Articles | Volume 28, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1915-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1915-2024
Technical note
 | 
02 May 2024
Technical note |  | 02 May 2024

Technical note: Two-component electrical-conductivity-based hydrograph separation employing an exponential mixing model (EXPECT) provides reliable high-temporal-resolution young water fraction estimates in three small Swiss catchments

Alessio Gentile, Jana von Freyberg, Davide Gisolo, Davide Canone, and Stefano Ferraris

Data sets

The CH-IRP data set: fortnightly data of δ2H and δ18O in streamflow and precipitation in Switzerland (Version 2) M. Staudinger et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4057967

Longterm hydrological observatory Alptal (central Switzerland) M. Stähli https://doi.org/10.16904/envidat.380

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Short summary
Can we leverage high-resolution and low-cost EC measurements and biweekly δ18O data to estimate the young water fraction at higher temporal resolution? Here, we present the EXPECT method that combines two widespread techniques: EC-based hydrograph separation and sine-wave models of the seasonal isotope cycles. The method is not without its limitations, but its application in three small Swiss catchments is promising for future applications in catchments with different characteristics.