Articles | Volume 27, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4173-2023
© 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-27-4173-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
21 Nov 2023
Research article |
| 21 Nov 2023
| 21 Nov 2023
The seasonal origins and ages of water provisioning streams and trees in a tropical montane cloud forest
Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California 92866, USA
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
Gregory R. Goldsmith
Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California 92866, USA
Roxanne M. Cruz-de Hoyos
Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
Adan Julian Ccahuana Quispe
Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC), Cusco, Peru
A. Joshua West
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
Related authors
Emily I. Burt, Daxs Herson Coayla Rimachi, Adan Julian Ccahuana Quispe, Abra Atwood, and A. Joshua West
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2883–2898, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2883-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2883-2023, 2023
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Mountains store and release water, serving as water towers for downstream regions and affecting global sediment and carbon fluxes. We use stream and rain chemistry to calculate how much streamflow comes from recent rainfall across seven sites in the Andes mountains and the nearby Amazon lowlands. We find that the type of rock and the intensity of rainfall control water retention and release, challenging assumptions that mountain topography exerts the primary effect on watershed hydrology.
Emily I. Burt, Daxs Herson Coayla Rimachi, Adan Julian Ccahuana Quispe, Abra Atwood, and A. Joshua West
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2883–2898, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2883-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2883-2023, 2023
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Mountains store and release water, serving as water towers for downstream regions and affecting global sediment and carbon fluxes. We use stream and rain chemistry to calculate how much streamflow comes from recent rainfall across seven sites in the Andes mountains and the nearby Amazon lowlands. We find that the type of rock and the intensity of rainfall control water retention and release, challenging assumptions that mountain topography exerts the primary effect on watershed hydrology.
Haoyu Diao, Philipp Schuler, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Rolf T. W. Siegwolf, Matthias Saurer, and Marco M. Lehmann
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5835–5847, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5835-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5835-2022, 2022
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We systematically investigate the uncertainties in previously observed isotopic offsets between plant source water and water extracted by cryogenic vacuum distillation. Our results show that hydrogen isotope exchange between organic material and water is a real phenomenon. However, the isotopic offsets are rather influenced by the actual amount of extracted water, sublimation, and evaporation. Our findings will help improve interpretations of ecohydrological processes in isotope-based studies.
Maxwell P. Dahlquist and A. Joshua West
Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 705–722, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-705-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-705-2022, 2022
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Himalayan rivers are full of giant boulders that rarely move except during glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), which therefore must be important drivers of erosion in the Himalayas. GLOFs are rare, so little is known about their long-term erosional impact. We found that rivers in Nepal have channel geometry that, compared with markers of upstream glaciation, confirm GLOFs as a major control on erosion. This previously unrecognized control should be accounted for in landscape evolution studies.
Madison M. Douglas, Gen K. Li, Woodward W. Fischer, Joel C. Rowland, Preston C. Kemeny, A. Joshua West, Jon Schwenk, Anastasia P. Piliouras, Austin J. Chadwick, and Michael P. Lamb
Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 421–435, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-421-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-421-2022, 2022
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Arctic rivers erode into permafrost and mobilize organic carbon, which can react to form greenhouse gasses or be re-buried in floodplain deposits. We collected samples on a permafrost floodplain in Alaska to determine if more carbon is eroded or deposited by river meandering. The floodplain contained a mixture of young carbon fixed by the biosphere and old, re-deposited carbon. Thus, sediment storage may allow Arctic river floodplains to retain aged organic carbon even when permafrost thaws.
Florian Hofmann, Emily H. G. Cooperdock, A. Joshua West, Dominic Hildebrandt, Kathrin Strößner, and Kenneth A. Farley
Geochronology, 3, 395–414, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-3-395-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-3-395-2021, 2021
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We use microCT scanning to improve the quality of 3He exposure ages measured in detrital magnetite. We show that the presence of inclusions can significantly increase the measured amount of 3He and thereby the exposure age. By prescreening magnetite with microCT and analyzing only inclusion-free grains, this problem can be avoided. We also calibrate the cosmogenic 3He production rate in magnetite relative to 10Be in quartz, which can be used for similar studies in the future.
Torsten Diem, Nicholas J. Morley, Adan Julian Ccahuana Quispe, Lidia Priscila Huaraca Quispe, Elizabeth M. Baggs, Patrick Meir, Mark I. A. Richards, Pete Smith, and Yit Arn Teh
Biogeosciences, 14, 5077–5097, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-5077-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-5077-2017, 2017
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Montane ecosystems in the southern Peruvian Andes were atmospheric sources of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, exceeding prior emissions estimates from bottom-up process models. Nitrous oxide flux originated primarily from nitrate reduction. Nitrous oxide fluxes showed an inverse trend with elevation, and only weak evidence of seasonal variability. Nitrous oxide fluxes were influenced by the availability of nitrate and soil moisture content, but were not predicted by inputs of labile carbon.
Mark A. Torres, Ajay B. Limaye, Vamsi Ganti, Michael P. Lamb, A. Joshua West, and Woodward W. Fischer
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 711–730, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-711-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-711-2017, 2017
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In this paper, we describe a new model for the storage times of sediments and organic carbon (OC) in river deposits. Comparisons between our model predictions and field data show good agreement, which suggests that our model accurately captures the relevant time and space scales. An implication of our model is that OC is stored in river deposits over geologic timescales and, as a result, we propose that fluvial storage plays a larger role in the carbon cycle than previously recognized.
Sam P. Jones, Torsten Diem, Lidia P. Huaraca Quispe, Adan J. Cahuana, Dave S. Reay, Patrick Meir, and Yit Arn Teh
Biogeosciences, 13, 4151–4165, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-4151-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-4151-2016, 2016
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Tropical montane forests represent a significant portion of Andean land cover, however, soil-atmosphere methane exchange in these ecosystems is under studied. Here we report on soil methane cycling in montane forests of the southern Peruvian Andes. These soils acted as a net sink for atmospheric methane and variation in uptake across the studied forests was best explained by nitrate inhibition of oxidation and/or limitations on the inward diffusion of methane from the atmosphere into the soil.
K. E. Clark, A. J. West, R. G. Hilton, G. P. Asner, C. A. Quesada, M. R. Silman, S. S. Saatchi, W. Farfan-Rios, R. E. Martin, A. B. Horwath, K. Halladay, M. New, and Y. Malhi
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 47–70, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-47-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-47-2016, 2016
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The key findings of this paper are that landslides in the eastern Andes of Peru in the Kosñipata Valley rapidly turn over the landscape in ~1320 years, with a rate of 0.076% yr-1. Additionally, landslides were concentrated at lower elevations, due to an intense storm in 2010 accounting for ~1/4 of the total landslide area over the 25-year remote sensing study. Valley-wide carbon stocks were determined, and we estimate that 26 tC km-2 yr-1 of soil and biomass are stripped by landslides.
P. A. Baker, S. C. Fritz, C. G. Silva, C. A. Rigsby, M. L. Absy, R. P. Almeida, M. Caputo, C. M. Chiessi, F. W. Cruz, C. W. Dick, S. J. Feakins, J. Figueiredo, K. H. Freeman, C. Hoorn, C. Jaramillo, A. K. Kern, E. M. Latrubesse, M. P. Ledru, A. Marzoli, A. Myrbo, A. Noren, W. E. Piller, M. I. F. Ramos, C. C. Ribas, R. Trnadade, A. J. West, I. Wahnfried, and D. A. Willard
Sci. Dril., 20, 41–49, https://doi.org/10.5194/sd-20-41-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/sd-20-41-2015, 2015
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We report on a planned Trans-Amazon Drilling Project (TADP) that will continuously sample Late Cretaceous to modern sediment in a transect along the equatorial Amazon of Brazil, from the Andean foreland to the Atlantic Ocean. The TADP will document the evolution of the Neotropical forest and will link biotic diversification to changes in the physical environment, including climate, tectonism, and landscape. We will also sample the ca. 200Ma basaltic sills that underlie much of the Amazon.
A. J. West, M. Arnold, G. AumaÎtre, D. L. Bourlès, K. Keddadouche, M. Bickle, and T. Ojha
Earth Surf. Dynam., 3, 363–387, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-363-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-363-2015, 2015
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Soils are vital resources put at risk by erosional loss. Evaluating agricultural effects on erosion is complicated where natural rates are high, as in central Nepal. This study infers erosion rates over thousands of years and compares these rates to those observed over the short term. Results suggest that effects of agriculture are small and that most erosion takes place through natural processes. However, present-day erosion on degraded lands is significantly faster than over the long term.
K. E. Clark, M. A. Torres, A. J. West, R. G. Hilton, M. New, A. B. Horwath, J. B. Fisher, J. M. Rapp, A. Robles Caceres, and Y. Malhi
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 5377–5397, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-5377-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-5377-2014, 2014
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This paper presents measurements of the balance of water inputs and outputs over 1 year for a river basin in the Andes of Peru. Our results show that the annual water budget is balanced within a few percent uncertainty; that is to say, the amount of water entering the basin was the same as the amount leaving, providing important information for understanding the water cycle. We also show that seasonal storage of water is important in sustaining the flow of water during the dry season.
R. G. Hilton, A. Galy, A. J. West, N. Hovius, and G. G. Roberts
Biogeosciences, 10, 1693–1705, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-1693-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-1693-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject: Ecohydrology | Techniques and Approaches: Instruments and observation techniques
Benefits of a robotic chamber system for determining evapotranspiration in an erosion-affected, heterogeneous cropland
Quantifying river water contributions to the transpiration of riparian trees along a losing river: lessons from stable isotopes and an iteration method
Dye-tracer-aided investigation of xylem water transport velocity distributions
Technical note: Lessons from and best practices for the deployment of the Soil Water Isotope Storage System
Throughfall spatial patterns translate into spatial patterns of soil moisture dynamics – empirical evidence
Routing stemflow water through the soil via preferential flow: a dual-labelling approach with artificial tracers
Improving soil aquifer treatment efficiency using air injection into the subsurface
Dynamic root growth in response to depth-varying soil moisture availability: a rhizobox study
Controls on leaf water hydrogen and oxygen isotopes: a local investigation across seasons and altitude
Resolving seasonal and diel dynamics of non-rainfall water inputs in a Mediterranean ecosystem using lysimeters
The effect of rainfall amount and timing on annual transpiration in a grazed savanna grassland
Inter- and intra-event rainfall partitioning dynamics of two typical xerophytic shrubs in the Loess Plateau of China
A comparative study of plant water extraction methods for isotopic analyses: Scholander-type pressure chamber vs. cryogenic vacuum distillation
Technical note: Conservative storage of water vapour – practical in situ sampling of stable isotopes in tree stems
Xylem water in riparian willow trees (Salix alba) reveals shallow sources of root water uptake by in situ monitoring of stable water isotopes
Technical note: High-accuracy weighing micro-lysimeter system for long-term measurements of non-rainfall water inputs to grasslands
Response of water fluxes and biomass production to climate change in permanent grassland soil ecosystems
Ecohydrological travel times derived from in situ stable water isotope measurements in trees during a semi-controlled pot experiment
Insights into the isotopic mismatch between bulk soil water and Salix matsudana Koidz trunk water from root water stable isotope measurements
The role of dew and radiation fog inputs in the local water cycling of a temperate grassland during dry spells in central Europe
Co-evolution of xylem water and soil water stable isotopic composition in a northern mixed forest biome
Vapor plumes in a tropical wet forest: spotting the invisible evaporation
Rapid reduction in ecosystem productivity caused by flash droughts based on decade-long FLUXNET observations
Throughfall isotopic composition in relation to drop size at the intra-event scale in a Mediterranean Scots pine stand
Rainfall interception and redistribution by a common North American understory and pasture forb, Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam. dogfennel)
In situ measurements of soil and plant water isotopes: a review of approaches, practical considerations and a vision for the future
Coalescence of bacterial groups originating from urban runoffs and artificial infiltration systems among aquifer microbiomes
A combination of soil water extraction methods quantifies the isotopic mixing of waters held at separate tensions in soil
Using water stable isotopes to understand evaporation, moisture stress, and re-wetting in catchment forest and grassland soils of the summer drought of 2018
Partitioning growing season water balance within a forested boreal catchment using sap flux, eddy covariance, and a process-based model
Technical note: Long-term probe misalignment and proposed quality control using the heat pulse method for transpiration estimations
Contribution of understory evaporation in a tropical wet forest during the dry season
Coffee and shade trees show complementary use of soil water in a traditional agroforestry ecosystem
Responses of soil water storage and crop water use efficiency to changing climatic conditions: a lysimeter-based space-for-time approach
Neighbourhood and stand structure affect stemflow generation in a heterogeneous deciduous temperate forest
Technical Note: A global database of the stable isotopic ratios of meteoric and terrestrial waters
Temporally dependent effects of rainfall characteristics on inter- and intra-event branch-scale stemflow variability in two xerophytic shrubs
Dissolved organic carbon driven by rainfall events from a semi-arid catchment during concentrated rainfall season in the Loess Plateau, China
Dew frequency across the US from a network of in situ radiometers
Seasonal origins of soil water used by trees
Forest harvesting impacts on microclimate conditions and sediment transport activities in a humid periglacial environment
Hydrogeochemical controls on brook trout spawning habitats in a coastal stream
Speculations on the application of foliar 13C discrimination to reveal groundwater dependency of vegetation and provide estimates of root depth and rates of groundwater use
Evaporation from cultivated and semi-wild Sudanian Savanna in west Africa
Every apple has a voice: using stable isotopes to teach about food sourcing and the water cycle
Technical note: An experimental set-up to measure latent and sensible heat fluxes from (artificial) plant leaves
The spatial distribution and temporal variation of desert riparian forests and their influencing factors in the downstream Heihe River basin, China
Variation of soil hydraulic properties with alpine grassland degradation in the eastern Tibetan Plateau
Changes in dissolved organic matter quality in a peatland and forest headwater stream as a function of seasonality and hydrologic conditions
Comparisons of stemflow and its bio-/abiotic influential factors between two xerophytic shrub species
Adrian Dahlmann, Mathias Hoffmann, Gernot Verch, Marten Schmidt, Michael Sommer, Jürgen Augustin, and Maren Dubbert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3851–3873, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3851-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3851-2023, 2023
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Evapotranspiration (ET) plays a pivotal role in terrestrial water cycling, returning up to 90 % of precipitation to the atmosphere. We studied impacts of soil type and management on an agroecosystem using an automated system with modern modeling approaches. We modeled ET at high spatial and temporal resolution to highlight differences in heterogeneous soils on an hourly basis. Our results show significant differences in yield and smaller differences in ET overall, impacting water use efficiency.
Yue Li, Ying Ma, Xianfang Song, Qian Zhang, and Lixin Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3405–3425, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3405-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3405-2023, 2023
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We proposed an iteration method in combination with the MixSIAR model and water isotopes to quantify the river water contribution (RWC) to riparian deep-rooted trees nearby a losing river. River water can indirectly contribute by 20.3 % to water uptake of riparian trees. River recharged riparian groundwater rapidly with a short groundwater residence time (no more than 0.28 d). The RWC to riparian trees was negatively correlated with the water table depth and leaf δ13C in linear functions.
Stefan Seeger and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3393–3404, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3393-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3393-2023, 2023
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This study proposes a low-budget method to quantify the radial distribution of water transport velocities within trees at a high spatial resolution. We observed a wide spread of water transport velocities within a tree stem section, which were on average 3 times faster than the flux velocity. The distribution of transport velocities has implications for studies that use water isotopic signatures to study root water uptake and usually assume uniform or even implicitly infinite velocities.
Rachel E. Havranek, Kathryn Snell, Sebastian Kopf, Brett Davidheiser-Kroll, Valerie Morris, and Bruce Vaughn
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2951–2971, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2951-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2951-2023, 2023
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We present an automated, field-ready system that collects soil water vapor for stable isotope analysis. This system can be used to determine soil water evolution through time, which is helpful for understanding crop water use, water vapor fluxes to the atmosphere, and geologic proxy development. Our system can automatically collect soil water vapor and then store it for up to 30 d, which allows researchers to collect datasets from historically understudied, remote locations.
Christine Fischer-Bedtke, Johanna Clara Metzger, Gökben Demir, Thomas Wutzler, and Anke Hildebrandt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2899–2918, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2899-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2899-2023, 2023
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Canopies change how rain reaches the soil: some spots receive more and others less water. It has long been debated whether this also leads to locally wetter and drier soil. We checked this using measurements of canopy drip and soil moisture. We found that the increase in soil water content after rain was aligned with canopy drip. Independently, the soil storage reaction was dampened in locations prone to drainage, like hig-macroporosity areas, suggesting that canopy drip enhances bypass flow.
Juan Pinos, Markus Flury, Jérôme Latron, and Pilar Llorens
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2865–2881, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2865-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2865-2023, 2023
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We investigated how stemflow (intercepted rainwater by the tree crown that travels down the stem) infiltrates within the soil. We simulated stemflow, applying coloured water along a tree trunk. Coloured patterns, observed when we excavated the soil after the experiment, were used to view and quantify preferential flow in the soil. We found that stemflow was mainly funnelled belowground along tree roots and macropores. Soil moisture near the trunk was affected both vertically and horizontally.
Ido Arad, Aviya Ziner, Shany Ben Moshe, Noam Weisbrod, and Alex Furman
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2509–2522, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2509-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2509-2023, 2023
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In a series of long-column experiments, subsurface air injection in soil aquifer treatment (Air-SAT) was tested as an alternative to conventional flooding–drying operation (FDO) in tertiary wastewater (WW) treatment. Our results show that Air-SAT allows for the treatment of increased WW volumes and results in similar or better effluent quality compared with FDO. These results highlight the possibility of using air injection to treat more effluent and alleviate the pressure on existing SAT sites.
Cynthia Maan, Marie-Claire ten Veldhuis, and Bas J. H. van de Wiel
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2341–2355, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2341-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2341-2023, 2023
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Their flexible growth provides the plants with a strong ability to adapt and develop resilience to droughts and climate change. But this adaptability is badly included in crop and climate models. To model plant development in changing environments, we need to include the survival strategies of plants. Based on experimental data, we set up a simple model for soil-moisture-driven root growth. The model performance suggests that soil moisture is a key parameter determining root growth.
Jinzhao Liu, Chong Jiang, Huawu Wu, Li Guo, Haiwei Zhang, and Ying Zhao
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 599–612, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-599-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-599-2023, 2023
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What controls leaf water isotopes? We answered the question from two perspectives: respective and dual isotopes. On the one hand, the δ18O and δ2H values of leaf water responded to isotopes of potential source water (i.e., twig water, soil water, and precipitation) and meteorological parameters (i.e., temperature, RH, and precipitation) differently. On the other hand, dual δ18O and δ2H values of leaf water yielded a significant linear relationship associated with altitude and seasonality.
Sinikka Jasmin Paulus, Tarek Sebastian El-Madany, René Orth, Anke Hildebrandt, Thomas Wutzler, Arnaud Carrara, Gerardo Moreno, Oscar Perez-Priego, Olaf Kolle, Markus Reichstein, and Mirco Migliavacca
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6263–6287, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6263-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6263-2022, 2022
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In this study, we analyze small inputs of water to ecosystems such as fog, dew, and adsorption of vapor. To measure them, we use a scaling system and later test our attribution of different water fluxes to weight changes. We found that they occur frequently during 1 year in a dry summer ecosystem. In each season, a different flux seems dominant, but they all mainly occur during the night. Therefore, they could be important for the biosphere because rain is unevenly distributed over the year.
Matti Räsänen, Mika Aurela, Ville Vakkari, Johan P. Beukes, Juha-Pekka Tuovinen, Pieter G. Van Zyl, Miroslav Josipovic, Stefan J. Siebert, Tuomas Laurila, Markku Kulmala, Lauri Laakso, Janne Rinne, Ram Oren, and Gabriel Katul
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 5773–5791, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5773-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5773-2022, 2022
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The productivity of semiarid grazed grasslands is linked to the variation in rainfall and transpiration. By combining carbon dioxide and water flux measurements, we show that the annual transpiration is nearly constant during wet years while grasses react quickly to dry spells and drought, which reduce transpiration. The planning of annual grazing strategies could consider the early-season rainfall frequency that was linked to the portion of annual transpiration.
Jinxia An, Guangyao Gao, Chuan Yuan, Juan Pinos, and Bojie Fu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3885–3900, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3885-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3885-2022, 2022
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An in-depth investigation was conducted of all rainfall-partitioning components at inter- and intra-event scales for two xerophytic shrubs. Inter-event rainfall partitioning amount and percentage depended more on rainfall amount, and rainfall intensity and duration controlled intra-event rainfall-partitioning variables. One shrub has larger branch angle, small branch and smaller canopy area to produce stemflow more efficiently, and the other has larger biomass to intercept more rainfall.
Giulia Zuecco, Anam Amin, Jay Frentress, Michael Engel, Chiara Marchina, Tommaso Anfodillo, Marco Borga, Vinicio Carraro, Francesca Scandellari, Massimo Tagliavini, Damiano Zanotelli, Francesco Comiti, and Daniele Penna
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3673–3689, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3673-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3673-2022, 2022
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We analyzed the variability in the isotopic composition of plant water extracted by two different methods, i.e., cryogenic vacuum distillation (CVD) and Scholander-type pressure chamber (SPC). Our results indicated that the isotopic composition of plant water extracted by CVD and SPC was significantly different. We concluded that plant water extraction by SPC is not an alternative for CVD as SPC mostly extracts the mobile plant water whereas CVD retrieves all water stored in the sampled tissue.
Ruth-Kristina Magh, Benjamin Gralher, Barbara Herbstritt, Angelika Kübert, Hyungwoo Lim, Tomas Lundmark, and John Marshall
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3573–3587, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3573-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3573-2022, 2022
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We developed a method of sampling and storing water vapour for isotope analysis, allowing us to infer plant water uptake depth. Measurements can be made at high temporal and spatial resolution even in remote areas. We ensured that all necessary components are easily available, making this method cost efficient and simple to implement. We found our method to perform well in the lab and in the field, enabling it to become a tool for everyone aiming to resolve questions regarding the water cycle.
Jessica Landgraf, Dörthe Tetzlaff, Maren Dubbert, David Dubbert, Aaron Smith, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2073–2092, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2073-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2073-2022, 2022
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Using water stable isotopes, we studied from which water source (lake water, stream water, groundwater, or soil water) two willows were taking their water. We monitored the environmental conditions (e.g. air temperature and soil moisture) and the behaviour of the trees (water flow in the stem). We found that the most likely water sources of the willows were the upper soil layers but that there were seasonal dynamics.
Andreas Riedl, Yafei Li, Jon Eugster, Nina Buchmann, and Werner Eugster
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 91–116, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-91-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-91-2022, 2022
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The aim of this study was to develop a high-accuracy micro-lysimeter system for the quantification of non-rainfall water inputs that overcomes existing drawbacks. The micro-lysimeter system had a high accuracy and allowed us to quantify and distinguish between different types of non-rainfall water inputs, like dew and fog. Non-rainfall water inputs occurred frequently in a Swiss Alpine grassland ecosystem. These water inputs can be an important water source for grasslands during dry periods.
Veronika Forstner, Jannis Groh, Matevz Vremec, Markus Herndl, Harry Vereecken, Horst H. Gerke, Steffen Birk, and Thomas Pütz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 6087–6106, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6087-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6087-2021, 2021
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Lysimeter-based manipulative and observational experiments were used to identify responses of water fluxes and aboveground biomass (AGB) to climatic change in permanent grassland. Under energy-limited conditions, elevated temperature actual evapotranspiration (ETa) increased, while seepage, dew, and AGB decreased. Elevated CO2 mitigated the effect on ETa. Under water limitation, elevated temperature resulted in reduced ETa, and AGB was negatively correlated with an increasing aridity.
David Mennekes, Michael Rinderer, Stefan Seeger, and Natalie Orlowski
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4513–4530, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4513-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4513-2021, 2021
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In situ stable water isotope measurements are a recently developed method to measure water movement from the soil through the plant to the atmosphere in high resolution and precision. Here, we present important advantages of the new method in comparison to commonly used measurement methods in an experimental setup. Overall, this method can help to answer research questions such as plant responses to climate change with potentially shifting water availability or temperatures.
Ying Zhao and Li Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3975–3989, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3975-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3975-2021, 2021
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At our study site during the experimental period, trunk water was only isotopically similar to root water at 100–160 cm depths. The isotopic composition of root water deviated from that of bulk soil water but overlapped with the composition derived for less mobile water. These findings suggest that the isotopic offset between bulk soil water and trunk water was due to the isotopic mismatch between root water and bulk soil water associated with soil water heterogeneity.
Yafei Li, Franziska Aemisegger, Andreas Riedl, Nina Buchmann, and Werner Eugster
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2617–2648, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2617-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2617-2021, 2021
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During dry spells, dew and fog potentially play an increasingly important role in temperate grasslands. Research on the combined mechanisms of dew and fog inputs to ecosystems and distillation of water vapor from soil to plant surfaces is rare. Our results using stable water isotopes highlight the importance of dew and fog inputs to temperate grasslands during dry spells and reveal the complexity of the local water cycling in such conditions, including different pathways of dew and fog inputs.
Jenna R. Snelgrove, James M. Buttle, Matthew J. Kohn, and Dörthe Tetzlaff
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2169–2186, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2169-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2169-2021, 2021
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Co-evolution of plant and soil water isotopic composition throughout the growing season in a little-studied northern mixed forest landscape was explored. Marked inter-specific differences in the isotopic composition of xylem water relative to surrounding soil water occurred, despite thin soil cover constraining inter-species differences in rooting depths. We provide potential explanations for differences in temporal evolution of xylem water isotopic composition in this northern landscape.
César Dionisio Jiménez-Rodríguez, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Bart Schilperoort, Adriana del Pilar González-Angarita, and Hubert Savenije
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 619–635, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-619-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-619-2021, 2021
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During rainfall events, evaporation from tropical forests is usually ignored. However, the water retained in the canopy during rainfall increases the evaporation despite the high-humidity conditions. In a tropical wet forest in Costa Rica, it was possible to depict vapor plumes rising from the forest canopy during rainfall. These plumes are evidence of forest evaporation. Also, we identified the conditions that allowed this phenomenon to happen using time-lapse videos and meteorological data.
Miao Zhang and Xing Yuan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 5579–5593, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5579-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5579-2020, 2020
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We identify flash drought events by considering the decline rate of soil moisture and the drought persistency, and we detect the response of ecosystem carbon and water fluxes to flash droughts based on FLUXNET observations. We find rapid declines in carbon assimilation within 16–24 d of flash drought onset, where savannas show the highest sensitivity. Water use efficiency increases for forests but decreases for herbaceous ecosystems during the recovery stage of flash droughts.
Juan Pinos, Jérôme Latron, Kazuki Nanko, Delphis F. Levia, and Pilar Llorens
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4675–4690, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4675-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4675-2020, 2020
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Water that drips or splashes from a canopy or passes through it is termed throughfall. This is the first known study to examine interrelationships between throughfall isotopic fractionation and throughfall drop size. Working in a mountainous Scots pine forest, we found that throughfall splash droplets were more prevalent at the onset of rain when vapour pressure deficits were larger. This finding has important implications for water mixing in the canopy and for theories of canopy interception.
D. Alex R. Gordon, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Brent A. Sellers, S. M. Moein Sadeghi, and John T. Van Stan II
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4587–4599, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4587-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4587-2020, 2020
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Where plants exist, rain must pass through canopies to reach soils. We studied how rain interacts with dogfennel – a highly problematic weed that is abundant in pastures, grasslands, rangelands, urban forests and along highways. Dogfennels evaporated large portions (approx. one-fifth) of rain and drained significant (at times > 25 %) rain (and dew) down their stems to their roots (via stemflow). This may explain how dogfennel survives and even invades managed landscapes during extended droughts.
Matthias Beyer, Kathrin Kühnhammer, and Maren Dubbert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4413–4440, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4413-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4413-2020, 2020
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Water isotopes are a scientific tool that can be used to identify sources of water and answer questions such as
From which soil depths do plants take up water?, which are highly relevant under changing climatic conditions. In the past, the measurement of water isotopes required tremendous effort. In the last decade methods have advanced and can now be applied in the field. Herein, we review the current status of direct field measurements of water isotopes and discuss future applications.
Yannick Colin, Rayan Bouchali, Laurence Marjolet, Romain Marti, Florian Vautrin, Jérémy Voisin, Emilie Bourgeois, Veronica Rodriguez-Nava, Didier Blaha, Thierry Winiarski, Florian Mermillod-Blondin, and Benoit Cournoyer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4257–4273, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4257-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4257-2020, 2020
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Stormwater infiltration systems (SISs) are a source of pollution that may have adverse ecological and sanitary impacts. The incidence of a SIS on the coalescence of microbial communities from runoff waters and aboveground sediments with those of an aquifer was investigated. Aquifer waters showed lower coalescence with aboveground bacterial taxa than aquifer biofilms. These biofilms were colonized by bacterial hydrocarbon degraders and harboured undesirable human-opportunistic pathogens.
William H. Bowers, Jason J. Mercer, Mark S. Pleasants, and David G. Williams
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4045–4060, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4045-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4045-2020, 2020
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Determining the chemical composition of soil water can help to address questions concerning water transport and use. However, there are many observations of incompletely mixed soil water within various soil pore domains. We applied two contrasting waters to soil samples and then removed water from the soils with three sequential and increasing applied energy steps to assess soil water mixing and equilibration over time. We found it took more than 3 d for soil water to mix and equilibrate.
Lukas Kleine, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Aaron Smith, Hailong Wang, and Chris Soulsby
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3737–3752, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3737-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3737-2020, 2020
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We investigated the effects of the 2018 drought on water partitioning in a lowland catchment under grassland and forest in north-eastern Germany. Conditions resulted in drying up of streams, yield losses, and lower groundwater levels. Oak trees continued to transpire during the drought. We used stable isotopes to assess the fluxes and ages of water. Sustainable use of resource water requires such understanding of ecohydrological water partitioning.
Nataliia Kozii, Kersti Haahti, Pantana Tor-ngern, Jinshu Chi, Eliza Maher Hasselquist, Hjalmar Laudon, Samuli Launiainen, Ram Oren, Matthias Peichl, Jörgen Wallerman, and Niles J. Hasselquist
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2999–3014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2999-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2999-2020, 2020
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The hydrologic cycle is one of the greatest natural processes on Earth and strongly influences both regional and global climate as well as ecosystem functioning. Results from this study clearly show the central role trees play in regulating the water cycle of boreal catchments, implying that forest management impacts on stand structure as well as climate change effects on tree growth are likely to have large cascading effects on the way water moves through boreal forested landscapes.
Elisabeth K. Larsen, Jose Luis Palau, Jose Antonio Valiente, Esteban Chirino, and Juan Bellot
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2755–2767, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2755-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2755-2020, 2020
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To improve long-term sap flow measurements when using the heat ratio method, this study introduces a dynamic probe misalignment correction method. This work uses sap flow data from four Aleppo pines from April 2017 to December 2018 and shows how a classical probe correction approach declines in accuracy over time. Additionally, it is proposed that a new set of statistical information be recorded along with the sap flow readings to ensure the quality of the raw data.
César Dionisio Jiménez-Rodríguez, Miriam Coenders-Gerrits, Jochen Wenninger, Adriana Gonzalez-Angarita, and Hubert Savenije
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2179–2206, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2179-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2179-2020, 2020
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Tropical forest ecosystems are able to export a lot of water to the atmosphere by means of evaporation. However, little is known on how their complex structure affects this water flux. This paper analyzes the contribution of three canopy layers in terms of water fluxes and stable water isotope signatures. During the dry season in 2018 the two lower canopy layers provide 20 % of measured evaporation, highlighting the importance of knowing how forest structure can affect the hydrological cycle.
Lyssette Elena Muñoz-Villers, Josie Geris, María Susana Alvarado-Barrientos, Friso Holwerda, and Todd Dawson
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1649–1668, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1649-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1649-2020, 2020
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Our research showed, consistently, a complementary use of soil water sources between coffee (Coffea Arabica var. typica) plants and shade tree species during the dry and wet seasons in a traditional agroforestry ecosystem in central Veracruz, Mexico. However, more variability in plant water sources was observed among species in the rainy season when higher soil moisture conditions were present and water stress was largely absent.
Jannis Groh, Jan Vanderborght, Thomas Pütz, Hans-Jörg Vogel, Ralf Gründling, Holger Rupp, Mehdi Rahmati, Michael Sommer, Harry Vereecken, and Horst H. Gerke
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1211–1225, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1211-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1211-2020, 2020
Johanna C. Metzger, Jens Schumacher, Markus Lange, and Anke Hildebrandt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4433–4452, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4433-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4433-2019, 2019
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Variation in stemflow (rain water running down the stem) enhances the formation of flow hot spots at the forest floor. Investigating drivers based on detailed measurements, we find that forest structure affects stemflow, both for individual trees and small communities. Densely packed forest patches received more stemflow, due to a higher proportion of woody structure and canopy morphology adjustments, which increase the potential for flow path generation connecting crowns and soil.
Annie L. Putman and Gabriel J. Bowen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4389–4396, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4389-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4389-2019, 2019
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We describe an open-access, global database of stable water isotope ratios of various water types. The database facilitates data archiving, supports standardized metadata collection, and decreases the time investment for metanalyses. To promote data discovery and collaboration, the database exposes metadata and data owner contact information for private data but only permits download of public data. Two companion apps support digital data collection and processing and upload of analyzed data.
Chuan Yuan, Guangyao Gao, Bojie Fu, Daming He, Xingwu Duan, and Xiaohua Wei
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4077–4095, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4077-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4077-2019, 2019
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The stemflow dynamics of two xerophytic shrubs were investigated at the inter- and intra-event scales with high-temporal-resolution data in 54 rain events. Stemflow process was depicted by intensity, duration and time lags to rain events. Funneling ratio was calculated as the ratio of stemflow to rainfall intensities. Rainfall intensity and raindrop momentum controlled stemflow intensity and time lags. Influences of rainfall characteristics on stemflow variables showed temporal dependence.
Linhua Wang, Haw Yen, Xinhui E, Liding Chen, and Yafeng Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3141–3153, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3141-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-3141-2019, 2019
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A high-frequency approach was used to monitor dynamic changes of DOC exported during the concentrated rainfall season in LPR, China. DOC concentration and flux from an ecologically restored catchment in the LPR was investigated. Hysteresis analysis indicated non-linear relationships between DOC concentration and discharge rate in a rainfall event. DOC export is substantially affected by the interaction of rainfall and antecedent conditions for a rainfall event.
François Ritter, Max Berkelhammer, and Daniel Beysens
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1179–1197, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1179-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1179-2019, 2019
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There currently is no standardized approach for measuring dew formation, making it difficult to compare its frequency and importance across ecosystems. Recently, canopy surface temperature data from 30 sites in the US were measured continuously using in situ infrared radiometers. The analysis presented here provides the first continental-scale standardized synthesis of dew formation. This work provides a basis for considering how changing climate and land use will influence dew formation.
Scott T. Allen, James W. Kirchner, Sabine Braun, Rolf T. W. Siegwolf, and Gregory R. Goldsmith
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1199–1210, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1199-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1199-2019, 2019
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We used stable isotopes of xylem water to study differences in the seasonal origin of water in more than 900 individual trees from three dominant species in 182 Swiss forested sites. We discovered that midsummer transpiration was mostly supplied by winter precipitation across diverse humid climates. Our findings provide new insights into tree vulnerability to droughts, transport of water (and thus solutes) in soils, and the climatic information conveyed by plant-tissue isotopes.
Fumitoshi Imaizumi, Ryoko Nishii, Kenichi Ueno, and Kousei Kurobe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 155–170, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-155-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-155-2019, 2019
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We investigated seasonal changes in sediment transport activities following forest harvesting in a humid periglacial area. Removal of the forest canopy by forest harvesting alters the type of winter soil creep. Winter creep velocity of the ground surface sediment in the harvested site was significantly higher than that in the non-harvested site. Meanwhile, sediment flux on the hillslopes decreased in the harvested site because of capture of sediment by branches of harvested trees.
Martin A. Briggs, Judson W. Harvey, Stephen T. Hurley, Donald O. Rosenberry, Timothy McCobb, Dale Werkema, and John W. Lane Jr.
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 6383–6398, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6383-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6383-2018, 2018
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Brook trout are known to seek out groundwater-discharge zones for spawning. However, in a groundwater-dominated system, we observed trout using a few locations for repeatedly laying eggs. To improve the management of this cold-water species, we wanted to know why these specific groundwater-discharge zones were desirable. Through a combination of geophysical and chemical measurements, we found that locations where the stream intersects the sandy valley wall create oxygen-rich seepage zones.
Rizwana Rumman, James Cleverly, Rachael H. Nolan, Tonantzin Tarin, and Derek Eamus
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 4875–4889, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4875-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-4875-2018, 2018
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Groundwater is a significant water resource for humans and for groundwater-dependent vegetation. Several challenges to managing both groundwater resources and dependent vegetation include defining the location of dependent vegetation, the rate of groundwater use, and the depth of roots accessing groundwater. In this study we demonstrate a novel application of measurements of stable isotopes of carbon that can be used to identify the location, the rooting depth, and the rate of groundwater use.
Natalie C. Ceperley, Theophile Mande, Nick van de Giesen, Scott Tyler, Hamma Yacouba, and Marc B. Parlange
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4149–4167, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4149-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4149-2017, 2017
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We relate land cover (savanna forest and agriculture) to evaporation in Burkina Faso, west Africa. We observe more evaporation and temperature movement over the savanna forest in the headwater area relative to the agricultural section of the watershed. We find that the fraction of available energy converted to evaporation relates to vegetation cover and soil moisture. From the results, evaporation can be calculated where ground-based measurements are lacking, frequently the case across Africa.
Erik Oerter, Molly Malone, Annie Putman, Dina Drits-Esser, Louisa Stark, and Gabriel Bowen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3799–3810, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3799-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3799-2017, 2017
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Fruits take up soil water as they grow, and thus the fruit water is related to the rain or irrigation the crop receives. We used a novel sampling system to measure the stable isotopes of H and O in the fruit water to determine its geographic origin by comparing it to maps of isotopes in rain. We used this approach to teach an audience of science students and teachers about water cycle concepts and how humans may modify the water cycle through agriculture and irrigation water diversions.
Stanislaus J. Schymanski, Daniel Breitenstein, and Dani Or
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3377–3400, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3377-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3377-2017, 2017
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Leaf transpiration and energy exchange are coupled processes at the small scale that have strong effects on the water cycle and climate at the large scale. In this technical note, we present a novel experimental set-up that enables detailed study of these coupled processes in the laboratory under controlled conditions. Results document the abilities of the experimental set-up to confirm or challenge our understanding of these processes.
Jingyi Ding, Wenwu Zhao, Stefani Daryanto, Lixin Wang, Hao Fan, Qiang Feng, and Yaping Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 2405–2419, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2405-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2405-2017, 2017
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In this study, we focused on exploring the spatial distribution and temporal variation of desert riparian forests and their influencing factors based on field experiment and remote sensing data. Our result revealed how the environmental factors shape the spatial distribution and temporal variation of desert riparian forest in the downstream Heihe river. The results of this study provide support for the effective restoration of desert riparian forest in the hyperarid zone.
Tao Pan, Shuai Hou, Shaohong Wu, Yujie Liu, Yanhua Liu, Xintong Zou, Anna Herzberger, and Jianguo Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 2249–2261, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2249-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2249-2017, 2017
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This study shows that soil hydraulic properties, especially those of the top soil, varied greatly with alpine swamp meadow degradation. Soil porosity is the dominant influencing factor of soil hydraulic properties. The results suggest that alpine swamp meadow degradation would inevitably lead to negative hydrological effects. Hydrological modelling in the Tibetan Plateau and similar regions are recommended to understand the effects of degradation on soil hydraulic properties.
Tanja Broder, Klaus-Holger Knorr, and Harald Biester
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 2035–2051, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2035-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2035-2017, 2017
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This study elucidates controls on temporal variability in DOM concentration and quality in stream water draining a bog and a forested peaty riparian zone, particularly considering drought and storm flow events. DOM quality was monitored using spectrofluorometric indices (SUVA254, SR and FI) and PARAFAC modeling of EEMs. DOM quality depended clearly on hydrologic preconditions and season. Moreover, the forested peaty riparian zone generated most variability in headwater DOM quantity and quality.
Chuan Yuan, Guangyao Gao, and Bojie Fu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1421–1438, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1421-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1421-2017, 2017
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We computed stemflow yield and efficiency, and analyzed the influential mechanism at smaller scales of leaf and raindrop. We found that precipitation was the most influential meteorological feature on stemflow. The smaller threshold precipitation to start stemflow and the more beneficial leaf traits might partly explain the larger and more efficient stemflow production. At defoliated period, the newly exposed stems replaced leaves to intercept raindrops and might really matter in stemflow yield.
Cited articles
Allen, S. T., Kirchner, J. W., and Goldsmith, G. R.: Predicting Spatial Patterns in Precipitation Isotope (δ2H and δ18O) Seasonality Using Sinusoidal Isoscapes, Geophys. Res. Lett., 45, 4859–4868, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL077458, 2018.
Allen, S. T., Kirchner, J. W., Braun, S., Siegwolf, R. T. W., and Goldsmith, G. R.: Seasonal origins of soil water used by trees, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1199–1210, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1199-2019, 2019.
Asner, G. P., Martin, R. E., Anderson, C. B., Kryston, K., Vaughn, N., Knapp, D. E., Bentley, L. P., Shenkin, A., Salinas, N., Sinca, F., Tupayachi, R., Quispe Huaypar, K., Montoya Pillco, M., Ccori Álvarez, F. D., Díaz, S., Enquist, B. J., and Malhi, Y.: Scale dependence of canopy trait distributions along a tropical forest elevation gradient, New Phytol., 214, 973–988, https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14068, 2017.
Benettin, P., Volkmann, T. H. M., von Freyberg, J., Frentress, J., Penna, D., Dawson, T. E., and Kirchner, J. W.: Effects of climatic seasonality on the isotopic composition of evaporating soil waters, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2881–2890, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2881-2018, 2018.
Benettin, P., Rodriguez, N. B., Sprenger, M., Kim, M., Klaus, J., Harman, C. J., van der Velde, Y., Hrachowitz, M., Botter, G., McGuire, K. J., Kirchner, J. W., Rinaldo, A., and McDonnell, J. J.: Transit Time Estimation in Catchments: Recent Developments and Future Directions, Water Resour. Res., 58, e2022WR033096, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR033096, 2022.
Berghuijs, W. R. and Allen, S. T.: Waters flowing out of systems are younger than the waters stored in those same systems, Hydrol. Process., 33, 3251–3254, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13569, 2019.
Berghuijs, W. R. and Kirchner, J. W.: The relationship between contrasting ages of groundwater and streamflow: Connecting Storage and Streamflow Ages, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, 8925–8935, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074962, 2017.
Berkelhammer, M., Still, C. J., Ritter, F., Winnick, M., Anderson, L., Carroll, R., Carbone, M., and Williams, K. H.: Persistence and Plasticity in Conifer Water-Use Strategies, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 125, e2018JG00484, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JG004845, 2020.
Botter, G., Bertuzzo, E., and Rinaldo, A.: Transport in the hydrologic response: Travel time distributions, soil moisture dynamics, and the old water paradox: A Theory of transport in the hydrologic response, Water Resour. Res., 46, W03514, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009WR008371, 2010.
Brinkmann, N., Seeger, S., Weiler, M., Buchmann, N., Eugster, W., and Kahmen, A.: Employing stable isotopes to determine the residence times of soil water and the temporal origin of water taken up by Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies in a temperate forest, New Phytol., 219, 1300–1313, https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15255, 2018.
Brooks, J. R., Barnard, H. R., Coulombe, R., and McDonnell, J. J.: Ecohydrologic separation of water between trees and streams in a Mediterranean climate, Nat. Geosci., 3, 100–104, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo722, 2010.
Burt, E. I., Coayla Rimachi, D. H., Ccahuana Quispe, A. J., Atwood, A., and West, A. J.: Isotope-derived young water fractions in streamflow across the tropical Andes mountains and Amazon floodplain, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2883–2898, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2883-2023, 2023a.
Burt, E. I., Coayla Rimachi, D. H., Ccahuana Quispe, A. J., and West, A. J.: Oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in streams and precipitation and young water fractions across the Andes mountains and Amazon floodplain, HydroShare [data set], https://doi.org/10.4211/hs.c01ef51ca2b3495785d0f24c62142e23, 2023b.
Burt, E. I., Goldsmith, G. R., Cruz-de Hoyos, R., Ccahuana Quispe, A. J., and West, A. J.: Stable isotopes of water and seasonal origin indices of precipitation, stream, lysimeter and plant xylem waters, HydroShare [data set], https://doi.org/10.4211/hs.fdfdddbc35494e21ad2dda279f81832b, 2023c.
Carlotto, V., Gil, W., Cárdenas, J., Chávez, R., Ascue, J., and Rozas, H.: Mapa geológico del cuadrángulo de Calca 27s, Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico, Lima, Perú, https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12544/187 (last access: 1 March 2023), 1996.
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Short summary
When it rains, water remains in the ground for variable amounts of time before it is taken up by plants or becomes streamflow. Understanding how long water stays in the ground before it is taken up by plants or becomes streamflow helps predict what will happen to the water cycle in future climates. Some studies suggest that plants take up water that has been in the ground for a long time; in contrast, we find that plants take up a significant amount of recent rain.
When it rains, water remains in the ground for variable amounts of time before it is taken up by...
