Articles | Volume 26, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-429-2022
© 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-26-429-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
31 Jan 2022
Research article |
| 31 Jan 2022
| 31 Jan 2022
Watershed zonation through hillslope clustering for tractably quantifying above- and below-ground watershed heterogeneity and functions
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Sebastian Uhlemann
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Maya Franklin
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Nicola Falco
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Nicholas J. Bouskill
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Michelle E. Newcomer
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Baptiste Dafflon
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Erica R. Siirila-Woodburn
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Burke J. Minsley
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO 80225, USA
Kenneth H. Williams
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, CO 81224, USA
Susan S. Hubbard
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Fadji Z. Maina, Haruko M. Wainwright, Peter James Dennedy-Frank, and Erica R. Siirila-Woodburn
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3805–3823, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3805-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3805-2022, 2022
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We propose a hillslope clustering approach based on the seasonal changes in groundwater levels and test its performance by comparing it to several common clustering approaches (aridity index, topographic wetness index, elevation, land cover, and machine-learning clustering). The proposed approach is robust as it reasonably categorizes hillslopes with similar elevation, land cover, hydroclimate, land surface processes, and subsurface hydrodynamics, hence a similar hydrologic function.
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Climate change could change the groundwater system and threaten water supply. To quantitatively evaluate its impact on water quality, numerical simulations with chemical and reaction processes are required. With the climate projection dataset, we used the newly developed hydrological and chemical model to investigate the movement of contaminants and assist the management of contamination sites.
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We develop a hybrid model to estimate the spatial distribution of the thickness of the soil layer, which also provides estimations of soil transport and soil production rates. We apply this model to two examples of hillslopes in the East River watershed in Colorado and validate the model. The results show that the north-facing (NF) hillslope has a deeper soil layer than the south-facing (SF) hillslope and that the hybrid model provides better accuracy than a machine-learning model.
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The land model integrated into the Energy Exascale Earth System Model was extended to include snow redistribution (SR) and lateral subsurface hydrologic and thermal processes. Simulation results at a polygonal tundra site near Barrow, Alaska, showed that inclusion of SR resulted in a better agreement with observations. Excluding lateral subsurface processes had a small impact on mean states but caused a large overestimation of spatial variability in soil moisture and temperature.
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Warming in montane systems is affecting the amount of snowmelt inputs. This will affect subalpine forests globally that rely on spring snowmelt to support their water demands. We use a network of sensors across in the Upper Colorado Basin to show that changing spring primarily impacts dense forest stands that have high peak water demands. On the other hand, open forest stands show a higher reliance on summer rain and were minimally sensitive to even historically low snow conditions like 2019.
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Snow depth has a strong impact on soil temperatures and carbon cycling in the arctic. Because of this, we want to understand why snow is deeper in some places than others. Using cameras mounted on a drone, we mapped snow depth, vegetation height, and elevation across a watershed in Alaska. In this paper, we develop novel techniques using image processing and machine learning to characterize the influence of topography and shrubs on snow depth in the watershed.
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Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1771–1789, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1771-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1771-2023, 2023
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Katrina E. Bennett, Greta Miller, Robert Busey, Min Chen, Emma R. Lathrop, Julian B. Dann, Mara Nutt, Ryan Crumley, Shannon L. Dillard, Baptiste Dafflon, Jitendra Kumar, W. Robert Bolton, Cathy J. Wilson, Colleen M. Iversen, and Stan D. Wullschleger
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Zexuan Xu, Rebecca Serata, Haruko Wainwright, Miles Denham, Sergi Molins, Hansell Gonzalez-Raymat, Konstantin Lipnikov, J. David Moulton, and Carol Eddy-Dilek
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 755–773, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-755-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-755-2022, 2022
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Climate change could change the groundwater system and threaten water supply. To quantitatively evaluate its impact on water quality, numerical simulations with chemical and reaction processes are required. With the climate projection dataset, we used the newly developed hydrological and chemical model to investigate the movement of contaminants and assist the management of contamination sites.
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Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 1347–1361, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1347-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1347-2021, 2021
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We develop a hybrid model to estimate the spatial distribution of the thickness of the soil layer, which also provides estimations of soil transport and soil production rates. We apply this model to two examples of hillslopes in the East River watershed in Colorado and validate the model. The results show that the north-facing (NF) hillslope has a deeper soil layer than the south-facing (SF) hillslope and that the hybrid model provides better accuracy than a machine-learning model.
Fadji Z. Maina, Erica R. Siirila-Woodburn, and Pouya Vahmani
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3451–3474, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3451-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3451-2020, 2020
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Projecting the changes in water resources under a no-analog future climate requires integrated hydrologic models. However, these models are plagued by several sources of uncertainty. A hydrologic model was forced with various resolutions of meteorological forcing (0.5 to 40.5 km) to assess its sensitivity to these inputs. We show that most hydrologic variables reveal biases that are seasonally and spatially dependent, which can have serious implications for calibration and water management.
Nathan A. Wales, Jesus D. Gomez-Velez, Brent D. Newman, Cathy J. Wilson, Baptiste Dafflon, Timothy J. Kneafsey, Florian Soom, and Stan D. Wullschleger
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Benjamin Mary, Luca Peruzzo, Jacopo Boaga, Nicola Cenni, Myriam Schmutz, Yuxin Wu, Susan S. Hubbard, and Giorgio Cassiani
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The use of non-invasive geophysical imaging of root system processes is of increasing interest to study soil–plant interactions. The experiment focused on the behaviour of grapevine plants during a controlled infiltration experiment. The combination of the mise-à-la-masse (MALM) method, a variation of the classical electrical tomography map (ERT), for which the current is transmitted directly into the stem, holds the promise of being able to image root distribution.
Elchin E. Jafarov, Dylan R. Harp, Ethan T. Coon, Baptiste Dafflon, Anh Phuong Tran, Adam L. Atchley, Youzuo Lin, and Cathy J. Wilson
The Cryosphere, 14, 77–91, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-77-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-77-2020, 2020
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Improved subsurface parameterization and benchmarking data are needed to reduce current uncertainty in predicting permafrost response to a warming climate. We developed a subsurface parameter estimation framework that can be used to estimate soil properties where subsurface data are available. We utilize diverse geophysical datasets such as electrical resistance data, soil moisture data, and soil temperature data to recover soil porosity and soil thermal conductivity.
Emmanuel Léger, Baptiste Dafflon, Yves Robert, Craig Ulrich, John E. Peterson, Sébastien C. Biraud, Vladimir E. Romanovsky, and Susan S. Hubbard
The Cryosphere, 13, 2853–2867, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2853-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2853-2019, 2019
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We propose a new strategy called distributed temperature profiling (DTP) for improving the estimation of soil thermal properties through the use of an unprecedented number of laterally and vertically distributed temperature measurements. We tested a DTP system prototype by moving it sequentially across a discontinuous permafrost environment. The DTP enabled high-resolution identification of near-surface permafrost location and covariability with topography, vegetation, and soil properties.
Benjamin Mary, Luca Peruzzo, Jacopo Boaga, Myriam Schmutz, Yuxin Wu, Susan S. Hubbard, and Giorgio Cassiani
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5427–5444, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5427-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5427-2018, 2018
Gautam Bisht, William J. Riley, Haruko M. Wainwright, Baptiste Dafflon, Fengming Yuan, and Vladimir E. Romanovsky
Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 61–76, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-61-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-61-2018, 2018
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The land model integrated into the Energy Exascale Earth System Model was extended to include snow redistribution (SR) and lateral subsurface hydrologic and thermal processes. Simulation results at a polygonal tundra site near Barrow, Alaska, showed that inclusion of SR resulted in a better agreement with observations. Excluding lateral subsurface processes had a small impact on mean states but caused a large overestimation of spatial variability in soil moisture and temperature.
M. Andy Kass, Trevor P. Irons, Burke J. Minsley, Neal J. Pastick, Dana R. N. Brown, and Bruce K. Wylie
The Cryosphere, 11, 2943–2955, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2943-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2943-2017, 2017
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Geophysical methods have wide applications to permafrost studies. We show that borehole nuclear magnetic resonance is a valuable geophysical tool to rapidly characterize the liquid water content and unfrozen pore space in warm permafrost through simulation and field study. This technique is also sensitive to the ice nucleation process in situ. This method, which is applicable in a variety of soil types, can be used for single observations or for time-lapse monitoring of permafrost changes.
Anh Phuong Tran, Baptiste Dafflon, and Susan S. Hubbard
The Cryosphere, 11, 2089–2109, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2089-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2089-2017, 2017
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Soil organics carbon (SOC) and its influence on terrestrial ecosystem feedbacks to global warming in permafrost regions are particularly important for the prediction of future climate variation. Our study proposes a new surface–subsurface, joint deterministic–stochastic hydrological–thermal–geophysical inversion approach and documents the benefit of including multiple types of data to estimate the vertical profile of SOC content and its influence on hydrological–thermal dynamics.
Nicholas J. Bouskill, Mark E. Conrad, Markus Bill, Eoin L. Brodie, Yiwei Cheng, Chad Hobson, Matthew Forbes, Karen L. Casciotti, and Kenneth H. Williams
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2017-212, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2017-212, 2017
Preprint retracted
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This work couples isotope geochemical techniques with mechanistic microbial modeling in an attempt to further unravel the major factors responsible for an observed reduction in nitrate concomitant with a rising water table within floodplain sediments. We focus on 3 depths below ground surface with different periods of saturation and varying degrees of microbial nitrate loss. Using a microbial model we identify the controlling factors on denitrification responsible for these differences.
Haruko M. Wainwright, Anna K. Liljedahl, Baptiste Dafflon, Craig Ulrich, John E. Peterson, Alessio Gusmeroli, and Susan S. Hubbard
The Cryosphere, 11, 857–875, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-857-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-857-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Snow has a profound impact on permafrost and ecosystem functioning in the Arctic tundra. This paper aims to characterize the variability of end-of-winter snow depth and its relationship to topography in ice-wedge polygon tundra of Arctic Alaska. In addition, we develop a Bayesian geostatistical method to integrate multiscale observational platforms (a snow probe, ground penetrating radar, unmanned aerial system and airborne lidar) for estimating snow depth in high resolution over a large area.
Anh Phuong Tran, Baptiste Dafflon, Susan S. Hubbard, Michael B. Kowalsky, Philip Long, Tetsu K. Tokunaga, and Kenneth H. Williams
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3477–3491, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3477-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3477-2016, 2016
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Quantifying water and heat fluxes in the shallow subsurface is particularly important due to their strong control on recharge, evaporation and biogeochemical processes. This study developed and tested a new inversion scheme to estimate subsurface hydro-thermal parameters by joint using different hydrological, thermal and geophysical data. It is especially useful for the increasing number of studies that are taking advantage of autonomously collected measurements to explore ecosystem dynamics.
B. J. Minsley, T. P. Wellman, M. A. Walvoord, and A. Revil
The Cryosphere, 9, 781–794, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-781-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-781-2015, 2015
N. J. Bouskill, W. J. Riley, and J. Y. Tang
Biogeosciences, 11, 6969–6983, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-6969-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-6969-2014, 2014
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Various drought indices exist, but there is no consensus on which index to use to assess streamflow droughts. This study addresses meteorological, soil moisture, and snow indices along with their temporal scales to assess streamflow drought across hydrologically diverse catchments. Using data from 100 Chilean catchments, findings suggest that there is not a single drought index that can be used for all catchments and that snow-influenced areas require drought indices with larger temporal scales.
Eliot Sicaud, Daniel Fortier, Jean-Pierre Dedieu, and Jan Franssen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 65–86, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-65-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-65-2024, 2024
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For vast northern watersheds, hydrological data are often sparse and incomplete. Our study used remote sensing and clustering to produce classifications of the George River watershed (GRW). Results show two types of subwatersheds with different hydrological behaviors. The GRW experienced a homogenization of subwatershed types likely due to an increase in vegetation productivity, which could explain the measured decline of 1 % (~0.16 km3 y−1) in the George River’s discharge since the mid-1970s.
Bich Ngoc Tran, Johannes van der Kwast, Solomon Seyoum, Remko Uijlenhoet, Graham Jewitt, and Marloes Mul
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 4505–4528, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4505-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4505-2023, 2023
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Satellite data are increasingly used to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) or the amount of water moving from plants, soils, and water bodies into the atmosphere over large areas. Uncertainties from various sources affect the accuracy of these calculations. This study reviews the methods to assess the uncertainties of such ET estimations. It provides specific recommendations for a comprehensive assessment that assists in the potential uses of these data for research, monitoring, and management.
Jingkai Xie, Yue-Ping Xu, Hongjie Yu, Yan Huang, and Yuxue Guo
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5933–5954, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5933-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5933-2022, 2022
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Monitoring extreme flood events has long been a hot topic for hydrologists and decision makers around the world. In this study, we propose a new index incorporating satellite observations combined with meteorological data to monitor extreme flood events at sub-monthly timescales for the Yangtze River basin (YRB), China. The conclusions drawn from this study provide important implications for flood hazard prevention and water resource management over this region.
Johannes Larson, William Lidberg, Anneli M. Ågren, and Hjalmar Laudon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4837–4851, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4837-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4837-2022, 2022
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Terrain indices constitute a good candidate for modelling the spatial variation of soil moisture conditions in many landscapes. In this study, we evaluate nine terrain indices on varying DEM resolution and user-defined thresholds with validation using an extensive field soil moisture class inventory. We demonstrate the importance of field validation for selecting the appropriate DEM resolution and user-defined thresholds and that failing to do so can result in ambiguous and incorrect results.
Benjamin Kitambo, Fabrice Papa, Adrien Paris, Raphael M. Tshimanga, Stephane Calmant, Ayan Santos Fleischmann, Frederic Frappart, Melanie Becker, Mohammad J. Tourian, Catherine Prigent, and Johary Andriambeloson
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1857–1882, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1857-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1857-2022, 2022
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This study presents a better characterization of surface hydrology variability in the Congo River basin, the second largest river system in the world. We jointly use a large record of in situ and satellite-derived observations to monitor the spatial distribution and different timings of the Congo River basin's annual flood dynamic, including its peculiar bimodal pattern.
Stefan Schlaffer, Marco Chini, Wouter Dorigo, and Simon Plank
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 841–860, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-841-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-841-2022, 2022
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Prairie wetlands are important for biodiversity and water availability. Knowledge about their variability and spatial distribution is of great use in conservation and water resources management. In this study, we propose a novel approach for the classification of small water bodies from satellite radar images and apply it to our study area over 6 years. The retrieved dynamics show the different responses of small and large wetlands to dry and wet periods.
Gopal Penny, Zubair A. Dar, and Marc F. Müller
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 375–395, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-375-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-375-2022, 2022
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We develop an empirical approach to attribute declining streamflow in the Upper Jhelum watershed, a key subwatershed of the transboundary Indus basin. We find that a loss of streamflow since the year 2000 resulted primarily due to interactions among vegetation and groundwater in response to climate rather than local changes in land use, revealing the climate sensitivity of this Himalayan watershed.
Oscar M. Baez-Villanueva, Mauricio Zambrano-Bigiarini, Pablo A. Mendoza, Ian McNamara, Hylke E. Beck, Joschka Thurner, Alexandra Nauditt, Lars Ribbe, and Nguyen Xuan Thinh
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5805–5837, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5805-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5805-2021, 2021
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Most rivers worldwide are ungauged, which hinders the sustainable management of water resources. Regionalisation methods use information from gauged rivers to estimate streamflow over ungauged ones. Through hydrological modelling, we assessed how the selection of precipitation products affects the performance of three regionalisation methods. We found that a precipitation product that provides the best results in hydrological modelling does not necessarily perform the best for regionalisation.
Ulrike Falk and Adrián Silva-Busso
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3227–3244, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3227-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3227-2021, 2021
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This paper focuses on the groundwater flow aspects of a small hydrological catchment at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. This region has experienced drastic climatological changes in the recent past. The basin is representative for the rugged coastline of the peninsula. It is discussed as a case study for possible future evolution of similar basins further south. Results include a quantitative analysis of glacial and groundwater contribution to total discharge into coastal waters.
Rui Tong, Juraj Parajka, Andreas Salentinig, Isabella Pfeil, Jürgen Komma, Borbála Széles, Martin Kubáň, Peter Valent, Mariette Vreugdenhil, Wolfgang Wagner, and Günter Blöschl
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1389–1410, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1389-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1389-2021, 2021
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We used a new and experimental version of the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) soil water index data set and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) C6 snow cover products for multiple objective calibrations of the TUWmodel in 213 catchments of Austria. Combined calibration to runoff, satellite soil moisture, and snow cover improves runoff (40 % catchments), soil moisture (80 % catchments), and snow (~ 100 % catchments) simulation compared to traditional calibration to runoff only.
Mo Zhang, Wenjiao Shi, and Ziwei Xu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2505–2526, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2505-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2505-2020, 2020
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We systematically compared 45 models for direct and indirect soil texture classification and soil particle size fraction interpolation based on 5 machine-learning models and 3 log-ratio transformation methods. Random forest showed powerful performance in both classification of imbalanced data and regression assessment. Extreme gradient boosting is more meaningful and computationally efficient when dealing with large data sets. The indirect classification and log-ratio methods are recommended.
Florian U. Jehn, Konrad Bestian, Lutz Breuer, Philipp Kraft, and Tobias Houska
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1081–1100, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1081-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1081-2020, 2020
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We grouped 643 rivers from the United States into 10 behavioral groups based on their hydrological behavior (e.g., how much water they transport overall). Those groups are aligned with the ecoregions in the United States. Depending on the groups’ location and other characteristics, either snow, aridity or seasonality is most important for the behavior of the rivers in a group. We also find that very similar river behavior can be found in rivers far apart and with different characteristics.
Katrina E. Bennett, Jessica E. Cherry, Ben Balk, and Scott Lindsey
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2439–2459, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2439-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2439-2019, 2019
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Remotely sensed snow observations may improve operational streamflow forecasting in remote regions, such as Alaska. In this study, we insert remotely sensed observations of snow extent into the operational framework employed by the US National Weather Service’s Alaska Pacific River Forecast Center. Our work indicates that the snow observations can improve snow estimates and streamflow forecasting. This work provides direction for forecasters to implement remote sensing in their operations.
Cecile M. M. Kittel, Karina Nielsen, Christian Tøttrup, and Peter Bauer-Gottwein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1453–1472, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1453-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1453-2018, 2018
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In this study, we integrate free, global Earth observations in a user-friendly and flexible model to reliably characterize an otherwise unmonitored river basin. The proposed model is the best baseline characterization of the Ogooué basin in light of available observations. Furthermore, the study shows the potential of using new, publicly available Earth observations and a suitable model structure to obtain new information in poorly monitored or remote areas and to support user requirements.
Gopal Penny, Veena Srinivasan, Iryna Dronova, Sharachchandra Lele, and Sally Thompson
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 595–610, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-595-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-595-2018, 2018
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Water resources in the Arkavathy watershed in southern India are changing due to human modification of the landscape, including changing agricultural practices and urbanization. We analyze surface water resources in man-made lakes in satellite imagery over a period of 4 decades and find drying in the northern part of the watershed (characterized by heavy agriculture) and wetting downstream of urban areas. Drying in the watershed is associated with groundwater-irrigated agriculture.
Gorka Mendiguren, Julian Koch, and Simon Stisen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 5987–6005, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5987-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5987-2017, 2017
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The present study is focused on the spatial pattern evaluation of two models and describes the similarities and dissimilarities. It also discusses the factors that generate these patterns and proposes similar new approaches to minimize the differences. The study points towards a new approach in which the spatial component of the hydrological model is also calibrated and taken into account.
Henning Oppel and Andreas Schumann
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4259–4282, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4259-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4259-2017, 2017
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How can we evaluate the heterogeneity of natural watersheds and how can we assess its spatial organization? How can we make use of this information for hydrological models and is it beneficial to our models? We propose a method display and assess the interaction of catchment characteristics with the flow path which we defined as the ordering scheme within a basin. A newly implemented algorithm brings this information to the set-up of a model and our results show an increase in model performance.
Lu Zhuo and Dawei Han
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3267–3285, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3267-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3267-2017, 2017
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Reliable estimation of hydrological soil moisture state is of critical importance in operational hydrology to improve the flood prediction and hydrological cycle description. This paper attempts for the first time to build a soil moisture product directly applicable to hydrology using multiple data sources retrieved from remote sensing and land surface modelling. The result shows a significant improvement of the soil moisture state accuracy; the method can be easily applied in other catchments.
Mauricio Zambrano-Bigiarini, Alexandra Nauditt, Christian Birkel, Koen Verbist, and Lars Ribbe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1295–1320, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1295-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1295-2017, 2017
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This work exhaustively evaluates – for the first time – the suitability of seven state-of-the-art satellite-based rainfall estimates (SREs) over the complex topography and diverse climatic gradients of Chile.
Several indices of performance are used for different timescales and elevation zones. Our analysis reveals what SREs are in closer agreement to ground-based observations and what indices allow for understanding mismatches in shape, magnitude, variability and intensity of precipitation.
Yun Yang, Martha C. Anderson, Feng Gao, Christopher R. Hain, Kathryn A. Semmens, William P. Kustas, Asko Noormets, Randolph H. Wynne, Valerie A. Thomas, and Ge Sun
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1017–1037, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1017-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1017-2017, 2017
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This work explores the utility of a thermal remote sensing based MODIS/Landsat ET data fusion procedure over a mixed forested/agricultural landscape in North Carolina, USA. The daily ET retrieved at 30 m resolution agreed well with measured fluxes in a clear-cut and a mature pine stand. An accounting of consumptive water use by land cover classes is presented, as well as relative partitioning of ET between evaporation (E) and transpiration (T) components.
Domenico Guida, Albina Cuomo, and Vincenzo Palmieri
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3493–3509, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3493-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3493-2016, 2016
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The authors apply an object-based geomorphometric procedure to define the runoff contribution areas. The results enabled us to identify the contribution area related to the different runoff components activated during the storm events through an advanced hydro-chemical analysis. This kind of approach could be useful applied to similar, rainfall-dominated, forested and no-karst Mediterranean catchments.
Nutchanart Sriwongsitanon, Hongkai Gao, Hubert H. G. Savenije, Ekkarin Maekan, Sirikanya Saengsawang, and Sansarith Thianpopirug
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3361–3377, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3361-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3361-2016, 2016
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We demonstrated that the readily available NDII remote sensing product is a very useful proxy for moisture storage in the root zone of vegetation. We compared the temporal variation of the NDII with the root zone storage in a hydrological model of eight catchments in the Upper Ping River in Thailand, yielding very good results. Having a reliable NDII product that can help us to estimate the actual moisture storage in catchments is a major contribution to prediction in ungauged basins.
Cheng-Zhi Qin, Xue-Wei Wu, Jing-Chao Jiang, and A-Xing Zhu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3379–3392, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3379-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3379-2016, 2016
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Application of digital terrain analysis (DTA), which is typically a modeling process involving workflow building, relies heavily on DTA domain knowledge. However, the DTA knowledge has not been formalized well to be available for inference in automatic tools. We propose a case-based methodology to solve this problem. This methodology can also be applied to other domains of geographical modeling with a similar situation.
Patricia López López, Niko Wanders, Jaap Schellekens, Luigi J. Renzullo, Edwin H. Sutanudjaja, and Marc F. P. Bierkens
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3059–3076, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3059-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3059-2016, 2016
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We perform a joint assimilation experiment of high-resolution satellite soil moisture and discharge observations in the Murrumbidgee River basin with a large-scale hydrological model. Additionally, we study the impact of high- and low-resolution meteorological forcing on the model performance. We show that the assimilation of high-resolution satellite soil moisture and discharge observations has a significant impact on discharge simulations and can bring them closer to locally calibrated models.
Zhi Wei Li, Guo An Yu, Gary Brierley, and Zhao Yin Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3013–3025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3013-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3013-2016, 2016
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Influence of vegetation upon bedload transport and channel morphodynamics is examined along a channel stability gradient ranging from meandering to anabranching to anabranching–braided to fully braided planform conditions along trunk and tributary reaches of the Yellow River source zone in western China. This innovative work reveals complex interactions between channel planform, bedload transport capacity, sediment supply in the flood season, and the hydraulic role of vegetation.
W. Qi, C. Zhang, G. Fu, C. Sweetapple, and H. Zhou
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 903–920, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-903-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-903-2016, 2016
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Six precipitation products, including TRMM3B42, TRMM3B42RT, GLDAS/Noah, APHRODITE, PERSIANN, and GSMAP-MVK+, are investigated in the usually neglected area of NE China, and a framework is developed to quantify the contributions of uncertainties from precipitation products, hydrological models, and their interactions to uncertainty in simulated discharges. It is found that interactions between hydrological models and precipitation products contribute significantly to uncertainty in discharge.
A. Molina, V. Vanacker, E. Brisson, D. Mora, and V. Balthazar
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 4201–4213, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4201-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4201-2015, 2015
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Andean catchments play a key role in the provision of freshwater resources. The development of megacities in the inter-Andean valleys raises severe concerns about growing water scarcity. This study is one of the first long-term (1970s-now) analyses of the role of land cover and climate change on provision and regulation of streamflow in the tropical Andes. Forest conversion had the largest impact on streamflow, leading to a 10 % net decrease in streamflow over the last 40 years.
D. Shen, J. Wang, X. Cheng, Y. Rui, and S. Ye
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3605–3616, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3605-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3605-2015, 2015
M. A. Matin and C. P.-A. Bourque
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3387–3403, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3387-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3387-2015, 2015
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This paper describes a methodology in analysing the interdependencies between components of the hydrological cycle and vegetation characteristics at different elevation zones of two endorheic river basins in an arid-mountainous region of NW China. The analysis shows that oasis vegetation has an important function in sustaining the water cycle in the river basins and oasis vegetation is dependent on surface and shallow subsurface water flow from mountain sources.
L. Hao, G. Sun, Y. Liu, J. Wan, M. Qin, H. Qian, C. Liu, J. Zheng, R. John, P. Fan, and J. Chen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3319–3331, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3319-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3319-2015, 2015
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The role of land cover in affecting hydrologic and environmental changes in the humid region in southern China is not well studied. We found that high flows and low flows increased and evapotranspiration decreased due to urbanization in the Qinhuai River basin. Urbanization masked climate warming effects in a rice-paddy-dominated watershed in altering long-term hydrology. Flooding risks and heat island effects are expected to rise due to urbanization.
E. A. Sproles, S. G. Leibowitz, J. T. Reager, P. J. Wigington Jr, J. S. Famiglietti, and S. D. Patil
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3253–3272, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3253-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3253-2015, 2015
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The paper demonstrates how data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) can be used to describe the relationship between water stored at the regional scale and stream flow. Additionally, we employ GRACE as a regional-scale indicator to successfully predict stream flow later in the water year. Our work focuses on the Columbia River Basin (North America), but is widely applicable across the globe, and could prove to be particularly useful in regions with limited hydrological data.
A. Rouillard, G. Skrzypek, S. Dogramaci, C. Turney, and P. F. Grierson
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2057–2078, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2057-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2057-2015, 2015
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We reconstructed a 100-year monthly history of flooding and drought of a large wetland in arid northwest Australia, using hydroclimatic data calibrated against 25 years of satellite images. Severe and intense regional rainfall, as well as the sequence of events, determined surface water expression on the floodplain. While inter-annual variability was high, changes to the flood regime over the last 20 years suggest the wetland may become more persistent in response to the observed rainfall trend.
B. Müller, M. Bernhardt, and K. Schulz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 5345–5359, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-5345-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-5345-2014, 2014
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We present a method to define hydrological landscape units by a time series of thermal infrared satellite data. Land surface temperature is calculated for 28 images in 12 years for a catchment in Luxembourg. Pattern measures show spatio-temporal persistency; principle component analysis extracts relevant patterns. Functional units represent similar behaving entities based on a representative set of images. Resulting classification and patterns are discussed regarding potential applications.
F. F. Worku, M. Werner, N. Wright, P. van der Zaag, and S. S. Demissie
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 3837–3853, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-3837-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-3837-2014, 2014
A. M. Ågren, W. Lidberg, M. Strömgren, J. Ogilvie, and P. A. Arp
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 3623–3634, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-3623-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-3623-2014, 2014
N. Wanders, D. Karssenberg, A. de Roo, S. M. de Jong, and M. F. P. Bierkens
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 2343–2357, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2343-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2343-2014, 2014
J. K. Kiptala, M. L. Mul, Y. A. Mohamed, and P. van der Zaag
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 2287–2303, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2287-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2287-2014, 2014
C. I. Michailovsky and P. Bauer-Gottwein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 997–1007, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-997-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-997-2014, 2014
T. Conradt, F. Wechsung, and A. Bronstert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 2947–2966, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-2947-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-2947-2013, 2013
M. El Bastawesy, R. Ramadan Ali, A. Faid, and M. El Osta
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1493–1501, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1493-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1493-2013, 2013
A. C. V. Getirana and C. Peters-Lidard
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 923–933, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-923-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-923-2013, 2013
Y. Tramblay, R. Bouaicha, L. Brocca, W. Dorigo, C. Bouvier, S. Camici, and E. Servat
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 4375–4386, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-4375-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-4375-2012, 2012
J. Parajka, L. Holko, Z. Kostka, and G. Blöschl
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 2365–2377, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-2365-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-2365-2012, 2012
S. Peischl, J. P. Walker, C. Rüdiger, N. Ye, Y. H. Kerr, E. Kim, R. Bandara, and M. Allahmoradi
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 1697–1708, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1697-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1697-2012, 2012
S. Bircher, N. Skou, K. H. Jensen, J. P. Walker, and L. Rasmussen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 1445–1463, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1445-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1445-2012, 2012
J.-M. Kileshye Onema, A. E. Taigbenu, and J. Ndiritu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 1435–1443, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1435-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1435-2012, 2012
S. Manfreda, T. Lacava, B. Onorati, N. Pergola, M. Di Leo, M. R. Margiotta, and V. Tramutoli
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 2839–2852, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-2839-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-2839-2011, 2011
M. Salvia, F. Grings, P. Ferrazzoli, V. Barraza, V. Douna, P. Perna, C. Bruscantini, and H. Karszenbaum
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 2679–2692, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-2679-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-2679-2011, 2011
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Short summary
This paper has developed a tractable approach for characterizing watershed heterogeneity and its relationship with key functions such as ecosystem sensitivity to droughts and nitrogen export. We have applied clustering methods to classify hillslopes into
watershed zonesthat have distinct distributions of bedrock-to-canopy properties as well as key functions. This is a powerful approach for guiding watershed experiments and sampling as well as informing hydrological and biogeochemical models.
This paper has developed a tractable approach for characterizing watershed heterogeneity and its...
