Articles | Volume 26, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5515-2022
© 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-26-5515-2022
© 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 Nov 2022
Research article |
| 07 Nov 2022
| 07 Nov 2022
Effects of passive-storage conceptualization on modeling hydrological function and isotope dynamics in the flow system of a cockpit karst landscape
Guangxuan Li
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System
Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Earth Critical Zone Science and
Sustainable Development in Bohai Rim, Tianjin 300072, China
Xi Chen
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System
Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Earth Critical Zone Science and
Sustainable Development in Bohai Rim, Tianjin 300072, China
Zhicai Zhang
College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University,
Nanjing 210098, China
Lichun Wang
Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System
Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Earth Critical Zone Science and
Sustainable Development in Bohai Rim, Tianjin 300072, China
Chris Soulsby
School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UF,
UK
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This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
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Understanding where plants obtain water is important for predicting ecosystem responses to environmental change. We developed a new method that extracts water from soils and plants at room temperature, avoiding problems caused by heating in conventional techniques. Tests with rainwater, soil, and xylem samples showed reliable results and fewer measurement biases. The method provides a practical way to study water movement between soils, plants, and the atmosphere.
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Xiuqiang Liu, Xi Chen, Zhicai Zhang, Weihan Liu, Tao Peng, and Jeffrey J. McDonnell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 3061–3094, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-3061-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-3061-2026, 2026
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Trees in rocky landscapes often depend on hidden water deep underground, yet the role of bedrock cracks remains unclear. In a karst forest in southwest China, we traced water movement and seasonal use by trees using stable isotopes. We found that large soil-filled fractures can store water for months, providing a crucial supply in the early growing season and helping forests cope with wet–dry changes in rainfall patterns.
Songjun Wu, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Yi Zheng, and Chris Soulsby
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Hanwu Zheng, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Christian Birkel, Songjun Wu, Tobias Sauter, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 1143–1163, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-1143-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-1143-2026, 2026
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Ecohydrological processes in heavily managed catchments are often inadequately represented in models. We applied a tracer-aided model STARR (Spatially distributed Tracer-Aided Rainfall-Runoff) in an ET (evapotranspiration)-dominated region (the Middle Spree, NE Germany) with major management impacts. Water isotopes were useful in identifying runoff contributions and partitioning ET even at sparse resolution. Trade-offs between discharge- and isotope-based calibrations could be partially mitigated by integrating more process-based conceptualizations into the model.
Ann-Marie Ring, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Christian Birkel, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 6663–6683, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-6663-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-6663-2025, 2025
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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.
Maria Magdalena Warter, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Christian Marx, and Chris Soulsby
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3907–3924, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3907-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3907-2024, 2024
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Planting trees on farmlands is now considered as one of the potential solutions to climate change. Trees can suck CO2 out of our atmosphere and store it in their trunks and in the soil beneath them. They can promote biodiversity, protect against soil erosion and drought. They can even help reduce flood risk for downstream communities. But we need models that can tell us the likely impact of trees at different locations and scales. Our study provides such a model.
Hao Chen, Tiejun Wang, Yonggen Zhang, Yun Bai, and Xi Chen
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 5685–5701, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-5685-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-5685-2023, 2023
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Effectively assembling multiple models for approaching a benchmark solution remains a long-standing issue for various geoscience domains. We here propose an automated machine learning-assisted ensemble framework (AutoML-Ens) that attempts to resolve this challenge. Results demonstrate the great potential of AutoML-Ens for improving estimations due to its two unique features, i.e., assigning dynamic weights for candidate models and taking full advantage of AutoML-assisted workflow.
Doerthe Tetzlaff, Aaron Smith, Lukas Kleine, Hauke Daempfling, Jonas Freymueller, and Chris Soulsby
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 1543–1554, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1543-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1543-2023, 2023
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We present a comprehensive set of ecohydrological hydrometric and stable water isotope data of 2 years of data. The data set is unique as the different compartments of the landscape were sampled and the effects of a prolonged drought (2018–2020) captured by a marked negative rainfall anomaly (the most severe regional drought of the 21st century). Thus, the data allow the drought effects on water storage, flux and age dynamics, and persistence of lowland landscapes to be investigated.
Xiaoqiang Yang, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Chris Soulsby, and Dietrich Borchardt
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We develop the catchment water quality assessment platform HiWaQ v1.0, which is compatible with multiple hydrological model structures. The nitrogen module (HiWaQ-N) and its coupling tests with two contrasting grid-based hydrological models demonstrate the robustness of the platform in estimating catchment N dynamics. With the unique design of the coupling flexibility, HiWaQ can leverage advancements in hydrological modelling and advance integrated catchment water quantity-quality assessments.
Aaron Smith, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Jessica Landgraf, Maren Dubbert, and Chris Soulsby
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This research utilizes high-spatiotemporal-resolution soil and vegetation measurements, including water stable isotopes, within an ecohydrological model to partition water flux dynamics and identify flow paths and durations. Results showed high vegetation water use and high spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation water source and vegetation isotopes. The evaluation of these dynamics further revealed relatively fast flow paths through both shallow soil and vegetation.
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.
Aaron J. Neill, Christian Birkel, Marco P. Maneta, Doerthe Tetzlaff, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4861–4886, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4861-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4861-2021, 2021
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Structural changes (cover and height of vegetation plus tree canopy characteristics) to forests during regeneration on degraded land affect how water is partitioned between streamflow, groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration. Partitioning most strongly deviates from baseline conditions during earlier stages of regeneration with dense forest, while recovery may be possible as the forest matures and opens out. This has consequences for informing sustainable landscape restoration strategies.
Mikael Gillefalk, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Reinhard Hinkelmann, Lena-Marie Kuhlemann, Aaron Smith, Fred Meier, Marco P. Maneta, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3635–3652, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3635-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3635-2021, 2021
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We used a tracer-aided ecohydrological model to quantify water flux–storage–age interactions for three urban vegetation types: trees, shrub and grass. The model results showed that evapotranspiration increased in the order shrub < grass < trees during one growing season. Additionally, we could show how
infiltration hotspotscreated by runoff from sealed onto vegetated surfaces can enhance both evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge.
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Short summary
We developed a coupled flow–tracer model to understand the effects of passive storage on modeling hydrological function and isotope dynamics in a karst flow system. Models with passive storages show improvement in matching isotope dynamics performance, and the improved performance also strongly depends on the number and location of passive storages. Our results also suggested that the solute transport is primarily controlled by advection and hydrodynamic dispersion in the steep hillslope unit.
We developed a coupled flow–tracer model to understand the effects of passive storage on...
