Articles | Volume 27, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-385-2023
© Author(s) 2023. 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-27-385-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
19 Jan 2023
Research article |
| 19 Jan 2023
| 19 Jan 2023
Estimating karst groundwater recharge from soil moisture observations – a new method tested at the Swabian Alb, southwest Germany
Romane Berthelin
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Chair of Hydrological Modeling and Water Resources, Freiburg University, Freiburg 79098, Germany
Tunde Olarinoye
Chair of Hydrological Modeling and Water Resources, Freiburg University, Freiburg 79098, Germany
Michael Rinderer
Chair of Hydrological Modeling and Water Resources, Freiburg University, Freiburg 79098, Germany
Matías Mudarra
Department of Geology and Center of Hydrogeology of the University of Málaga, Faculty of Science, 29071, Málaga, Spain
Dominic Demand
Chair of Hydrology, Freiburg University, Freiburg, 79098 Germany
Mirjam Scheller
Chair of Hydrological Modeling and Water Resources, Freiburg University, Freiburg 79098, Germany
Andreas Hartmann
Institute of Groundwater Management, Technical University of Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
Chair of Hydrological Modeling and Water Resources, Freiburg University, Freiburg 79098, Germany
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Cited
20 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Karst Vadose Zone Hydrology Explored Through Cave Drip Water Dynamics: The Roles of Soil, Epikarst and Climate P. Bajo et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.70584
- Drainage estimation across mountainous regions from large-scale soil moisture observations J. Tian et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2024.117077
- Sensitivity and uncertainty of baseflow and discharge simulations using WetSpass-M in the Akaki catchment, central highlands of Ethiopia G. Nigussie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watcyc.2026.03.007
- Investigating correlative & causal drivers of precipitation-driven groundwater recharge occurrences in southeastern Australia A. Kumar et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103547
- Responses of deep soil moisture to direct rainfall and groundwater in the red soil critical zone: A four-stage pattern Y. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.130864
- Groundwater on the brink: machine learning forecasts under CMIP6 climate trajectories in Kermanshah Plain K. Soltani et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-026-02878-y
- Long-term drought effects on landscape water storage and recovery under contrasting landuses S. Luo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131339
- Towards Groundwater-Level Prediction Using Prophet Forecasting Method by Exploiting a High-Resolution Hydrogeological Monitoring System D. Fronzi et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16010152
- Rainfall-runoff generation mechanisms and threshold behaviors in a karst catchment F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2026.100680
- Nonlinear influences of climatic, vegetative, geographic and soil factors on soil water use efficiency of global karst landscapes: Insights from explainable machine learning C. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178672
- Investigating the role of ENSO in groundwater temporal variability across Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates using machine learning algorithms K. Alghafli et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101389
- Multi-field coupling mechanisms and chain-type failure evolution of mining-rainfall-induced landslides in karst mountain regions: Insights from physical modeling and 3DEC simulations L. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2026.108679
- Spatial differentiation characteristics and controlling factors of the epikarst thickness in Southwest China J. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117586
- Spatial heterogeneity and controlling mechanisms of multi-interface groundwater recharge in karst critical zone H. Ren et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.134984
- Recharge Assessment in Greek Karst Systems: Methodological Considerations and Implications E. Nanou et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16040568
- Delineating groundwater recharge zones: semi-arid NW Algeria case study O. eldjilali Soumia Mehella et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/23249676.2025.2503317
- A comprehensive approach to building a continuous hydrologic model with Soil Moisture Accounting using Earth Observation data V. Thomopoulou et al. https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2024.190
- Moisture Migration and Recharge Pattern of Low-Permeability Thick Cohesive Soil in Northern Margin of the Jianghan Plain T. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312720
- Contrasting hydrological responses to climate change in two adjacent catchments dominated by karst and nonkarst Y. Chang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130013
- An underground drip water monitoring network to characterize rainfall recharge of groundwater at different geologies, environments, and climates across Australia A. Baker et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-13-117-2024
20 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Karst Vadose Zone Hydrology Explored Through Cave Drip Water Dynamics: The Roles of Soil, Epikarst and Climate P. Bajo et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.70584
- Drainage estimation across mountainous regions from large-scale soil moisture observations J. Tian et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2024.117077
- Sensitivity and uncertainty of baseflow and discharge simulations using WetSpass-M in the Akaki catchment, central highlands of Ethiopia G. Nigussie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watcyc.2026.03.007
- Investigating correlative & causal drivers of precipitation-driven groundwater recharge occurrences in southeastern Australia A. Kumar et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103547
- Responses of deep soil moisture to direct rainfall and groundwater in the red soil critical zone: A four-stage pattern Y. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.130864
- Groundwater on the brink: machine learning forecasts under CMIP6 climate trajectories in Kermanshah Plain K. Soltani et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-026-02878-y
- Long-term drought effects on landscape water storage and recovery under contrasting landuses S. Luo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131339
- Towards Groundwater-Level Prediction Using Prophet Forecasting Method by Exploiting a High-Resolution Hydrogeological Monitoring System D. Fronzi et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16010152
- Rainfall-runoff generation mechanisms and threshold behaviors in a karst catchment F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2026.100680
- Nonlinear influences of climatic, vegetative, geographic and soil factors on soil water use efficiency of global karst landscapes: Insights from explainable machine learning C. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178672
- Investigating the role of ENSO in groundwater temporal variability across Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates using machine learning algorithms K. Alghafli et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101389
- Multi-field coupling mechanisms and chain-type failure evolution of mining-rainfall-induced landslides in karst mountain regions: Insights from physical modeling and 3DEC simulations L. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2026.108679
- Spatial differentiation characteristics and controlling factors of the epikarst thickness in Southwest China J. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117586
- Spatial heterogeneity and controlling mechanisms of multi-interface groundwater recharge in karst critical zone H. Ren et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.134984
- Recharge Assessment in Greek Karst Systems: Methodological Considerations and Implications E. Nanou et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16040568
- Delineating groundwater recharge zones: semi-arid NW Algeria case study O. eldjilali Soumia Mehella et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/23249676.2025.2503317
- A comprehensive approach to building a continuous hydrologic model with Soil Moisture Accounting using Earth Observation data V. Thomopoulou et al. https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2024.190
- Moisture Migration and Recharge Pattern of Low-Permeability Thick Cohesive Soil in Northern Margin of the Jianghan Plain T. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312720
- Contrasting hydrological responses to climate change in two adjacent catchments dominated by karst and nonkarst Y. Chang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130013
- An underground drip water monitoring network to characterize rainfall recharge of groundwater at different geologies, environments, and climates across Australia A. Baker et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-13-117-2024
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 13 Jun 2026
Short summary
Karstic recharge processes have mainly been explored using discharge analysis despite the high influence of the heterogeneous surface on hydrological processes. In this paper, we introduce an event-based method which allows for recharge estimation from soil moisture measurements. The method was tested at a karst catchment in Germany but can be applied to other karst areas with precipitation and soil moisture data available. It will allow for a better characterization of karst recharge processes.
Karstic recharge processes have mainly been explored using discharge analysis despite the high...
