Articles | Volume 26, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4953-2022
© 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-26-4953-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
07 Oct 2022
Research article |
| 07 Oct 2022
| 07 Oct 2022
Subsurface flow paths in a chronosequence of calcareous soils: impact of soil age and rainfall intensities on preferential flow occurrence
Anne Hartmann
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Section Hydrology, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Markus Weiler
Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Chair of Hydrology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Konrad Greinwald
Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Chair of Hydrology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Theresa Blume
Section Hydrology, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Related authors
No articles found.
Ulrike Proske, John Hillier, Stefan Gaillard, Theresa Blume, Eduardo Queiroz Alves, Susanne Buiter, Ken S. Carslaw, Kirsten von Elverfeldt, Tim H. M. van Emmerik, Barbara Ervens, Rolf Hut, Sam Illingworth, Daniel Klotz, and Jonas Pyschik
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-987, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-987, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscience Communication (GC).
Short summary
Short summary
We explain a new article type that is being introduced in participating EGU publications. "LESSONS" articles describe the Limitations, Errors, Surprises, Shortcomings and Opportunities for New Science emerging from the scientific process. The publication of non-positive results and associated learnings aims to complete an unbiased record of the research effort, contributes to open and transparent science, allows the authors and others to learn, and may open opportunities for new science.
Daniel Rasche, Cosimo Brogi, Markus Köhli, David McJannet, Jannis Weimar, Martin Schrön, Theresa Blume, and Andreas Güntner
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1495, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1495, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensing is a passive technique to estimate soil moisture, plant traits and snow at the field scale by using instruments sensitive to different neutron energy ranges. For devices sensitive to lower energies, a generalised assessment of the signal response under varying environmental conditions is currently missing. Our simulation-based study highlights the differing signal response of different instruments to environmental variables and provides a baseline for further research.
Hannes Leistert, Andreas Hänsler, Max Schmit, Andreas Steinbrich, and Markus Weiler
Geosci. Model Dev., 19, 2023–2037, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-2023-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-2023-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
The newly developed model AccRo (Accumulation-based Runoff and Pluvial Flood Estimation Tool) is a computationally efficient method to derive key parameters for estimating pluvial flood hazards. Here, we compare results of AccRo with the data of two hydrodynamic models for different cases. We find that AccRo is able to represent the simulations of the hydrodynamic models in high quality, but with much lower computational effort, making it a valuable tool for assessing pluvial flood hazards.
Hassane Moutahir, Markus Sulzer, Ralf Kiese, Andreas Christen, Markus Weiler, Lea Dedden, Julian Brzozon, Pia Labenski, Prajwal Khanal, Ladislav Šigut, and Rüdiger Grote
Biogeosciences, 23, 1719–1738, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1719-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1719-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Eddy covariance (EC) data are vital for studying carbon and water fluxes but often mask species-specific responses in mixed forests. At a Black Forest site with beech and Douglas fir, we combined EC data with ecosystem modeling to separate species contributions. Results show EC fluxes reflect species abundance within flux footprints, though responses vary seasonally. Accounting for these differences is key for gap-filling, accurate budgets, and understanding mixed forests’ climate resilience.
Sebastian Gnann, Bailey J. Anderson, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 779–795, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-779-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-779-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
The extent to which streamflow varies in response to variability in precipitation and potential evaporation is essential for understanding climate change impacts on water resources. This so-called streamflow sensitivity is often estimated directly from observational data, but the robustness of these estimates remains unclear. Through systematic examination of existing approaches, we highlight uncertainties inherent in all approaches and discuss their origins.
Jonas Pyschik and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 485–501, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-485-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-485-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
This study introduces a new method of detecting how water moves quickly through certain paths in soil, bypassing the usual, slower flow. By analysing natural water markers in soil samples taken at different depths, we identified unusual flow patterns. Our method is simple and non-invasive, and can be used to cover large areas. This helps us to better understand how water travels through the ground, which is important for managing water resources and protecting the environment.
Heinke Paulsen and Markus Weiler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-284, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-284, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Using 12 Forest floor (FF) lysimeters at three beech‑dominated sites, we recorded 1,570 rain events and measured throughfall, drainage, and evaporation. Initial retention depended on pre‑event moisture, not litter thickness. Low‑intensity, long‑duration rains filled the FF more efficiently than brief, intense storms. Evaporation was low and consistent across sites, showing the FF protects the soil. Spatial data revealed frequent water redistribution, creating heterogeneous flow paths.
Emanuel Thoenes, Theresa Blume, Markus Weiler, Bernhard Kohl, Luisa Hopp, and Stefan Achleitner
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5110, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5110, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Subsurface stormflow (SSF) is a key runoff mechanism in upland environments. The analysis of SSF at two trenched hillslopes showed that SSF volume was controlled by total rainfall and initial wetness, with threshold behaviour observed at one site. Peakflow depended on rainfall amount, with initial wetness and rainfall intensity being important for small and large events, respectively. The rate at which SSF increased was linked to rainfall intensity and amount.
Jasmin Tesch, Kathrin Kühnhammer, Delon Wagner, Andreas Christen, Carsten Dormann, Julian Frey, Rüdiger Grote, Teja Kattenborn, Markus Sulzer, Ulrike Wallrabe, Markus Weiler, Christiane Werner, Samaneh Baghbani, Julian Brzozon, Laura Maria Comella, Lea Dedden, Stefanie Dumberger, Yasmina Frey, Matthias Gassilloud, Timo Gerach, Anna Göritz, Simon Haberstroh, Johannes Klüppel, Luis Kremer, Jürgen Kreuzwieser, Hojin Lee, Joachim Maack, Julian Müller, Oswald Prucker, Sanam Kumari Rajak, Jürgen Rühe, Stefan J. Rupitsch, Helmer Schack-Kirchner, Christian Scharinger, Uttunga Shinde, Till Steinmann, Clara Stock, and Josef Strack
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4979, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4979, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems (GI).
Short summary
Short summary
In the ECOSENSE forest, we developed a robust infrastructure for distributed forest sensing. Reliable power supply, stable network connection, and smart data collection systems enable the operation of hundreds of sensors under challenging conditions. By detailing the infrastructure design and implementation, we provide a transferable blueprint for building complex monitoring sites that support high-resolution, long-term ecosystem observations.
Theresa Blume, Peter Chifflard, Stefan Achleitner, Andreas Hartmann, Stefan Hergarten, Luisa Hopp, Bernhard Kohl, Florian Leese, Ilja van Meerveld, Christian Reinhardt-Imjela, and Markus Weiler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4424, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4424, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Subsurface stormflow (SSF) is one of the least studied and therefore least understood runoff generation processes because detecting and quantifying SSF is extremely challenging. We present an ongoing concerted experimental effort to systematically investigate SSF across four catchments using a variety of methods covering different spatial scales. Centerpiece of this effort is the construction of 12 large trenches to capture and monitor SSF.
Lea Dedden and Markus Weiler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4285, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4285, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Throughfall in forests varies in space and time creating distinct patterns. We developed a novel throughfall monitoring approach for continuous, automated measurement that features 60 self-built and cost effective throughfall samplers. Collected data show the potential of the approach to capture throughfall variability at small distances, among and within rainfall events and between different trees species.
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
Markus Weiler, Julia Krumm, Ingo Haag, Hannes Leistert, Max Schmit, Andreas Steinbrich, and Andreas Hänsler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1519, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1519, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Pluvial (flash) floods, caused by intense local rainfall, result in surface runoff and overland flow, making them different from fluvial floods. A new Pluvial Flood Index (PFI) combines precipitation, hydrological, and hydrodynamic processes to assess surface flooding hazards. The PFI, based on flood hazard areas, helps forecast flash floods and supports real-time warning systems, aiding municipal decision-making, preparedness, and planning.
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
Daniel Rasche, Theresa Blume, and Andreas Güntner
SOIL, 10, 655–677, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-655-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-655-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Soil moisture measurements at the field scale are highly beneficial for numerous (soil) hydrological applications. Cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) allows for the non-invasive monitoring of field-scale soil moisture across several hectares but only for the first few tens of centimetres of the soil. In this study, we modify and test a simple modeling approach to extrapolate CRNS-derived surface soil moisture information down to 450 cm depth and compare calibrated and uncalibrated model results.
Robin Schwemmle, Hannes Leistert, Andreas Steinbrich, and Markus Weiler
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 5249–5262, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-5249-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-5249-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The new process-based hydrological toolbox model, RoGeR (https://roger.readthedocs.io/), can be used to estimate the components of the hydrological cycle and the related travel times of pollutants through parts of the hydrological cycle. These estimations may contribute to effective water resources management. This paper presents the toolbox concept and provides a simple example of providing estimations to water resources management.
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
Daniel Rasche, Jannis Weimar, Martin Schrön, Markus Köhli, Markus Morgner, Andreas Güntner, and Theresa Blume
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3059–3082, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3059-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3059-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We introduce passive downhole cosmic-ray neutron sensing (d-CRNS) as an approach for the non-invasive estimation of soil moisture in deeper layers of the unsaturated zone which exceed the observational window of above-ground CRNS applications. Neutron transport simulations are used to derive mathematical descriptions and transfer functions, while experimental measurements in an existing groundwater observation well illustrate the feasibility and applicability of the approach.
Andreas Hänsler and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5069–5084, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5069-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5069-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Spatially explicit quantification of design storms is essential for flood risk assessment and planning. However, available datasets are mainly based on spatially interpolated station-based design storms. Since the spatial interpolation of the data inherits a large potential for uncertainty, we develop an approach to be able to derive spatially explicit design storms on the basis of weather radar data. We find that our approach leads to an improved spatial representation of design storms.
Achim Brauer, Ingo Heinrich, Markus J. Schwab, Birgit Plessen, Brian Brademann, Matthias Köppl, Sylvia Pinkerneil, Daniel Balanzategui, Gerhard Helle, and Theresa Blume
DEUQUA Spec. Pub., 4, 41–58, https://doi.org/10.5194/deuquasp-4-41-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/deuquasp-4-41-2022, 2022
Lena Katharina Schmidt, Till Francke, Erwin Rottler, Theresa Blume, Johannes Schöber, and Axel Bronstert
Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 653–669, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-653-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-653-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Climate change fundamentally alters glaciated high-alpine areas, but it is unclear how this affects riverine sediment transport. As a first step, we aimed to identify the most important processes and source areas in three nested catchments in the Ötztal, Austria, in the past 15 years. We found that areas above 2500 m were crucial and that summer rainstorms were less influential than glacier melt. These findings provide a baseline for studies on future changes in high-alpine sediment dynamics.
Nils Hinrich Kaplan, Theresa Blume, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2671–2696, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2671-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2671-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study is analyses how characteristics of precipitation events and soil moisture and temperature dynamics during these events can be used to model the associated streamflow responses in intermittent streams. The models are used to identify differences between the dominant controls of streamflow intermittency in three distinct geologies of the Attert catchment, Luxembourg. Overall, soil moisture was found to be the most important control of intermittent streamflow in all geologies.
Heye Reemt Bogena, Martin Schrön, Jannis Jakobi, Patrizia Ney, Steffen Zacharias, Mie Andreasen, Roland Baatz, David Boorman, Mustafa Berk Duygu, Miguel Angel Eguibar-Galán, Benjamin Fersch, Till Franke, Josie Geris, María González Sanchis, Yann Kerr, Tobias Korf, Zalalem Mengistu, Arnaud Mialon, Paolo Nasta, Jerzy Nitychoruk, Vassilios Pisinaras, Daniel Rasche, Rafael Rosolem, Hami Said, Paul Schattan, Marek Zreda, Stefan Achleitner, Eduardo Albentosa-Hernández, Zuhal Akyürek, Theresa Blume, Antonio del Campo, Davide Canone, Katya Dimitrova-Petrova, John G. Evans, Stefano Ferraris, Félix Frances, Davide Gisolo, Andreas Güntner, Frank Herrmann, Joost Iwema, Karsten H. Jensen, Harald Kunstmann, Antonio Lidón, Majken Caroline Looms, Sascha Oswald, Andreas Panagopoulos, Amol Patil, Daniel Power, Corinna Rebmann, Nunzio Romano, Lena Scheiffele, Sonia Seneviratne, Georg Weltin, and Harry Vereecken
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 1125–1151, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1125-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1125-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Monitoring of increasingly frequent droughts is a prerequisite for climate adaptation strategies. This data paper presents long-term soil moisture measurements recorded by 66 cosmic-ray neutron sensors (CRNS) operated by 24 institutions and distributed across major climate zones in Europe. Data processing followed harmonized protocols and state-of-the-art methods to generate consistent and comparable soil moisture products and to facilitate continental-scale analysis of hydrological extremes.
Daniel Rasche, Markus Köhli, Martin Schrön, Theresa Blume, and Andreas Güntner
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 6547–6566, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6547-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6547-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Cosmic-ray neutron sensing provides areal average soil moisture measurements. We investigated how distinct differences in spatial soil moisture patterns influence the soil moisture estimates and present two approaches to improve the estimate of soil moisture close to the instrument by reducing the influence of soil moisture further afield. Additionally, we show that the heterogeneity of soil moisture can be assessed based on the relationship of different neutron energies.
Conrad Jackisch, Sibylle K. Hassler, Tobias L. Hohenbrink, Theresa Blume, Hjalmar Laudon, Hilary McMillan, Patricia Saco, and Loes van Schaik
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5277–5285, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5277-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5277-2021, 2021
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
Jan Greiwe, Markus Weiler, and Jens Lange
Biogeosciences, 18, 4705–4715, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4705-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4705-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We analyzed variability in diel nitrate patterns at three locations in a lowland stream. Comparison of time lags between monitoring sites with water travel time indicated that diel patterns were created by in-stream processes rather than transported downstream from an upstream point of origin. Most of the patterns (70 %) could be explained by assimilatory nitrate uptake. The remaining patterns suggest seasonally varying dominance and synchronicity of different biochemical processes.
Stefan Seeger and Markus Weiler
Biogeosciences, 18, 4603–4627, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4603-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4603-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a setup for fully automated in situ measurements of stable water isotopes in soil and the stems of fully grown trees. We used this setup in a 12-week field campaign to monitor the propagation of a labelling pulse from the soil up to a stem height of 8 m.
We could observe trees shifting their main water uptake depths multiple times, depending on water availability.
The gained knowledge about the temporal dynamics can help to improve water uptake models and future study designs.
Andreas Hänsler and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-366, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-366, 2021
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
Spatially explicit quantification on design storms are essential for flood risk assessment. However this information can be only achieved from substantially long records of rainfall measurements, usually only available for a few stations. Hence, design storms estimates from these few stations are then spatially interpolated leading to a major source of uncertainty. Therefore we defined a methodology to extend spatially explicit weather radar data to be used for the estimation of design storms.
Cited articles
Armenise, E., Simmons, R. W., Ahn, S., Garbout, A., Doerr, S. H., Mooney,
S. J., Sturrock, C. J., and Ritz, K.: Soil seal development under simulated
rainfall: Structural, physical and hydrological dynamics, J. Hydrol., 556, 211–219, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.10.073, 2018. a
Assouline, S.: Rainfall-induced soil surface sealing: A critical review of
observations, conceptual models, and solutions, Vadose Zone J., 3, 570–591, https://doi.org/10.2113/3.2.570, 2004. a
Bachmair, S., Weiler, M., and Nützmann, G.: Controls of land use and soil
structure on water movement: Lessons for pollutant transfer through the
unsaturated zone, J. Hydrol., 369, 241–252, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.02.031, 2009. a
Beerten, K., Deforce, K., and Mallants, D.: Landscape evolution and changes in soil hydraulic properties at the decadal, centennial and millennial scale: A case study from the Campine area, northern Belgium, Catena, 95, 73–84,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2012.03.005, 2012. a, b
Brooks, S. M. and Richards, K. S.: Establishing the role of pedogenesis in
changing soil hydraulic properties, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 18, 573–578, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3290180609, 1993. a
Cichota, R., Kelliher, F., Thomas, S., Clemens, G., Fraser, P., and Carrick,
S.: Effects of irrigation intensity on preferential solute transport in a
stony soil, N. Zeal. J. Agricult. Res., 59, 141–155, https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2016.1155631, 2016. a, b
Cremer, C., Schuetz, C., Neuweiler, I., Lehmann, P., and Lehmann, E.: Unstable Infiltration Experiments in Dry Porous Media, Vadose Zone J., 16,
vzj2016.10.0092, https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2016.10.0092, 2017. a
Cui, L., Li, G., Chen, Y., and Li, L.: Response of Landscape Evolution to Human Disturbances in the Coastal Wetlands in Northern Jiangsu Province, China, Remote Sens., 13, 2030, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13112030, 2021. a
D'Amico, M. E., Freppaz, M., Filippa, G., and Zanini, E.: Vegetation influence on soil formation rate in a proglacial chronosequence (Lys Glacier, NW Italian Alps), Catena, 113, 122–137, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2013.10.001,
2014. a
de Jonge, L. W., Moldrup, P., and Schjønning, P.: Soil Infrastructure,
Interfaces & Translocation Processes in Inner Space (“Soil-it-is”): towards a road map for the constraints and crossroads of soil architecture and biophysical processes, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 13, 1485–1502,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-13-1485-2009, 2009. a, b, c
Demand, D., Blume, T., and Weiler, M.: Spatio-temporal relevance and controls
of preferential flow at the landscape scale, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4869–4889, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4869-2019, 2019. a
Doerr, S., Shakesby, R., and Walsh, R.: Spatial Variability of Soil
Hydrophobicity in Fire-Prone Eucalyptus and Pine Forests, Portugal, Soil Sci., 163, 313–324, https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-199804000-00006, 1998. a
Dümig, A., Smittenberg, R., and Kögel-Knabner, I.: Concurrent evolution of organic and mineral components during initial soil development after retreat of the Damma glacier, Switzerland, Geoderma, 163, 83–94,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.04.006, 2011. a
Egli, M., Mavris, C., Mirabella, A., and Giaccai, D.: Soil organic matter
formation along a chronosequence in the Morteratsch proglacial area (Upper
Engadine, Switzerland), Catena, 82, 61–69, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2010.05.001, 2010. a
Ehrlich, W., Rice, H., and Ellis, J.: Influence of the Composition of Parent
Materials on Soil Formation in Manitoba, Can. J. Agricult. Sci., 35, 407–421, 1955. a
Frey, F.: Geologie der östlichen Claridenkette, PhD thesis, ETH Zurich,
Zurich, https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-000088454, 1965. a
Fukutome, S., Schindler, A., and Capobianco, A.: MeteoSwiss extreme value
analyses: User manual and documentation, 2nd Edn., Technical Report, MeteoSwiss, 255 pp. https://www.meteoschweiz.admin.ch/home/service-und-publikationen/publikationen.subpage.html/de/data/publications a
Glass, R., Parlange, J.-Y., and Steenhuis, T.: Wetting front instability I: Theoretical discussion and dimensional analysis, Water Resour. Res., 25, 1187–1194, https://doi.org/10.1029/WR025i006p01187, 1989. a
Greinwald, K., Dieckmann, L. A., Schipplick, C., Hartmann, A.,
Scherer-Lorenzen, M., and Gebauer, T.: Vertical root distribution and biomass
allocation along proglacial chronosequences in Central Switzerland, Arct.
Antarct. Alp. Res., 53, 20–34, https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2020.1859720, 2021a. a, b, c
Greinwald, K., Gebauer, T., Musso, A., and Scherer-Lorenzen, M.: Similar
successional development of functional community structure in glacier forelands despite contrasting bedrocks, J. Veg. Sci., 32, e12993, https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12993, 2021b. a, b
Greinwald, K., Gebauer, T., Treuter, L., Kolodziej, V., Musso, A., Maier, F.,
Lustenberger, F., and Scherer-Lorenzen, M.: Root density drives aggregate
stability of soils of different moraine ages in the Swiss Alps, Plant Soil, 468, 439–457, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05111-8, 2021c. a
Hartmann, A., Weiler, M., and Blume, T.: The impact of landscape evolution on
soil physics: evolution of soil physical and hydraulic properties along two
chronosequences of proglacial moraines, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 12,
3189–3204, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-12-3189-2020, 2020b. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i
Hartmann, A., Weiler, M., and Blume, T.: Soil physical and hydraulic properties along two chronosequences of proglacial moraines, GFZ Data Services [data set], https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.4.4.2020.004, 2020c. a
He, L. and Tang, Y.: Soil development along primary succession sequences on
moraines of Hailuogou Glacier, Gongga Mountain, Sichuan, China, Catena, 72,
259–269, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2007.05.010, 2008. a
Hendrickx, J. M. H. and Flury, M.: Uniform and Preferential Flow Mechanisms in the Vadose Zone, in: Conceptual Models of Flow and Transport in the Fractured Vadose Zone, National Research Council, National Academy Press,
Washington, DC, 149–187, https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10102/conceptual-models-of-flow-and-transport-in-the-fractured
(last access: 8 November 2021), 2001. a, b, c
Hervé, M.: RVAideMemoire: testing and plotting procedures for
biostatistics, R package version 0.9-69, CRAN [code], https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=RVAideMemoire (last access: 21 September 2021), 2018. a
Hopkins, B. and Ellsworth, J.: Phosphorus availability with alkaline/calcareous soil Western Nutrient Salt, in: Proceeding of 6th Western Nutrient Management Conference, 3–5 March 2005, Lake City, UT, 88–93, 2005. a
Keith, A., Henrys, P., Rowe, R., and Mcnamara, N.: Technical note: A
bootstrapped LOESS regression approach for comparing soil depth profiles,
Biogeosciences, 13, 3863–3868, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-3863-2016, 2016. a, b, c, d
Koestel, J. and Jorda, H.: What determines the strength of preferential
transport in undisturbed soil under steady-state flow?, Geoderma, 217-218,
144–160, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.11.009, 2014. a
Lin, H.: Hydropedology: Bridging Disciplines, Scales, and Data, Vadose Zone J., 2, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.2113/2.1.1, 2003. a
Lin, H. and Zhou, X.: Evidence of subsurface preferential flow using soil
hydrologic monitoring in the Shale Hills catchment, Eur. J. Soil Sci., 59, 34–49, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.2007.00988.x, 2008. a
Lohse, K. A. and Dietrich, W. E.: Contrasting effects of soil development on
hydrological properties and flow paths, Water Resour. Res., 41, W12419, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004WR003403, 2005. a
Ma, K.-C., Tan, Y.-C., and Chen, C.-H.: Effect of hysteresis and rainfall
intensity on finger dynamics, Irrig. Drain., 57, 585–602,
https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.388, 2008. a
Maier, F. and van Meerveld, I.: Long-Term Changes in Runoff Generation
Mechanisms for Two Proglacial Areas in the Swiss Alps I: Overland Flow, Water
Resour. Res., 57, e2021WR030221, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021WR030221, 2021. a, b
Maier, F., van Meerveld, I., Greinwald, K., Gebauer, T., Lustenberger, F.,
Hartmann, A., and Musso, A.: Effects of soil and vegetation development on
surface hydrological properties of moraines in the Swiss Alps, Catena, 187,
104353, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2019.104353, 2020. a
Maier, F., van Meerveld, I., and Weiler, M.: Long-Term Changes in Runoff
Generation Mechanisms for Two Proglacial Areas in the Swiss Alps II:
Subsurface Flow, Water Resour. Res., 57, e2021 WR030223,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2021WR030223, 2021. a
Mainwaring, K. A., Morley, C. P., Doerr, S. H., Douglas, P., Llewellyn, C. T., Llewellyn, G., Matthews, I., and Stein, B. K.: Role of heavy polar organic compounds for water repellency of sandy soils, Environ. Chem. Lett., 2, 35–39, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-004-0064-9, 2004. a
Mangiafico, S. S.: Summary and Analysis of Extension Program Evaluation in R, version 1.19.10. rcompanion.org/handbook/, http://rcompanion.org/documents/RHandbookProgramEvaluation.pdf (last access: 25 September 2021), 2016. a
Mataix-Solera, J. and Doerr, S.: Hydrophobicity and aggregate stability in
calcareous topsoils from fire-affected pine forests in southeastern Spain,
Geoderma, 118, 77–88, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7061(03)00185-X, 2004. a
MeteoSwiss: Climate normals Grimsel Hospiz Reference period 1981–2010, Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss,
https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/product/output/climate-data/climate-diagrams-normal-values-station-processing/GRH/climsheet_GRH_np8110_e.pdf
(last access: 8 July 2021), 2020. a
Michalet, R., Gandoy, C., Joud, D., Pagès, J.-P., and Choler, P.: Plant
Community Composition and Biomass on Calcareous and Siliceous Substrates in
the Northern French Alps: Comparative Effects of Soil Chemistry and Water
Status, Arct. Antarct. Alp. Res., 34, 102–113, https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2002.12003474, 2002. a, b
Montagne, D. and Cornu, S.: Do we need to include soil evolution module in
models for prediction of future climate change?, Climatic Change, 98, 75–86,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-009-9666-3, 2010. a
Morales, V. L., Parlange, J.-Y., and Steenhuis, T. S.: Are preferential flow
paths perpetuated by microbial activity in the soil matrix? A review, J.
Hydrol., 393, 29–36, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.12.048, 2010. a
Musso, A., Tikhomirov, D., Plötze, M. L., Greinwald, K., Hartmann, A.,
Geitner, C., Maier, F., Petibon, F., and Egli, M.: Soil Formation and Mass
Redistribution during the Holocene Using Meteoric 10Be, Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy, Geosciences, 12, 99, https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12020099, 2022. a
Newman, S., Osborne, T. Z., Hagerthey, S. E., Saunders, C., Rutchey, K.,
Schall, T., and Reddy, K. R.: Drivers of landscape evolution: multiple
regimes and their influence on carbon sequestration in a sub-tropical
peatland, Ecol. Monogr., 87, 578–599, https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1269, 2017. a
Nimmo, J. R.: The processes of preferential flow in the unsaturated zone, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 85, 1–27, https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20143, 2021. a, b
Parlange, J. Y. and Hill, D. E.: Theoretical analysis of wetting front
instability in soils, Soil Sci., 122, 236–239, https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-197610000-00008, 1976. a
Phillips, J. D.: The robustness of chronosequences, Ecol. Model., 298, 16–23, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2013.12.018, 2015. a
R Core Team: R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria,
https://www.R-project.org/ (last access: 9 February 2022), 2017. a
Retzer, J. L.: Soil Development in the Rocky Mountains, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 13, 446–448, https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1949.036159950013000C0080x, 1949. a
Samouëlian, A., Finke, P., Goddéris, Y., and Cornu, S.: Hydropedology: Synergistic Integration of Soil Science and Hydrology, in: chap. Hydrologic information in pedologic models, edited by: Lin, H., Academic Press, Elsevier B.V., 595–636, ISBN 9780123869418, 2012. a
Sauer, D., Finke, P., Sørensen, R., Sperstad, R., Schülli-Maurer, I., Høeg, H., and Stahr, K.: Testing a soil development model against southern Norway soil chronosequences, Quatern. Int., 265, 18–31,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2011.12.018, 2012. a
Sauer, D., Schülli-Maurer, I., Wagner, S., Scarciglia, F., Sperstad, R.,
Svendgård-Stokke, S., Sørensen, R., and Schellmann, G.: Soil development over millennial timescales - A comparison of soil chronosequences of different climates and lithologies, IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci., 25, 012009, https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/25/1/012009, 2015. a
Sililo, O. T. and Tellam, J. H.: Fingering in Unsaturated Zone Flow: A
Qualitative Review with Laboratory Experiments on Heterogeneous Systems,
Groundwater, 38, 864–871, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2000.tb00685.x, 2000. a
Starr, J. L., DeRoo, H. C., Frink, C. R., and Parlange, J.-Y.: Leaching
Characteristics of a Layered Field Soil, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 42, 386–391, https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1978.03615995004200030002x, 1978. a
van der Meij, W., Temme, A., Lin, H., Gerke, H., and Sommer, M.: On the role of hydrologic processes in soil and landscape evolution modeling: concepts,
complications and partial solutions, Earth-Sci. Rev., 185, 1088–1106,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2018.09.001, 2018. a, b, c
Vilmundardóttir, O. K., Gísladóttir, G., and Lal, R.: Early stage
development of selected soil properties along the proglacial moraines of
Skaftafellsjökull glacier, SE-Iceland, Catena, 121, 142–150,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2014.04.020, 2014. a
Wang, Y., Li, Y., Wang, X., and Chau, H. W.: Finger Flow Development in Layered Water-Repellent Soils, Vadose Zone J., 17, 170171, https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2017.09.0171, 2018. a
Weiler, M.: Mechanisms controlling macropore flow during infiltration dye
tracer experiments and simulations, PhD thesis, Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology Zurich, Zurich, https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-004180115, 2001. a, b
Weiler, M. and Flühler, H.: Inferring flow types from dye patterns in
macroporous soils, Geoderma, 120, 137–153, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2003.08.014, 2004.
a, b, c
White, A. F. and Blum, A. E.: Effects of climate on chemical weathering in
watersheds, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 59, 1729–1747, https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(95)00078-E, 1995. a
White, I., Colombera, P. M., and Philip, J. R.: Experimental Study of Wetting
Front Instability Induced by Sudden Change of Pressure Gradient, Soil Sci.
Soc. Am. J., 40, 824–829, https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1976.03615995004000060012x, 1976. a
Wickham, H.: ggplot2: Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis, Springer-Verlag, New York, 213 pp., https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-98141-3, 2016. a
Wiekenkamp, I., Huisman, J., Bogena, H., Lin, H., and Vereecken, H.: Spatial
and temporal occurrence of preferential flow in a forested headwater
catchment, J. Hydrol, 534, 139–149, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.12.050, 2016. a, b
Wojcik, R., Eichel, J., Bradley, J. A., and Benning, L. G.: How allogenic
factors affect succession in glacier forefields, Earth-Sci. Rev., 218, 103642, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103642, 2021. a, b
Wu, Q., Liu, C., Lin, W., Zhang, M., Wang, G., and Zhang, F.: Quantifying the
preferential flow by dye tracer in the North China Plain, J. Earth Sci., 26, 435–444, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-014-0489-4, 2015. a, b
Yoshida, T. and Troch, P. A.: Coevolution of volcanic catchments in Japan,
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 1133–1150, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-1133-2016, 2016. a
Zhang, Y., Niu, J., Yu, X., Zhu, W., and Du, X.: Effects of fine root length
density and root biomass on soil preferential flow in forest ecosystems,
Forest Syst., 24, e012, https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2015241-06048, 2015. a
Short summary
Analyzing the impact of soil age and rainfall intensity on vertical subsurface flow paths in calcareous soils, with a special focus on preferential flow occurrence, shows how water flow paths are linked to the organization of evolving landscapes. The observed increase in preferential flow occurrence with increasing moraine age provides important but rare data for a proper representation of hydrological processes within the feedback cycle of the hydro-pedo-geomorphological system.
Analyzing the impact of soil age and rainfall intensity on vertical subsurface flow paths in...
