Cruz-de Hoyos, Adan Julian Ccahuana Quispe, and A. Joshua West
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 4173–4186, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4173-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4173-2023, 2023
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When it rains, water remains in the ground for variable amounts of time before it is taken up by plants or becomes streamflow. Understanding how long water stays in the ground before it is taken up by plants or becomes streamflow helps predict what will happen to the water cycle in future climates. Some studies suggest that plants take up water that has been in the ground for a long time; in contrast, we find that plants take up a significant amount of recent rain.
Adrian Dahlmann, Mathias Hoffmann, Gernot Verch, Marten Schmidt, Michael Sommer, Jürgen Augustin, and Maren Dubbert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3851–3873, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3851-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3851-2023, 2023
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Evapotranspiration (ET) plays a pivotal role in terrestrial water cycling, returning up to 90 % of precipitation to the atmosphere. We studied impacts of soil type and management on an agroecosystem using an automated system with modern modeling approaches. We modeled ET at high spatial and temporal resolution to highlight differences in heterogeneous soils on an hourly basis. Our results show significant differences in yield and smaller differences in ET overall, impacting water use efficiency.
Yue Li, Ying Ma, Xianfang Song, Qian Zhang, and Lixin Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3405–3425, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3405-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3405-2023, 2023
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We proposed an iteration method in combination with the MixSIAR model and water isotopes to quantify the river water contribution (RWC) to riparian deep-rooted trees nearby a losing river. River water can indirectly contribute by 20.3 % to water uptake of riparian trees. River recharged riparian groundwater rapidly with a short groundwater residence time (no more than 0.28 d). The RWC to riparian trees was negatively correlated with the water table depth and leaf δ13C in linear functions.
Stefan Seeger and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3393–3404, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3393-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3393-2023, 2023
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This study proposes a low-budget method to quantify the radial distribution of water transport velocities within trees at a high spatial resolution. We observed a wide spread of water transport velocities within a tree stem section, which were on average 3 times faster than the flux velocity. The distribution of transport velocities has implications for studies that use water isotopic signatures to study root water uptake and usually assume uniform or even implicitly infinite velocities.
Rachel E. Havranek, Kathryn Snell, Sebastian Kopf, Brett Davidheiser-Kroll, Valerie Morris, and Bruce Vaughn
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2951–2971, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2951-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2951-2023, 2023
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We present an automated, field-ready system that collects soil water vapor for stable isotope analysis. This system can be used to determine soil water evolution through time, which is helpful for understanding crop water use, water vapor fluxes to the atmosphere, and geologic proxy development. Our system can automatically collect soil water vapor and then store it for up to 30 d, which allows researchers to collect datasets from historically understudied, remote locations.
Christine Fischer-Bedtke, Johanna Clara Metzger, Gökben Demir, Thomas Wutzler, and Anke Hildebrandt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2899–2918, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2899-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2899-2023, 2023
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Canopies change how rain reaches the soil: some spots receive more and others less water. It has long been debated whether this also leads to locally wetter and drier soil. We checked this using measurements of canopy drip and soil moisture. We found that the increase in soil water content after rain was aligned with canopy drip. Independently, the soil storage reaction was dampened in locations prone to drainage, like hig-macroporosity areas, suggesting that canopy drip enhances bypass flow.
Juan Pinos, Markus Flury, Jérôme Latron, and Pilar Llorens
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2865–2881, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2865-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2865-2023, 2023
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We investigated how stemflow (intercepted rainwater by the tree crown that travels down the stem) infiltrates within the soil. We simulated stemflow, applying coloured water along a tree trunk. Coloured patterns, observed when we excavated the soil after the experiment, were used to view and quantify preferential flow in the soil. We found that stemflow was mainly funnelled belowground along tree roots and macropores. Soil moisture near the trunk was affected both vertically and horizontally.
Ido Arad, Aviya Ziner, Shany Ben Moshe, Noam Weisbrod, and Alex Furman
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2509–2522, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2509-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2509-2023, 2023
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In a series of long-column experiments, subsurface air injection in soil aquifer treatment (Air-SAT) was tested as an alternative to conventional flooding–drying operation (FDO) in tertiary wastewater (WW) treatment. Our results show that Air-SAT allows for the treatment of increased WW volumes and results in similar or better effluent quality compared with FDO. These results highlight the possibility of using air injection to treat more effluent and alleviate the pressure on existing SAT sites.
Cynthia Maan, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, and Bas J. H. van de Wiel
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2341–2355, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2341-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2341-2023, 2023
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Their flexible growth provides the plants with a strong ability to adapt and develop resilience to droughts and climate change. But this adaptability is badly included in crop and climate models. To model plant development in changing environments, we need to include the survival strategies of plants. Based on experimental data, we set up a simple model for soil-moisture-driven root growth. The model performance suggests that soil moisture is a key parameter determining root growth.
Jinzhao Liu, Chong Jiang, Huawu Wu, Li Guo, Haiwei Zhang, and Ying Zhao
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 599–612, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-599-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-599-2023, 2023
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What controls leaf water isotopes? We answered the question from two perspectives: respective and dual isotopes. On the one hand, the δ18O and δ2H values of leaf water responded to isotopes of potential source water (i.e., twig water, soil water, and precipitation) and meteorological parameters (i.e., temperature, RH, and precipitation) differently. On the other hand, dual δ18O and δ2H values of leaf water yielded a significant linear relationship associated with altitude and seasonality.
Sinikka Jasmin Paulus, Tarek Sebastian El-Madany, René Orth, Anke Hildebrandt, Thomas Wutzler, Arnaud Carrara, Gerardo Moreno, Oscar Perez-Priego, Olaf Kolle, Markus Reichstein, and Mirco Migliavacca
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6263–6287, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6263-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6263-2022, 2022
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In this study, we analyze small inputs of water to ecosystems such as fog, dew, and adsorption of vapor. To measure them, we use a scaling system and later test our attribution of different water fluxes to weight changes. We found that they occur frequently during 1 year in a dry summer ecosystem. In each season, a different flux seems dominant, but they all mainly occur during the night. Therefore, they could be important for the biosphere because rain is unevenly distributed over the year.
Matti Räsänen, Mika Aurela, Ville Vakkari, Johan P. Beukes, Juha-Pekka Tuovinen, Pieter G. Van Zyl, Miroslav Josipovic, Stefan J. Siebert, Tuomas Laurila, Markku Kulmala, Lauri Laakso, Janne Rinne, Ram Oren, and Gabriel Katul
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5773–5791, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5773-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5773-2022, 2022
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The productivity of semiarid grazed grasslands is linked to the variation in rainfall and transpiration. By combining carbon dioxide and water flux measurements, we show that the annual transpiration is nearly constant during wet years while grasses react quickly to dry spells and drought, which reduce transpiration. The planning of annual grazing strategies could consider the early-season rainfall frequency that was linked to the portion of annual transpiration.
Jinxia An, Guangyao Gao, Chuan Yuan, Juan Pinos, and Bojie Fu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3885–3900, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3885-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3885-2022, 2022
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An in-depth investigation was conducted of all rainfall-partitioning components at inter- and intra-event scales for two xerophytic shrubs. Inter-event rainfall partitioning amount and percentage depended more on rainfall amount, and rainfall intensity and duration controlled intra-event rainfall-partitioning variables. One shrub has larger branch angle, small branch and smaller canopy area to produce stemflow more efficiently, and the other has larger biomass to intercept more rainfall.
Giulia Zuecco, Anam Amin, Jay Frentress, Michael Engel, Chiara Marchina, Tommaso Anfodillo, Marco Borga, Vinicio Carraro, Francesca Scandellari, Massimo Tagliavini, Damiano Zanotelli, Francesco Comiti, and Daniele Penna
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3673–3689, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3673-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3673-2022, 2022
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We analyzed the variability in the isotopic composition of plant water extracted by two different methods, i.e., cryogenic vacuum distillation (CVD) and Scholander-type pressure chamber (SPC). Our results indicated that the isotopic composition of plant water extracted by CVD and SPC was significantly different. We concluded that plant water extraction by SPC is not an alternative for CVD as SPC mostly extracts the mobile plant water whereas CVD retrieves all water stored in the sampled tissue.
Jessica Landgraf, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Maren Dubbert, David Dubbert, Aaron Smith, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2073–2092, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2073-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2073-2022, 2022
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Using water stable isotopes, we studied from which water source (lake water, stream water, groundwater, or soil water) two willows were taking their water. We monitored the environmental conditions (e.g. air temperature and soil moisture) and the behaviour of the trees (water flow in the stem). We found that the most likely water sources of the willows were the upper soil layers but that there were seasonal dynamics.
Andreas Riedl, Yafei Li, Jon Eugster, Nina Buchmann, and Werner Eugster
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 91–116, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-91-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-91-2022, 2022
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The aim of this study was to develop a high-accuracy micro-lysimeter system for the quantification of non-rainfall water inputs that overcomes existing drawbacks. The micro-lysimeter system had a high accuracy and allowed us to quantify and distinguish between different types of non-rainfall water inputs, like dew and fog. Non-rainfall water inputs occurred frequently in a Swiss Alpine grassland ecosystem. These water inputs can be an important water source for grasslands during dry periods.
Veronika Forstner, Jannis Groh, Matevz Vremec, Markus Herndl, Harry Vereecken, Horst H. Gerke, Steffen Birk, and Thomas Pütz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 6087–6106, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6087-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6087-2021, 2021
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Lysimeter-based manipulative and observational experiments were used to identify responses of water fluxes and aboveground biomass (AGB) to climatic change in permanent grassland. Under energy-limited conditions, elevated temperature actual evapotranspiration (ETa) increased, while seepage, dew, and AGB decreased. Elevated CO2 mitigated the effect on ETa. Under water limitation, elevated temperature resulted in reduced ETa, and AGB was negatively correlated with an increasing aridity.
David Mennekes, Michael Rinderer, Stefan Seeger, and Natalie Orlowski
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4513–4530, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4513-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4513-2021, 2021
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In situ stable water isotope measurements are a recently developed method to measure water movement from the soil through the plant to the atmosphere in high resolution and precision. Here, we present important advantages of the new method in comparison to commonly used measurement methods in an experimental setup. Overall, this method can help to answer research questions such as plant responses to climate change with potentially shifting water availability or temperatures.
Ying Zhao and Li Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3975–3989, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3975-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3975-2021, 2021
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At our study site during the experimental period, trunk water was only isotopically similar to root water at 100–160 cm depths. The isotopic composition of root water deviated from that of bulk soil water but overlapped with the composition derived for less mobile water. These findings suggest that the isotopic offset between bulk soil water and trunk water was due to the isotopic mismatch between root water and bulk soil water associated with soil water heterogeneity.
Yafei Li, Franziska Aemisegger, Andreas Riedl, Nina Buchmann, and Werner Eugster
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2617–2648, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2617-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2617-2021, 2021
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During dry spells, dew and fog potentially play an increasingly important role in temperate grasslands. Research on the combined mechanisms of dew and fog inputs to ecosystems and distillation of water vapor from soil to plant surfaces is rare. Our results using stable water isotopes highlight the importance of dew and fog inputs to temperate grasslands during dry spells and reveal the complexity of the local water cycling in such conditions, including different pathways of dew and fog inputs.
Jenna R. Snelgrove, James M. Buttle, Matthew J. Kohn, and Dörthe Tetzlaff
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2169–2186, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2169-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2169-2021, 2021
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Co-evolution of plant and soil water isotopic composition throughout the growing season in a little-studied northern mixed forest landscape was explored. Marked inter-specific differences in the isotopic composition of xylem water relative to surrounding soil water occurred, despite thin soil cover constraining inter-species differences in rooting depths. We provide potential explanations for differences in temporal evolution of xylem water isotopic composition in this northern landscape.
César Dionisio Jiménez-Rodríguez, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Bart Schilperoort, Adriana del Pilar González-Angarita, and Hubert Savenije
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 619–635, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-619-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-619-2021, 2021
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During rainfall events, evaporation from tropical forests is usually ignored. However, the water retained in the canopy during rainfall increases the evaporation despite the high-humidity conditions. In a tropical wet forest in Costa Rica, it was possible to depict vapor plumes rising from the forest canopy during rainfall. These plumes are evidence of forest evaporation. Also, we identified the conditions that allowed this phenomenon to happen using time-lapse videos and meteorological data.
Miao Zhang and Xing Yuan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 5579–5593, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5579-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5579-2020, 2020
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We identify flash drought events by considering the decline rate of soil moisture and the drought persistency, and we detect the response of ecosystem carbon and water fluxes to flash droughts based on FLUXNET observations. We find rapid declines in carbon assimilation within 16–24 d of flash drought onset, where savannas show the highest sensitivity. Water use efficiency increases for forests but decreases for herbaceous ecosystems during the recovery stage of flash droughts.
Juan Pinos, Jérôme Latron, Kazuki Nanko, Delphis F. Levia, and Pilar Llorens
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4675–4690, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4675-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4675-2020, 2020
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Water that drips or splashes from a canopy or passes through it is termed throughfall. This is the first known study to examine interrelationships between throughfall isotopic fractionation and throughfall drop size. Working in a mountainous Scots pine forest, we found that throughfall splash droplets were more prevalent at the onset of rain when vapour pressure deficits were larger. This finding has important implications for water mixing in the canopy and for theories of canopy interception.
D. Alex R. Gordon, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Brent A. Sellers, S. M. Moein Sadeghi, and John T. Van Stan II
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4587–4599, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4587-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4587-2020, 2020
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Where plants exist, rain must pass through canopies to reach soils. We studied how rain interacts with dogfennel – a highly problematic weed that is abundant in pastures, grasslands, rangelands, urban forests and along highways. Dogfennels evaporated large portions (approx. one-fifth) of rain and drained significant (at times > 25 %) rain (and dew) down their stems to their roots (via stemflow). This may explain how dogfennel survives and even invades managed landscapes during extended droughts.
Matthias Beyer, Kathrin Kühnhammer, and Maren Dubbert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4413–4440, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4413-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4413-2020, 2020
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Water isotopes are a scientific tool that can be used to identify sources of water and answer questions such as
From which soil depths do plants take up water?, which are highly relevant under changing climatic conditions. In the past, the measurement of water isotopes required tremendous effort. In the last decade methods have advanced and can now be applied in the field. Herein, we review the current status of direct field measurements of water isotopes and discuss future applications.
Yannick Colin, Rayan Bouchali, Laurence Marjolet, Romain Marti, Florian Vautrin, Jérémy Voisin, Emilie Bourgeois, Veronica Rodriguez-Nava, Didier Blaha, Thierry Winiarski, Florian Mermillod-Blondin, and Benoit Cournoyer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4257–4273, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4257-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4257-2020, 2020
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Stormwater infiltration systems (SISs) are a source of pollution that may have adverse ecological and sanitary impacts. The incidence of a SIS on the coalescence of microbial communities from runoff waters and aboveground sediments with those of an aquifer was investigated. Aquifer waters showed lower coalescence with aboveground bacterial taxa than aquifer biofilms. These biofilms were colonized by bacterial hydrocarbon degraders and harboured undesirable human-opportunistic pathogens.
William H. Bowers, Jason J. Mercer, Mark S. Pleasants, and David G. Williams
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4045–4060, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4045-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4045-2020, 2020
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Determining the chemical composition of soil water can help to address questions concerning water transport and use. However, there are many observations of incompletely mixed soil water within various soil pore domains. We applied two contrasting waters to soil samples and then removed water from the soils with three sequential and increasing applied energy steps to assess soil water mixing and equilibration over time. We found it took more than 3 d for soil water to mix and equilibrate.
Lukas Kleine, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Aaron Smith, Hailong Wang, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3737–3752, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3737-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3737-2020, 2020
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We investigated the effects of the 2018 drought on water partitioning in a lowland catchment under grassland and forest in north-eastern Germany. Conditions resulted in drying up of streams, yield losses, and lower groundwater levels. Oak trees continued to transpire during the drought. We used stable isotopes to assess the fluxes and ages of water. Sustainable use of resource water requires such understanding of ecohydrological water partitioning.
Nataliia Kozii, Kersti Haahti, Pantana Tor-ngern, Jinshu Chi, Eliza Maher Hasselquist, Hjalmar Laudon, Samuli Launiainen, Ram Oren, Matthias Peichl, Jörgen Wallerman, and Niles J. Hasselquist
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2999–3014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2999-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2999-2020, 2020
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The hydrologic cycle is one of the greatest natural processes on Earth and strongly influences both regional and global climate as well as ecosystem functioning. Results from this study clearly show the central role trees play in regulating the water cycle of boreal catchments, implying that forest management impacts on stand structure as well as climate change effects on tree growth are likely to have large cascading effects on the way water moves through boreal forested landscapes.
Elisabeth K. Larsen, Jose Luis Palau, Jose Antonio Valiente, Esteban Chirino, and Juan Bellot
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2755–2767, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2755-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2755-2020, 2020
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To improve long-term sap flow measurements when using the heat ratio method, this study introduces a dynamic probe misalignment correction method. This work uses sap flow data from four Aleppo pines from April 2017 to December 2018 and shows how a classical probe correction approach declines in accuracy over time. Additionally, it is proposed that a new set of statistical information be recorded along with the sap flow readings to ensure the quality of the raw data.
César Dionisio Jiménez-Rodríguez, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Jochen Wenninger, Adriana Gonzalez-Angarita, and Hubert Savenije
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2179–2206, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2179-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2179-2020, 2020
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Tropical forest ecosystems are able to export a lot of water to the atmosphere by means of evaporation. However, little is known on how their complex structure affects this water flux. This paper analyzes the contribution of three canopy layers in terms of water fluxes and stable water isotope signatures. During the dry season in 2018 the two lower canopy layers provide 20 % of measured evaporation, highlighting the importance of knowing how forest structure can affect the hydrological cycle.
Lyssette Elena Muñoz-Villers, Josie Geris, María Susana Alvarado-Barrientos, Friso Holwerda, and Todd Dawson
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1649–1668, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1649-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1649-2020, 2020
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Our research showed, consistently, a complementary use of soil water sources between coffee (Coffea Arabica var. typica) plants and shade tree species during the dry and wet seasons in a traditional agroforestry ecosystem in central Veracruz, Mexico. However, more variability in plant water sources was observed among species in the rainy season when higher soil moisture conditions were present and water stress was largely absent.
Jannis Groh, Jan Vanderborght, Thomas Pütz, Hans-Jörg Vogel, Ralf Gründling, Holger Rupp, Mehdi Rahmati, Michael Sommer, Harry Vereecken, and Horst H. Gerke
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1211–1225, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1211-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1211-2020, 2020
Johanna C. Metzger, Jens Schumacher, Markus Lange, and Anke Hildebrandt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4433–4452, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4433-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4433-2019, 2019
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Variation in stemflow (rain water running down the stem) enhances the formation of flow hot spots at the forest floor. Investigating drivers based on detailed measurements, we find that forest structure affects stemflow, both for individual trees and small communities. Densely packed forest patches received more stemflow, due to a higher proportion of woody structure and canopy morphology adjustments, which increase the potential for flow path generation connecting crowns and soil.
Annie L. Putman and Gabriel J. Bowen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4389–4396, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4389-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4389-2019, 2019
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We describe an open-access, global database of stable water isotope ratios of various water types. The database facilitates data archiving, supports standardized metadata collection, and decreases the time investment for metanalyses. To promote data discovery and collaboration, the database exposes metadata and data owner contact information for private data but only permits download of public data. Two companion apps support digital data collection and processing and upload of analyzed data.
Chuan Yuan, Guangyao Gao, Bojie Fu, Daming He, Xingwu Duan, and Xiaohua Wei
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4077–4095, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4077-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4077-2019, 2019
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The stemflow dynamics of two xerophytic shrubs were investigated at the inter- and intra-event scales with high-temporal-resolution data in 54 rain events. Stemflow process was depicted by intensity, duration and time lags to rain events. Funneling ratio was calculated as the ratio of stemflow to rainfall intensities. Rainfall intensity and raindrop momentum controlled stemflow intensity and time lags. Influences of rainfall characteristics on stemflow variables showed temporal dependence.
Linhua Wang, Haw Yen, Xinhui E, Liding Chen, and Yafeng Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3141–3153, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3141-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3141-2019, 2019
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A high-frequency approach was used to monitor dynamic changes of DOC exported during the concentrated rainfall season in LPR, China. DOC concentration and flux from an ecologically restored catchment in the LPR was investigated. Hysteresis analysis indicated non-linear relationships between DOC concentration and discharge rate in a rainfall event. DOC export is substantially affected by the interaction of rainfall and antecedent conditions for a rainfall event.
François Ritter, Max Berkelhammer, and Daniel Beysens
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1179–1197, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1179-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1179-2019, 2019
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There currently is no standardized approach for measuring dew formation, making it difficult to compare its frequency and importance across ecosystems. Recently, canopy surface temperature data from 30 sites in the US were measured continuously using in situ infrared radiometers. The analysis presented here provides the first continental-scale standardized synthesis of dew formation. This work provides a basis for considering how changing climate and land use will influence dew formation.
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Executive editor
The authors present a new method to sample water vapour from trees in a cost-effective manner. The method can be applied in a lab, but also in the field. As many scientist are struggling with proper sampling method, I think this paper is worth highlighting.
The authors present a new method to sample water vapour from trees in a cost-effective manner....
Short summary
We developed a method of sampling and storing water vapour for isotope analysis, allowing us to infer plant water uptake depth. Measurements can be made at high temporal and spatial resolution even in remote areas. We ensured that all necessary components are easily available, making this method cost efficient and simple to implement. We found our method to perform well in the lab and in the field, enabling it to become a tool for everyone aiming to resolve questions regarding the water cycle.
We developed a method of sampling and storing water vapour for isotope analysis, allowing us to...
