Articles | Volume 29, issue 16
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3889-2025
© Author(s) 2025. 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-29-3889-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
21 Aug 2025
Research article |
| 21 Aug 2025
| 21 Aug 2025
When and where does near-surface runoff occur in a pre-Alpine headwater catchment?
Victor Aloyse Gauthier
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography, Zurich University, Zurich, Switzerland
Anna Leuteritz
Department of Geography, Zurich University, Zurich, Switzerland
Ilja van Meerveld
Department of Geography, Zurich University, Zurich, Switzerland
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We applied rainfall and tracers on two 8 m wide runoff plots to better understand runoff generation processes in pre-Alpine catchments with low permeability gleysols. The results highlight the frequent occurrence of infiltration and exfiltration of water, the importance of preferential flow, and the quick runoff response (i.e., high celerity) and transport of solutes (i.e., high velocity). These results help to understand why streams in the study region respond very quickly to rainfall.
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We applied rainfall and tracers on two 8 m wide runoff plots to better understand runoff generation processes in pre-Alpine catchments with low permeability gleysols. The results highlight the frequent occurrence of infiltration and exfiltration of water, the importance of preferential flow, and the quick runoff response (i.e., high celerity) and transport of solutes (i.e., high velocity). These results help to understand why streams in the study region respond very quickly to rainfall.
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Short summary
This study explored the occurrence of flow on and just below the soil surface for 14 small vegetated plots across a pre-Alpine catchment. Overland flow and lateral flow through the topsoil occurred frequently. The spatial variation in the occurrence and amount of flow depended on site characteristics, particularly the topographic wetness index. The amount of flow also depended on the antecedent-wetness conditions and total precipitation.
This study explored the occurrence of flow on and just below the soil surface for 14 small...
