Articles | Volume 27, issue 23
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4247-2023
© 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-27-4247-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
01 Dec 2023
Research article |
| 01 Dec 2023
| 01 Dec 2023
Biocrust-reduced soil water retention and soil infiltration in an alpine Kobresia meadow
Licong Dai
Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
Ruiyu Fu
Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
Xiaowei Guo
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Cold Regions Restoration Ecology, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810001, China
Yangong Du
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Cold Regions Restoration Ecology, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810001, China
Guangmin Cao
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Cold Regions Restoration Ecology, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810001, China
Huakun Zhou
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Cold Regions Restoration Ecology, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810001, China
Zhongmin Hu
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Key Laboratory of Agro-Forestry Environmental Processes and Ecological Regulation of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
Related authors
No articles found.
Qiaoyan Chen, Siyuan Cheng, Shuting Yu, Xiaowei Guo, Zhongyi Sun, Zhongmin Hu, and Licong Dai
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3772, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3772, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for SOIL (SOIL).
Short summary
Short summary
We compared soil properties and water storage capacity across these three forest types, finding that conversion from primary forests significantly reduced water retention capacity. While secondary forests exhibited better water retention than rubber plantations in shallow soil layers, they showed weaker capacity in deeper soils, with distinct seasonal variations in water storage. Soil porosity was identified as the key determining factor, with primary forests maintaining higher porosity.
Rong Shang, Xudong Lin, Jing M. Chen, Yunjian Liang, Keyan Fang, Mingzhu Xu, Yulin Yan, Weimin Ju, Guirui Yu, Nianpeng He, Li Xu, Liangyun Liu, Jing Li, Wang Li, Jun Zhai, and Zhongmin Hu
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 3219–3241, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-3219-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-3219-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Forest age is critical for carbon cycle modeling and effective forest management. Existing datasets, however, have low spatial resolutions or limited temporal coverage. This study introduces China's annual forest age dataset (CAFA), spanning 1986–2022 at a 30 m resolution. By tracking forest disturbances, we annually update ages. Validation shows small errors for disturbed forests and larger errors for undisturbed forests. CAFA can enhance carbon cycle modeling and forest management in China.
L. Lin, Y. K. Li, X. L. Xu, F. W. Zhang, Y. G. Du, S. L. Liu, X. W. Guo, and G. M. Cao
Solid Earth, 6, 1237–1246, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1237-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1237-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
We investigated environmental factors and plant functional groups to quantity and identify factors during alpine grassland succession processes. The degree of degradation of alpine meadows may be delineated by development of mattic epipedon and PFG composition. Because relatively few environmental factors are investigated, this approach can save time and labor to formulate a conservation management plan for degraded alpine meadows.
Related subject area
Subject: Ecohydrology | Techniques and Approaches: Theory development
Drought research priorities, trends, and geographic patterns
Canopy structure modulates the sensitivity of subalpine forest stands to interannual snowpack and precipitation variability
Assessing recovery time of ecosystems in China: insights into flash drought impacts on gross primary productivity
Combined impacts of climate change and human activities on blue and green water resources in a high-intensity development watershed
Future response of ecosystem water use efficiency to CO2 effects in the Yellow River Basin, China
Temporal shift in groundwater fauna in southwestern Germany
Root zone in the Earth system
Soil water sources and their implications for vegetation restoration in the Three-Rivers Headwater Region during different ablation periods
The natural abundance of stable water isotopes method may overestimate deep-layer soil water use by trees
Contribution of cryosphere to runoff in the transition zone between the Tibetan Plateau and arid region based on environmental isotopes
Vegetation optimality explains the convergence of catchments on the Budyko curve
Differential response of plant transpiration to uptake of rainwater-recharged soil water for dominant tree species in the semiarid Loess Plateau
Isotopic offsets between bulk plant water and its sources are larger in cool and wet environments
Hydrology without dimensions
Long-term climate-influenced land cover change in discontinuous permafrost peatland complexes
Groundwater fauna in an urban area – natural or affected?
Age and origin of leaf wax n-alkanes in fluvial sediment–paleosol sequences and implications for paleoenvironmental reconstructions
Seasonal partitioning of precipitation between streamflow and evapotranspiration, inferred from end-member splitting analysis
The influence of litter crusts on soil properties and hydrological processes in a sandy ecosystem
Unexplained hydrogen isotope offsets complicate the identification and quantification of tree water sources in a riparian forest
A synthesis of three decades of hydrological research at Scotty Creek, NWT, Canada
Potential evaporation at eddy-covariance sites across the globe
Scaling properties reveal regulation of river flows in the Amazon through a “forest reservoir”
Water movement through plant roots – exact solutions of the water flow equation in roots with linear or exponential piecewise hydraulic properties
Large-scale vegetation responses to terrestrial moisture storage changes
Vegetation dynamics and climate seasonality jointly control the interannual catchment water balance in the Loess Plateau under the Budyko framework
Leaf-scale experiments reveal an important omission in the Penman–Monteith equation
The Budyko functions under non-steady-state conditions
Matching the Budyko functions with the complementary evaporation relationship: consequences for the drying power of the air and the Priestley–Taylor coefficient
Hydrological recovery in two large forested watersheds of southeastern China: the importance of watershed properties in determining hydrological responses to reforestation
The socioecohydrology of rainwater harvesting in India: understanding water storage and release dynamics across spatial scales
Nitrate sinks and sources as controls of spatio-temporal water quality dynamics in an agricultural headwater catchment
Impacts of beaver dams on hydrologic and temperature regimes in a mountain stream
Estimation of crop water requirements: extending the one-step approach to dual crop coefficients
Technical Note: On the Matt–Shuttleworth approach to estimate crop water requirements
Horizontal soil water potential heterogeneity: simplifying approaches for crop water dynamics models
Hurricane impacts on a pair of coastal forested watersheds: implications of selective hurricane damage to forest structure and streamflow dynamics
Regional and local patterns in depth to water table, hydrochemistry and peat properties of bogs and their laggs in coastal British Columbia
Impacts of forest changes on hydrology: a case study of large watersheds in the upper reaches of Minjiang River watershed in China
A simple three-dimensional macroscopic root water uptake model based on the hydraulic architecture approach
Training hydrologists to be ecohydrologists and play a leading role in environmental problem solving
Thermodynamic constraints on effective energy and mass transfer and catchment function
Can we predict groundwater discharge from terrestrial ecosystems using existing eco-hydrological concepts?
Macroinvertebrate community responses to a dewatering disturbance gradient in a restored stream
Mechanisms of vegetation uprooting by flow in alluvial non-cohesive sediment
Forest decline caused by high soil water conditions in a permafrost region
Roland Baatz, Gohar Ghazaryan, Michael Hagenlocher, Claas Nendel, Andrea Toreti, and Ehsan Eyshi Rezaei
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1379–1393, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1379-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1379-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our global review of 130 000 peer-reviewed articles reveals that drought forecasting and plant genetics dominate drought research priorities. Using topic modelling, we traced evolving themes from 1901 to 2022, highlighting a shift from ecology to cutting-edge technologies. By applying unsupervised machine learning, we offer insights into how integrated approaches matter, guiding future priorities to strengthen drought resilience and to safeguard water resources.
Max Berkelhammer, Gerald F. M. Page, Frank Zurek, Christopher Still, Mariah S. Carbone, William Talavera, Laura Hildebrand, James Byron, Kyle Inthabandith, Angellica Kucinski, Melissa Carlson, Kelsey Foss, Wendy Brown, Rosemary W. H. Carroll, Austin Simonpietri, Marshall Worsham, Ian Breckheimer, Anna Ryken, Reed Maxwell, David Gochis, Mark S. Raleigh, Eric Small, and Kenneth H. Williams
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 701–718, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-701-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-701-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Warming in montane systems is affecting the snowmelt input amount. At the global scale, this will impact subalpine forests that rely on spring snowmelt to support their water demands. We use a network of sensors across a hillslope in the Upper Colorado Basin to show that the changing spring snowpack has a more pronounced impact on dense forest stands, while open stands show a higher reliance on summer rain and are less sensitive to significant changes in snow.
Mengge Lu, Huaiwei Sun, Yong Yang, Jie Xue, Hongbo Ling, Hong Zhang, and Wenxin Zhang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 613–625, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-613-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-613-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our study explores how ecosystems recover after flash droughts. Using vegetation and soil moisture data, we found that recovery takes about 37.5 d on average (longer in central and southern regions) in China. Factors like post-drought radiation and temperature affect recovery, with extreme temperatures prolonging it. Herbaceous plants recover faster than forests. Our findings aid water resource management and drought monitoring on a large scale, offering insights into ecosystem resilience.
Xuejin Tan, Bingjun Liu, Xuezhi Tan, Zeqin Huang, and Jianyu Fu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 427–445, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-427-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-427-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We assess changes in blue and green water scarcity in an anthropogenic highly impacted watershed and their association with climate change and land use change, using the multi-water-flux validated Soil and Water Assessment Tool. Observed streamflow, evapotranspiration, and soil moisture are integrated into model calibration and validation. Results show that both climate change and land use change decrease blue water, while land use change increases green water.
Siwei Chen, Yuxue Guo, Yue-Ping Xu, and Lu Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4989–5009, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4989-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4989-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our research explores how increased CO2 levels affect water use efficiency in the Yellow River basin. Using updated climate models, we found that future climate change significantly impacts water use efficiency, leading to improved plant resilience against moderate droughts. These findings help predict how ecosystems might adapt to environmental changes, providing essential insights into ways of managing water resources under varying climate conditions.
Fabien Koch, Philipp Blum, Heide Stein, Andreas Fuchs, Hans Jürgen Hahn, and Kathrin Menberg
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4927–4946, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4927-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4927-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we identify shifts in groundwater fauna due to natural or human impacts over 2 decades. We find no overall temporal or large-scale trends in fauna or abiotic parameters. However, at a local level, six monitoring wells show shifting or fluctuating faunal parameters. Our findings indicate that changes in surface conditions should be assessed in line with hydrochemical parameters to better understand changes in groundwater fauna and to obtain reliable biomonitoring results.
Hongkai Gao, Markus Hrachowitz, Lan Wang-Erlandsson, Fabrizio Fenicia, Qiaojuan Xi, Jianyang Xia, Wei Shao, Ge Sun, and Hubert H. G. Savenije
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4477–4499, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4477-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4477-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The concept of the root zone is widely used but lacks a precise definition. Its importance in Earth system science is not well elaborated upon. Here, we clarified its definition with several similar terms to bridge the multi-disciplinary gap. We underscore the key role of the root zone in the Earth system, which links the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and anthroposphere. To better represent the root zone, we advocate for a paradigm shift towards ecosystem-centred modelling.
Zongxing Li, Juan Gui, Qiao Cui, Jian Xue, Fa Du, and Lanping Si
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 719–734, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-719-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-719-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Precipitation, ground ice, and snow meltwater accounted for approximately 72 %, 20 %, and 8 % of soil water during the early ablation period. Snow is completely melted in the heavy ablation period and the end of the ablation period, and precipitation contributed about 90 % and 94 % of soil water, respectively. These recharges also vary markedly with altitude and vegetation type.
Shaofei Wang, Xiaodong Gao, Min Yang, Gaopeng Huo, Xiaolin Song, Kadambot H. M. Siddique, Pute Wu, and Xining Zhao
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 123–137, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-123-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-123-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Water uptake depth of 11-year-old apple trees reached 300 cm in the blossom and young fruit stage and only 100 cm in the fruit swelling stage, while 17-year-old trees always consumed water from 0–320 cm soil layers. Overall, the natural abundance of stable water isotopes method overestimated the contribution of deep soil water, especially in the 320–500 cm soils. Our findings highlight that determining the occurrence of root water uptake in deep soils helps to quantify trees' water use strategy.
Juan Gui, Zongxing Li, Qi Feng, Qiao Cui, and Jian Xue
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 97–122, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-97-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-97-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
As the transition zone between the Tibetan Plateau and the arid region, the Qilian Mountains are important ecological barriers and source regions of inland rivers in northwest China. In recent decades, drastic changes in the cryosphere have had a significant impact on the quantity and formation process of water resources in the Qilian Mountains. The mountain runoff of the Qilian Mountains mainly comes from the cryosphere belt, which contributes to approximately 80 % runoff.
Remko C. Nijzink and Stanislaus J. Schymanski
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6289–6309, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6289-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6289-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Most catchments plot close to the empirical Budyko curve, which allows for estimating the long-term mean annual evaporation and runoff. We found that a model that optimizes vegetation properties in response to changes in precipitation leads it to converge to a single curve. In contrast, models that assume no changes in vegetation start to deviate from a single curve. This implies that vegetation has a stabilizing role, bringing catchments back to equilibrium after changes in climate.
Yakun Tang, Lina Wang, Yongqiang Yu, and Dongxu Lu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4995–5013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4995-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4995-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Whether rainwater-recharged soil water (RRS) uptake can increase plant transpiration after rainfall pulses requires investigation. Our results indicate a differential response of plant transpiration to RRS uptake. Mixed afforestation enhances these water relationships and decreases soil water source competition in deep soil. Our results suggest that plant species or plantation types that can enhance RRS uptake and reduce water competition should be considered for use in water-limited regions.
Javier de la Casa, Adrià Barbeta, Asun Rodríguez-Uña, Lisa Wingate, Jérôme Ogée, and Teresa E. Gimeno
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4125–4146, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4125-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4125-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Recently, studies have been reporting mismatches in the water isotopic composition of plants and soils. In this work, we reviewed worldwide isotopic composition data of field and laboratory studies to see if the mismatch is generalised, and we found it to be true. This contradicts theoretical expectations and may underlie an non-described phenomenon that should be forward investigated and implemented in ecohydrological models to avoid erroneous estimations of water sources used by vegetation.
Amilcare Porporato
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 355–374, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-355-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-355-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Applying dimensional analysis to the partitioning of water and soil on terrestrial landscapes reveals their dominant environmental controls. We discuss how the dryness index and the storage index affect the long-term rainfall partitioning, the key nonlinear control of the dryness index in global datasets of weathering rates, and the existence of new macroscopic relations among average variables in landscape evolution statistics with tantalizing analogies with turbulent fluctuations.
Olivia Carpino, Kristine Haynes, Ryan Connon, James Craig, Élise Devoie, and William Quinton
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3301–3317, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3301-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3301-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study demonstrates how climate warming in peatland-dominated regions of discontinuous permafrost is changing the form and function of the landscape. Key insights into the rates and patterns of such changes in the coming decades are provided through careful identification of land cover transitional stages and characterization of the hydrological and energy balance regimes for each stage.
Fabien Koch, Kathrin Menberg, Svenja Schweikert, Cornelia Spengler, Hans Jürgen Hahn, and Philipp Blum
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3053–3070, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3053-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3053-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we address the question of whether groundwater fauna in an urban area is natural or affected in comparison to forested land. We find noticeable differences in the spatial distribution of groundwater species and abiotic parameters. An ecological assessment reveals that conditions in the urban area are mainly not good. Yet, there is no clear spatial pattern in terms of land use and anthropogenic impacts. These are significant findings for conservation and usage of urban groundwater.
Marcel Bliedtner, Hans von Suchodoletz, Imke Schäfer, Caroline Welte, Gary Salazar, Sönke Szidat, Mischa Haas, Nathalie Dubois, and Roland Zech
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2105–2120, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2105-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-2105-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the age and origin of leaf wax n-alkanes from a fluvial sediment–paleosol sequence (FSPS) by compound-class 14C dating. Our results show varying age offsets between the formation and sedimentation of leaf wax n-alkanes from well-developed (paleo)soils and fluvial sediments that are mostly due to their complex origin in such sequences. Thus, dating the leaf wax n-alkanes is an important step for more robust leaf-wax-based paleoenvironmental reconstructions in FSPSs.
James W. Kirchner and Scott T. Allen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 17–39, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-17-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-17-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Perhaps the oldest question in hydrology is
Where does water go when it rains?. Here we present a new way to measure how the terrestrial water cycle partitions precipitation into its two ultimate fates:
green waterthat is evaporated or transpired back to the atmosphere and
blue waterthat is discharged to stream channels. Our analysis may help in gauging the vulnerability of both water resources and terrestrial ecosystems to changes in rainfall patterns.
Yu Liu, Zeng Cui, Ze Huang, Hai-Tao Miao, and Gao-Lin Wu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2481–2490, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2481-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2481-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We focus on the positive effects of litter crusts on soil water holding capacity and water interception capacity compared with biocrusts. Litter crusts can significantly improve sandy water content and organic matter. Water-holding capacity increased with development of litter crusts in the sandy interface. Water infiltration rate is increased by sandy and litter crusts' interface properties. Litter crusts provided a better microhabitat conducive to plant growth in sandy lands.
Adrià Barbeta, Sam P. Jones, Laura Clavé, Lisa Wingate, Teresa E. Gimeno, Bastien Fréjaville, Steve Wohl, and Jérôme Ogée
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2129–2146, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2129-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2129-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Plant water sources of a beech riparian forest were monitored using stable isotopes. Isotopic fractionation during root water uptake is usually neglected but may be more common than previously accepted. Xylem water was always more depleted in δ2H than all sources considered, suggesting isotopic discrimination during water uptake or within plant tissues. Thus, the identification and quantification of tree water sources was affected. Still, oxygen isotopes were a good tracer of plant source water.
William Quinton, Aaron Berg, Michael Braverman, Olivia Carpino, Laura Chasmer, Ryan Connon, James Craig, Élise Devoie, Masaki Hayashi, Kristine Haynes, David Olefeldt, Alain Pietroniro, Fereidoun Rezanezhad, Robert Schincariol, and Oliver Sonnentag
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2015–2039, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2015-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2015-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This paper synthesizes nearly three decades of eco-hydrological field and modelling studies at Scotty Creek, Northwest Territories, Canada, highlighting the key insights into the major water flux and storage processes operating within and between the major land cover types of this wetland-dominated region of discontinuous permafrost. It also examines the rate and pattern of permafrost-thaw-induced land cover change and how such changes will affect the hydrology and water resources of the region.
Wouter H. Maes, Pierre Gentine, Niko E. C. Verhoest, and Diego G. Miralles
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 925–948, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-925-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-925-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Potential evaporation (Ep) is the amount of water an ecosystem would consume if it were not limited by water availability or other stress factors. In this study, we compared several methods to estimate Ep using a global dataset of 107 FLUXNET sites. A simple radiation-driven method calibrated per biome consistently outperformed more complex approaches and makes a suitable tool to investigate the impact of water use and demand, drought severity and biome productivity.
Juan Fernando Salazar, Juan Camilo Villegas, Angela María Rendón, Estiven Rodríguez, Isabel Hoyos, Daniel Mercado-Bettín, and Germán Poveda
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1735–1748, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1735-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1735-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
River flow regimes are being altered by global change. Understanding the mechanisms behind such alterations is crucial for hydrological prediction. We introduce a novel interpretation of river flow metrics (scaling) that allows any river basin to be classified as regulated or unregulated, and to identify transitions between these states. We propose the
forest reservoirhypothesis to explain how forest loss can force the Amazonian river basins from regulated to unregulated states.
Félicien Meunier, Valentin Couvreur, Xavier Draye, Mohsen Zarebanadkouki, Jan Vanderborght, and Mathieu Javaux
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 6519–6540, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6519-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6519-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
To maintain its yield, a plant needs to transpire water that it acquires from the soil. A deep understanding of the mechanisms that lead to water uptake location and intensity is required to correctly simulate the water transfer in the soil to the atmosphere. This work presents novel and general solutions of the water flow equation in roots with varying hydraulic properties that deeply affect the uptake pattern and the transpiration rate and can be used in ecohydrological models.
Robert L. Andrew, Huade Guan, and Okke Batelaan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4469–4478, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4469-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4469-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we statistically analyse the relationship between vegetation cover and components of total water storage. Splitting water storage into different components allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the temporal response of vegetation to changes in water storage. Generally, vegetation appears to be more sensitive to interannual changes in water storage than to shorter changes, though this varies in different land use types.
Tingting Ning, Zhi Li, and Wenzhao Liu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1515–1526, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1515-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1515-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The relationship between controlling parameters of annual catchment water balance and climate seasonality (S) and vegetation coverage (M) was discussed under the Budyko framework and an empirical equation was further developed so that the contributions from M to actual evapotranspiration (ET) could be determined more accurately. The results showed that the effects of landscape condition changes to ET variation will be estimated with a large error if the impacts of S are ignored.
Stanislaus J. Schymanski and Dani Or
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 685–706, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-685-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-685-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Most of the rain falling on land is returned to the atmosphere by plant leaves, which release water vapour (transpire) through tiny pores. To better understand this process, we used artificial leaves in a special wind tunnel and discovered major problems with an established approach (PM equation) widely used to quantify transpiration and its sensitivity to climate change. We present an improved set of equations, consistent with experiments and displaying more realistic climate sensitivity.
Roger Moussa and Jean-Paul Lhomme
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 4867–4879, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4867-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4867-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
A new physically based formulation is proposed to extend the Budyko framework under non-steady-state conditions, taking into account the change in water storage. The new formulation, which introduces an additional parameter, represents a generic framework applicable to any Budyko function at various time steps. It is compared to other formulations from the literature and the analytical solution of Greve et al. (2016) appears to be a particular case.
Jean-Paul Lhomme and Roger Moussa
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 4857–4865, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4857-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4857-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The Budyko functions are matched with the complementary evaporation relationship. We show that there is a functional dependence between the Budyko functions and the drying power of the air. Examining the case where potential evaporation is calculated by means of a Priestley–Taylor type equation with a varying coefficient, we show that this coefficient should have a specified value as a function of the Budyko shape parameter and the aridity index.
Wenfei Liu, Xiaohua Wei, Qiang Li, Houbao Fan, Honglang Duan, Jianping Wu, Krysta Giles-Hansen, and Hao Zhang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 4747–4756, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4747-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4747-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
In recent decades, limited research has been conducted to examine the role of watershed properties in hydrological responses in large watersheds. Based on pair-wise comparisons, we conclude that reforestation decreased high flows but increased low flows in the watersheds studied. Hydrological recovery through reforestation is largely dependent on watershed properties when forest change and climate are similar and comparable. This finding has important implications for designing reforestation.
Kimberly J. Van Meter, Michael Steiff, Daniel L. McLaughlin, and Nandita B. Basu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 2629–2647, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2629-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2629-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Although village-scale rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures have been used for millennia in India, many of these structures have fallen into disrepair due to increased dependence on groundwater. This dependence has contributed to declines in groundwater resources, and in turn to efforts to revive older RWH systems. In the present study, we use field data to quantify water fluxes in a cascade of irrigation tanks to better our understanding of the impact of RWH systems on the water balance in con
Tobias Schuetz, Chantal Gascuel-Odoux, Patrick Durand, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 843–857, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-843-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-843-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We quantify the spatio-temporal impact of distinct nitrate sinks and sources on stream network nitrate dynamics in an agricultural headwater. By applying a data-driven modelling approach, we are able to fully distinguish between mixing and dilution processes, and biogeochemical in-stream removal processes along the stream network. In-stream nitrate removal is estimated by applying a novel transfer coefficient based on energy availability.
M. Majerova, B. T. Neilson, N. M. Schmadel, J. M. Wheaton, and C. J. Snow
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3541–3556, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3541-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3541-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
This study quantifies the impacts of beaver on hydrologic and temperature regimes, as well as highlights the importance of understanding the spatial and temporal scales of those impacts.
Reach-scale discharge showed shift from losing to gaining. Temperature increased by 0.38°C (3.8%) and mean residence time by 230%. At the sub-reach scale, discharge gains and losses increased in variability. At the beaver dam scale, we observed increase in thermal heterogeneity with warmer and cooler niches.
J. P. Lhomme, N. Boudhina, M. M. Masmoudi, and A. Chehbouni
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3287–3299, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3287-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3287-2015, 2015
J. P. Lhomme, N. Boudhina, and M. M. Masmoudi
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 4341–4348, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4341-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4341-2014, 2014
V. Couvreur, J. Vanderborght, L. Beff, and M. Javaux
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 1723–1743, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1723-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1723-2014, 2014
A. D. Jayakaran, T. M. Williams, H. Ssegane, D. M. Amatya, B. Song, and C. C. Trettin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 1151–1164, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1151-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1151-2014, 2014
S. A. Howie and H. J. van Meerveld
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 3421–3435, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3421-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-3421-2013, 2013
X. Cui, S. Liu, and X. Wei
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 4279–4290, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-4279-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-4279-2012, 2012
V. Couvreur, J. Vanderborght, and M. Javaux
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 2957–2971, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-2957-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-2957-2012, 2012
M. E. McClain, L. Chícharo, N. Fohrer, M. Gaviño Novillo, W. Windhorst, and M. Zalewski
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 1685–1696, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1685-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1685-2012, 2012
C. Rasmussen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 725–739, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-725-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-725-2012, 2012
A. P. O'Grady, J. L. Carter, and J. Bruce
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 3731–3739, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-3731-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-3731-2011, 2011
J. D. Muehlbauer, M. W. Doyle, and E. S. Bernhardt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 1771–1783, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-1771-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-1771-2011, 2011
K. Edmaier, P. Burlando, and P. Perona
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 1615–1627, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-1615-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-1615-2011, 2011
H. Iwasaki, H. Saito, K. Kuwao, T. C. Maximov, and S. Hasegawa
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 301–307, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-301-2010, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-301-2010, 2010
Cited articles
Belnap, J., Phillips, S. L., and Miller, M. E.: Response of desert biological soil crusts to alterations in precipitation frequency, Oecologia, 141, 306–316, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-003-1438-6, 2004.
Belnap, J.: The potential roles of biological soil crusts in dryland hydrologic cycles, Hydrol. Process., 20, 3159–3178, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6325, 2006.
Belnap, J., Weber, B., and Büdel, B.: Biological Soil Crusts as an Organizing Principle in Drylands, in: Biological Soil Crusts: An Organizing Principle in Drylands, edited by: Weber, B., Büdel, B., and Belnap, J., Springer International Publishing, Cham, 3–13, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30214-0_1, 2016.
Chamizo, S., Cantón, Y., Miralles, I., and Domingo, F.: Biological soil crust development affects physicochemical characteristics of soil surface in semiarid ecosystems, Soil Biol. Biochem., 49, 96–105, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.02.017, 2012a.
Chamizo, S., Cantón, Y., Lázaro, R., Solé-Benet, A., and Domingo, F.: Crust Composition and Disturbance Drive Infiltration Through Biological Soil Crusts in Semiarid Ecosystems, Ecosystems, 15, 148–161, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-011-9499-6, 2012b.
Chamizo, S., Rodríguez-Caballero, E., Román, J. R., and Cantón, Y.: Effects of biocrust on soil erosion and organic carbon losses under natural rainfall, Catena, 148, 117–125, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2016.06.017, 2017.
Cui, Z., Huang, Z., Luo, J., Qiu, K., López-Vicente, M., and Wu, G.-L.: Litter cover breaks soil water repellency of biocrusts, enhancing initial soil water infiltration and content in a semi-arid sandy land, Agr. Water Manage., 255, 107009, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107009, 2021.
Dai, L., Guo, X., Zhang, F., Du, Y., Ke, X., Li, Y., Cao, G., Li, Q., Lin, L., Shu, K., and Peng, C.: Seasonal dynamics and controls of deep soil water infiltration in the seasonally-frozen region of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, J. Hydrol., 571, 740–748, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.02.021, 2019.
Dai, L., Yuan, Y., Guo, X., Du, Y., Ke, X., Zhang, F., Li, Y., Li, Q., Lin, L., Zhou, H., and Cao, G.: Soil water retention in alpine meadows under different degradation stages on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, J. Hydrol., 590, 125397, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125397, 2020.
Fischer, T., Veste, M., Wiehe, W., and Lange, P.: Water repellency and pore clogging at early successional stages of microbiotic crusts on inland dunes, Brandenburg, NE Germany, Catena, 80, 47–52, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2009.08.009, 2010.
Gardner, W. R., Hillel, D., and Benyamini, Y.: Post-Irrigation Movement of Soil Water: 1. Redistribution, Water Resour. Res., 6, 851–861, https://doi.org/10.1029/WR006i003p00851, 1970.
Guo, Y., Zhao, H., Zuo, X., Drake, S., and Zhao, X.: Biological soil crust development and its topsoil properties in the process of dune stabilization, Inner Mongolia, China, Environ. Geol., 54, 653–662, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1130-y, 2008.
Jiang, Z.-Y., Li, X.-Y., Wei, J.-Q., Chen, H.-Y., Li, Z.-C., Liu, L., and Hu, X.: Contrasting surface soil hydrology regulated by biological and physical soil crusts for patchy grass in the high-altitude alpine steppe ecosystem, Geoderma, 326, 201–209, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.04.009, 2018.
Kidron, G. J. and Benenson, I.: Biocrusts serve as biomarkers for the upper 30 cm soil water content, J. Hydrol., 509, 398–405, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.11.041, 2014.
Li, H., Li, R., Rossi, F., Li, D., De Philippis, R., Hu, C., and Liu, Y.: Differentiation of microbial activity and functional diversity between various biocrust elements in a heterogeneous crustal community, Catena, 147, 138–145, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2016.07.008, 2016.
Li, W. H., Ren, T. R., Zhou, Z. B., and Liu, J. Z.: Study on the soil physicochemical characteristics of biological crust on sand dune surface in Gurbantünggtüt Desert, Xinjiang Region, J. Glaciol. Geocryol, 27, 619–627, https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0240.2005.0092, 2005.
Li, X.-R., Jia, X.-H., Long, L.-Q., and Zerbe, S.: Effects of Biological Soil Crusts on Seed Bank, Germination and Establishment of Two Annual Plant Species in the Tengger Desert (N China), Plant Soil, 277, 375–385, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-8162-4, 2005.
Li, X. R., Tian, F., Jia, R. L., Zhang, Z. S., and Liu, L. C.: Do biological soil crusts determine vegetation changes in sandy deserts? Implications for managing artificial vegetation, Hydrol. Process., 24, 3621–3630, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7791, 2010.
Li, Y., Ouyang, J., Lin, L., Xu, X., Zhang, F., Du, Y., Liu, S., Cao, G., and Han, F.: Alterations to biological soil crusts with alpine meadow retrogressive succession affect seeds germination of three plant species, J. Mt. Sci., 13, 1995–2005, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-016-3917-3, 2016.
Liu, Y., Cui, Z., Huang, Z., Miao, H.-T., and Wu, G.-L.: The influence of litter crusts on soil properties and hydrological processes in a sandy ecosystem, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2481–2490, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2481-2019, 2019.
Nelson, D. W. and Sommers, L. E.: Total Carbon, Organic Carbon, and Organic Matter, in: Methods of Soil Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 539–579, https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr9.2.2ed.c29, 1982.
Qian, D., Du, Y., Li, Q., Guo, X., and Cao, G.: Alpine grassland management based on ecosystem service relationships on the southern slopes of the Qilian Mountains, China, J. Environ. Manage., 288, 112447, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112447, 2021.
Sun, F., Xiao, B., and Kidron, G. J.: Towards the influences of three types of biocrusts on soil water in drylands: Insights from horizontal infiltration and soil water retention, Geoderma, 428, 116136, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116136, 2022.
Vance, E. D., Brookes, P. C., and Jenkinson, D. S.: An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass C, Soil Biol. Biochem., 19, 703–707, https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(87)90052-6, 1987.
Wang, H., Zhang, G., Liu, F., Geng, R., and Wang, L.: Effects of biological crust coverage on soil hydraulic properties for the Loess Plateau of China, Hydrol. Process., 31, 3396–3406, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11263, 2017.
Wang, J., Zhao, W., Wang, G., Yang, S., and Pereira, P.: Effects of long-term afforestationand natural grassland recovery on soil properties and quality in Loess Plateau (China), Sci. Total Environ., 770, 144833, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144833, 2021.
Wei, W., Yu, Y., and Chen, L.: Response of Surface Soil Hydrology to the Micro-Pattern of Bio-Crust in a Dry-Land Loess Environment, China, PLOS ONE, 10, e0133565, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0133565, 2015.
Wu, G.-L., Zhang, M.-Q., Liu, Y., and López-Vicente, M.: Litter cover promotes biocrustdecomposition and surface soil functions in sandy ecosystem, Geoderma, 374, 114429, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114429, 2020.
Xu, M., An, T., Zheng, Z., Zhang, T., Zhang, Y., and Yu, G.: Variability in evapotranspiration shifts from meteorological to biological control under wet versus drought conditions in an alpine meadow, J. Plant Ecol., 15, 921–932, https://doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rtac033, 2022.
Zhao, H.-L., Guo, Y.-R., Zhou, R.-L., and Drake, S.: Biological soil crust and surface soilproperties in different vegetation types of Horqin Sand Land, China, Catena, 82, 70–76, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2010.05.002, 2010.
Zhou, X., Ke, T., Li, S., Deng, S., An, X., Ma, X., De Philippis, R., and Chen, L.: Induced biological soil crusts and soil properties varied between slope aspect, slope gradient and plant canopy in the Hobq desert of China, Catena, 190, 104559, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2020.104559, 2020.
Zhu, J., Zhang, F., Li, H., He, H., Li, Y., Yang, Y., Zhang, G., Wang, C., and Luo, F.: Seasonal and Interannual Variations of CO2 Fluxes Over 10 Years in an Alpine Wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 125, e2020JG006011, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JG006011, 2020.
Short summary
We found that, in the 0–30 cm soil layer, soil water retention and soil water content in normal Kobresia meadow (NM) were higher than those in biocrust meadow (BM), whereas the 30–40 cm layer's soil water retention and soil water content in NM were lower than those in BM. The topsoil infiltration rate in BM was lower than that in NM. Our findings revealed that the establishment of biocrust did not improve soil water retention and infiltration.
We found that, in the 0–30 cm soil layer, soil water retention and soil water content in normal...
